JOHNSTOWN — Two all-star rosters are shaping up for the Johnstown Chiefs alumni hockey game that will be played as part of the Ziggy’s Fundraiser event on June 5 at Planet Ice.

The alumni game will headline a special evening that includes a silent auction, food and drink as part of a $50 donation to benefit  Dave “Ziggy” Zeigler, who recently was diagnosed with brain cancer.

“Ziggy” is one of the most recognizable and well-liked figures in the region’s hockey scene. He operated the pro shop at Cambria County War Memorial for many years before starting his own business, Ziggy’s, across the street from the arena. Zeigler assisted both the Chiefs and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins equipment staffs and was on the ice for the Pens’ Stanley Cup-winning celebration last year.

When word of Zeigler’s situation circulated through the local hockey community last month, a group of people set out to organize a fundraiser.

The concept of an alumni game soon became the centerpiece. Former Chiefs center Jean Desrochers, who also works at Planet Ice, said former players from recent and distant seasons responded as soon as they learned that they could help Zeigler.

Two rosters were released this week.

The Black team has three members of the original Chiefs team that played in the former All-American Hockey League in 1988.

They are right wing Rick Boyd, who went on to become a captain and fan favorite; center Scott Rettew, who had 36 goals and 61 points in 25 games that inaugural season; and Toby O’Brien, one of the original AAHL Chiefs goaltenders who later became general manager and head coach of the ECHL team.

Two players who served as Chiefs captains for multiple years also will be on the Black squad. They are: Defenseman Brent Bilodeau, who played what then was a record 414 games from 1999 through 2005; and Randy Rowe, the catalyst of teams from 2005 through 2009.

Jason Spence, the fiery, blue-collar winger from 1999 through 2002 and again from 2005-09, also will be back on the ice after serving as the Chiefs’ assistant coach during the team’s final ECHL season in 2009-10. Johnstown native Josh Piro, who played from 2002-04, will skate.

Left wing Paul MacLean (1994-95) will represent the 1990s, and Desrochers

(2004-08), Jim Leger (2000-03) and Mike Rodrigues (2000-03) are more recent grads.

Former Johnstown Wing Steve Emmett (1978-79) will play for the Black squad.

The marquee name on the roster though will be Dave Hanson, who played for the Johnstown Jets 1974-75 championship team and is one of the sport’s most recognizable faces because of his role as a bespectacled Hanson brother in the movie “Slap Shot.”

The White team is headlined by prolific scorer Bruce Coles, who netted 106 goals and 227 points from 1991-95/2000. Dmitri Tarabrin, who played in a Chiefs’ record

474 games from 1998 through 2008, also is on the White team.

Two former successful Chiefs coaches are on the roster: Scott Allen, who helped rebuild the team and led it back to playoff success from 1996-2002; and Ian Herbers, who had two solid years from 2007-09.

Joe Tallari, an offensive threat from 2004-06, will be joined by Jeff Zehr, who provided a midseason spark to the record-breaking 2003-04 team. Former captain Ryan Petz (1995-97), and reliable defenseman Ian Manzano (2002-05) also are on the White squad.

A blend of recent and vintage former Chiefs help fill out the roster. All-star goaltender Kris Mayotte and gritty forward Sean Berkstresser each played from 2008 through this past season. Sam Farace and Gerry Zaccaria were members of the 1988 Chiefs. Scout/volunteer coach Matt Bertani also is on the White roster.

Johnstown Hockey Hall of Famer Don Hall and Reg Kent, who had his No. 7 retired next to Hall’s No. 11, are two former prolific scorers with the Jets who will participate in the event. So will former Chiefs coach Frank Anzalone.

The doors at Planet Ice will open at 6 p.m. on June 5. For more information, call 262-RINK or visit www.ziggysfundraiser.org.

Chiefs alumni rosters

Former Johnstown Chiefs members who have committed to play in the Ziggy’s Fundraiser game at Planet Ice on June 5.

Black Team

Rick Boyd, RW, 1988-91, 95-01

Jean Desrochers, C, 2004-08

Randy Rowe, LW, 2005-09

Jim Leger, F, 2000-03

Mike Rodrigues, D, 2000-03

Scott Rettew, C, 1988

Josh Piro, F, 2002-04

Steve Emmett, Wings, 1978-79

Jason Spence, LW 1999-02, 2005-09

Brent Bilodeau, D, 1999-2005

Dave Hanson, Jets D, 1974-77

Paul MacLean, LW, 1994-95

Toby O’Brien, GT 1988/coach-GM 1996-2005

White Team

Ryan Petz, RW, 1995-97

Jeff Zehr, F, 2003-04

Sam Farace, F, 1988

Kris Mayotte, GT, 2008-10

Scott Allen, coach, 1996-2002

Ian Manzano, D, 2002-05

Sean Berkstresser, F, 2008-10

Dmitri Tarabrin, RW, 1998-2008

Joe Tallari, F, 2004-06

Ian Herbers, coach, 2007-09

Bruce Coles, LW, 1991-95/2000

Gerry Zaccaria, F, 1988

Matt Bertani, scout



Honorary Participants: 

Frank Anzalone, coach, 2005-07

Don Hall, Jets F, 1951-62

Reg Kent, Jets F, 1966-74