NHL charity game will benefit Superstorm Sandy victims

• NHL stars will play Saturday in Atlantic City in a charity game to benefit Superstorm Sandy victims.
• Steven Stamkos, Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur are among the players set to play in the game.
• Players hope Operation Hat Trick will take fans' attention away from ongoing NHL lockout.

Thanksgiving morning for James van Riemsdyk began with a trip from one of his offseason training homes in Minneapolis to the airport, then a flight to Newark that was followed with a drive to his parents' home in Middletown.

The 23-year-old Philadelphia Flyer-turned-Toronto Maple Leaf sure had a lot to be thankful for this year when eating a turkey dinner with family. He was away training and safe the week of Halloween, but hearing and seeing what kind of damage Superstorm Sandy unleashed on his North Jersey region was and still is painful.

Other than a few trees coming down in his parents' backyard, no power for almost a week and 10 days of worrying about the family boat, his family survived with its health.

Some of his childhood friends weren't so fortunate.

"We got off relatively lucky, but a couple of guys that I played hockey with live in beach towns and their houses were ruined," van Riemsdyk said. "All their stuff is basically gone, so this hurricane hit close to home."

That's why van Riemsdyk, who was traded last June after spending his first three NHL seasons in Philadelphia, didn't need to be talked into taking part in Saturday night's charity hockey game in Atlantic City that will benefit superstorm victims.

Some of hockey's biggest names will play in Operation Hat Trick, an event expected to draw a sellout crowd of more than 10,000 to Boardwalk Hall for a night of fun for players and fans frustrated by an NHL lockout that began Sept. 16 and still has no end in sight.

Just like old times, van Riemsdyk will play for Team Philly/New Jersey, which includes several former Flyers teammates: Scott Hartnell, Wayne Simmonds, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn and Jody Shelley, as well as Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos and legendary New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur.

Team New York's roster includes Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and Anaheim star forward Bobby Ryan, a Cherry Hill native.

"You'll see guys trying to make a fancy play, and that's the fun part of these games, especially with some of the names we have in there," van Riemsdyk said. "It'll be fun to get on the ice with Stamkos and not having to dig at Brodeur's feet. These are the kinds of things that you can look back on when you're done playing and say, 'Wow, this was a pretty special group we had here to support a great cause.'"

Van Riemsdyk still is holding out hope there will a 2012-13 NHL season, although his spirits were dampened a little more Wednesday when the players made another proposal on a new CBA that immediately was rejected by owners.

"The players have shown time and time again how we want to make a deal and how much we care about the game," van Riemsdyk said. "It's very unfortunate. You have a league that's made record revenues year after year, and they've decided to shut the game down."

Van Riemsdyk has toyed with joining a team in Finland but so far opted to stay in shape by working out in Connecticut this summer, then for the last few months in Minnesota with about 40 NHL players. Next week, he plans to skate with Flyers players at Skate Zone in Voorhees, and after that he'll head to the University of New Hampshire to work out with his old college team, which includes little brother Trevor, a sophomore defenseman. If by then the lockout is ongoing, he plans "to look a little bit closer at going over there to Finland."

Competitive game action during the lockout probably would be good for van Riemsdyk, who is being switched from left wing to center by Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. If this experiment works, van Riemsdyk could end up centering a Leafs' top line that includes star winger Phil Kessel and former Flyer Joffrey Lupul.

Armed with size, strength and speed, van Riemsdyk was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, but his production over his first three NHL seasons was just 47 goals and 99 points over 196 games.

His best of times with the Flyers came when he scored 15 goals and went to the Stanley Cup Finals as a rookie in 2009-10, the next season when he scored 20 goals and 40 points in the regular season and seven goals in 11 playoff games, then two summers ago when he landed a six-year, $25.5 million contract extension.

Everyone expected an even better 2011-12, but a hip injury, broken foot, concussion and sore knee led to just 11 goals and 24 points over 43 games, plus constant trade rumors. On June 23, just a few hours after the NHL draft concluded, the Flyers and Leafs pulled the trigger on a 1-for-1 deal involving young players with star potential - van Riemsdyk for defenseman Luke Schenn.

Van Riemsdyk can't wait to get started in Toronto. The way he sees it, he's going from a great franchise in a great city to the "New York Yankees of hockey" ... even though the Leafs' recent history is no playoffs since 2003-04.

"Looking back, I am thankful for the time I spent in Philly," van Riemsdyk said, "but it seemed like every time I had a chance to get going, something would hold me back ... whether it be an injury or some unforeseen circumstance.

"But I'm extremely confident in my abilities and I think I've shown when I'm put in a role to be a key contributor, I've more than held up my end of the bargain. I'm definitely excited about getting a chance in Toronto to earn a key role on the team."

Randy Miller writes for the (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post.