Charity On Ice: Celebrity Hockey Game at L.A. Forum Supported Important Cause 30 Years Ago
The 1994-95 NHL lockout stretched from Oct. 1, 1994, to Jan. 11, 1995. This unexpectedly opened up dates at the Los Angeles Forum, which was a heavily booked arena.
This created an opportunity to put on a celebrity hockey game and raise money for Habitat for Humanity by Hockey For The Homeless, Inc. The following article was published in the program of the Celebrity Hockey Game and Gala, which took place Dec. 14, 1994. – W. Graeme Roustan
“Everybody came together because of a mutual love of hockey and helping out charitable organizations.”
That is what W. Graeme Roustan said of the “Celebrity Hockey Game and Gala” that will benefit Hockey For The Homeless, Cities in Schools, Women in Film and the Los Angeles Kings Youth Hockey Foundation. Roustan, along with Brad Turner, put tonight’s entire venture together.
While the game features celebrities from hockey and the world of entertainment having a little fun on the ice, the long-term effects of this event will be plentiful. “It truly amazes me when an event like this is formed, how many people want to help with it,” said Roustan.
Among those, besides Roustan, who were instrumental in putting this event together include Claire Rothman, general manager of the Great Western Forum.
“Claire was very instrumental in getting this going,” said Roustan. “She gave us the green light for the proposal and gave us the Great Western Forum to use.”
Others include Andy Abramson, executive director of the Celebrity All-Star hockey team, the public relations firm of the East/West and Prime Ticket cable network.
Among the celebrities expected to play on the team are Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver), Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210), Alan Thicke (Growing Pains), Dave Coulier (Full House), Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), Matthew Perry (Friends), Ryan Francis (Sisters), John Saunders (ABC and ESPN), Jack White (Mighty Ducks), David Goldsmith (Models Inc.), Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Boyz N The Hood), Lochlyn Munro (Hawkeye), Chris Potter (Kung Fu), Charlie Simmer (NHL Alumni) and Dave Taylor (NHL/Los Angeles Kings).
Sponsors for this event include Anheuser-Busch, Beverly Hills Polo Club, Canstar Sports, CCM Sport Maksa, Eisaman, Johns & Laws Advertising, Giorgio Beverly Hills, Great Western Forum, HockeyLand Corp., L.A. Cellular, Roller Hockey International, Sonnenblick-Goldman Company, Ticketmaster, TVN Satellite Theatres and United Airlines.
There are countless public, private and nonprofit agencies that specialize in servicing those who need help, including Hockey For The Homeless. Back in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew ravaged Florida, a charity hockey tournament and a National Hockey League exhibition game between the New York Islanders and the Hartford Whalers was organized and held in Miami, and an estimated $128,000 was raised for the victims of the hurricane disaster.
W. Graeme Roustan and Wayne Roustan
Courtesy of W. Graeme Roustan
Wayne Roustan, a radio reporter in Florida and brother of Graeme, along with two representatives from the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority, organized the first Hockey For The Homeless charity tournament. The three-day round-robin tourney preceded the NHL exhibition contest.
Because of the success of the first Hockey For The Homeless tournament, the Roustan brothers set up a second tourney, held in September 1993. Graeme went to Florida and incorporated Hockey For The Homeless as a not-for-profit entity.
Because of the popularity of the tournament, Hockey For The Homeless has grown and a third annual charity tourney was held this past fall in the Miami area.
Hockey For The Homeless has now moved west. Led by its board of directors, which includes both Roustan brothers, John K. Brueck Jr., John Landry, Anthony Magrino,
Stephen G. Anthony and Ted J. Kielar, Hockey For The Homeless is spreading success from coast to coast.
Black Team Roster
1 JIM MARTIN (Goalie) – Beverly Hills, 90210
30 CHAD SMITH (Goalie) – Red Hot Chili Peppers
5 DAVID GOLDSMITH – Models Inc.
6 ROB PAULSEN – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Animaniacs
7 CHRIS POTTER – Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
11 RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON – MacGyver; Legend
12 JIM FOX – Los Angeles Kings
15 RYAN FRANCIS – Sisters
16 JASON HERVEY – The Wonder Years
17 RON WILSON – Head Coach, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
19 JASON PRIESTLEY – Beverly Hills, 90210; Calendar Girl
21 DAVID KELLEY – Writer/Producer, Chicago Hope
23 RON DUGUAY – Los Angeles Kings Alumni
24 MATTHEW PERRY – Friends
27 JERRY HOUSER – Slap Shot; Summer of ’42
28 AL SIMS – Assistant Coach, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
29 TIM ARMY – Assistant Coach, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
38 MATT FREWER – Max Headroom; Doctor Doctor
46 DAN MORIARTY – Prime Ticket; ESPN2
Alternates
CHIP FOSTER – NBC Saturday Morning; Brand F Active Wear
PEPPER FOSTER – NBC Saturday Morning; Brand F Active Wear
GREG COLLINS – Home Improvement
DEAN DEVLIN – Producer/Writer, Universal Soldier; Stargate
Coaching Staff
BARRY MELROSE – Head Coach, Los Angeles Kings
PATRICIA ARQUETTE – True Romance
White Team Roster
1 CAP RAEDER (Goalie) – Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Kings
2 MIKE VITAR – Sandlot; D2: The Mighty Ducks
3 CHAD LOWE – Life Goes On
4 BILL CHRISTIAN – 1960 U.S. Olympic Team
5 CUBA GOODING JR. – Boyz N The Hood; Gladiator
6 PETER MARKLE – Director, Youngblood; Wagons East
7 VIC VENASKY – Los Angeles Kings Alumni
8 JACK WHITE – Mighty Ducks; D2: The Mighty Ducks
9 ALAN THICKE – Growing Pains
10 D.B. SWEENEY – Eight Men Out; Cutting Edge
11 LOCHLYN MUNRO – Unforgiven; Hawkeye
12 CHARLIE SIMMER – Los Angeles Kings Alumni
13 KEN OLANDT – Super Force
14 JOHN BENNETT PERRY – 240-Robert; Silk Stalkings
15 JOHN SAUNDERS – ESPN; ABC Sports
16 DAVE COULIER – Full House; America’s Funniest People
17 JOHN PERPICH – Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Kings
18 DAVE TAYLOR – Los Angeles Kings Alumni
19 BRIAN ENGBLOM – Los Angeles Kings Alumni
20 AL CLELAND – Running Man
Alternates
MIKE BUTTERS – Anaheim Bullfrogs, Roller Hockey International
NEIL MCDONOUGH – Angels In The Outfield
MIKE KELLY – The Last Boy Scout
Coaching Staff
TONY DANZA – Who’s The Boss; Taxi
KELSEY GRAMMER – Frasier; Cheers
Check out so much more from the Top 90 of the ’90s Issue at THN.com/free.
