For the second straight year a cast of NHL and local hockey legends headlined by Wayne Gretzky dazzled fans at Hockey Fest.
Along with 'The Great One' this year's game featured fellow Hall of Famer Brett Hull, who coached the St. Louis team. The list of current and former NHL players included Shadle Park grad Derek Ryan, who recently signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. Spokane Chiefs' all-time leading scorer Mitch Holmberg made it back to the Inland Northwest, while current Chiefs and Spokane natives Keanu and Kailer Yamamoto got in on the action.
The night featured a huge thrill for Ryan, who will be able to tell his kids that he scored a goal off an assist from Gretzky.
"Yeah, it was awesome," Ryan said. "I was hoping for that the whole game to be honest."
Hull named Ty Ronning the game's MVP.
The event, which took place at Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene, raises money to support youth hockey.
"Sometimes it's hard to get into hockey, it's kind of expensive," Hull said. "If we can get one or two more from this area to get into hockey and maybe become a player like Tyler, that's all that matters."
Johnson said he hopes to make Hockey Fest an annual tradition for as long as they can.
