Rangers and Flyers will join forces when locked-out NHL players skate for the benefit of victims of Hurricane Sandy in a charity exhibition game presented by Caesars Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall next Saturday night, Nov. 24, at 7:00.
All proceeds from the event, which is known as “Operation Hat Trick,” will go directly to the Empire State Relief Fund, the New Jersey Relief Fund and the American Red Cross.
The Rangers’ Brad Richards will be captain of one team, and the Flyers’ Scott Hartnell will be captain of the opposing squad.
“If we have an opportunity to make a difference for people, we’re definitely going to do what we can to take advantage of that,” Richards told The Post. “[Retired NHL player] Todd Fedoruk called and asked me if I’d take part in this, and I’m happy to do it.
“I’m part of New York now. I know a lot of people who were affected by the storm, so whatever I can do, and whatever players in the area can do, we’re going to do what we can.
“We’re not playing, but we feel a sense of responsibility to our communities,” said Richards, who will participate in a youth hockey fundraiser at Staten Island this afternoon with at least a half-dozen of his Blueshirt teammates. “It’s a privilege to be in this position, really.”
Brian Boyle, Jeff Halpern, Steve Eminger, Bobby Ryan, James Neal, Simon Gagne, James vanRiemsdyk, Braydon Coburn, John Carlson, Kimmo Timonen, Jody Shelley and Ville Leino are among those NHL players who are confirmed to play in Atlantic City, with others expected to join.
Richards, who lives in lower Manhattan and lost power in the aftermath of the storm, had a message for fans who are angered and frustrated by the lockout that has reached 62 days without an end in sight.
“Whatever the fans feel, it’s 100-percent warranted,” Richards said. “The fans are the reason the NHL is what it is, and they have every right to be frustrated.
“But the players are, too. We’re frustrated, big time. We want this over with so we can get back onto the ice and play. Definitely there are a lot of people being hurt here and we’re all sorry for that.”
* Tickets for the event range from $20-to-$100, the highest price tickets applying to the first two rows behind the glass. Tickets for the event go on sale today at 10 a.m.
Information is available on Facebook.com/AtlanticCityHeroes.