Aside from a quick stint in Switzerlands second division, Bruins center Chris Kelly has kept a fairly low profile during the NHL lockout. He never really reported to Boston to skate during informal practices, and hes largely kept to his home Ontario area where hes skated with other NHL exiles.
But Kelly will be front and center this week as hes one of more than 30 NHLPA members that will be taking part in the RBC Play Hockey Charity Challenge in Toronto on Wednesday night. The game will be played at the Mattamy Athletic Centre and will be led by RBC Play Hockey ambassadors Steven Stamkos and P.K. Subban. Stamkos will captain Team Blue -- Kelly's team -- and Subban will captain Team White.
Team Stamkos will include Chris Kelly, Michael Del Zotto, Mike Komisarek, Niklas Kronwall, Dion Phaneuf, Kyle Quincey, Dan Cleary, Tim Connolly, B.J. Crombeen, Steve Downie, Clarke MacArthur, Matt Martin, James Neal, Teddy Purcell, Stamkos, David Steckel, Kris Versteeg, Wojtek Wolski, Jonas Gustavsson and Mike Leighton.
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Team Subban includes Chris Campoli, Carlo Colaiacovo, Tomas Kaberle, John-Michael Liles, Subban, Brad Boyes, David Clarkson, Logan Couture, Phil Kessel, Tom Kostopoulos, Matthew Lombardi, Joffrey Lupul, Jay McClement, John Mitchell, Steve Ott, Peter Regin, Chris Stewart, Dan Winnik and Martin Biron.
Kelly recently wrapped up his stint with HC Red Ice in Switzerland and had nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) before playing in his final game on Nov. 30. Kelly is entering the first year of a four-year, 12 million contract extension with the Bruins signed right after NHL free agency opened last summer.
All proceeds from the game will benefit grassroots hockey causes through the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund and the RBC Play Hockey program. The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is the largest grassroots hockey assistance program in the world. Founded in 1999, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has contributed over 21 million to grassroots hockey programs and related causes in more than 30 countries. Through the donation of equipment grants, the program has given more than 60,000 deserving children the opportunity to play hockey and benefit from the sports commitment to teamwork, discipline and physical fitness.
RBC Play hockey is one of the largest corporately funded hockey programs that supports grassroots hockey in communities across North America and has provided more than 1.5 million in grants to over 120 hockey programs.