THN.com/podcast. From THN On The 'E': Mandolese's Epic NHL Debut, Senators Prospects and More Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk2MDI0MDY4MzI2MDQxMDU3/usatsi_17329162.jpg] Celebrities taking part in the NBA's All-Star Game is a decades-old tradition. Well-known names from all across television, film and sports showed off their various levels of basketball skills last Friday. Some can ball, while others just give it a good effort. Until 2017, the NHL also held its version of a celebrity hockey game that brought out the likes of such names as Jerry Bruckheimer, Justin Bieber and various NHL alumni. With the 2024 game to be held in Toronto, why not bring it back and update the names of celebs and athletes who love the sport to take part? We have in mind a few names who'd be worthy of invites to take part: JASON AND TRAVIS KELCE AND J.J. WATT When discussing athletes from other sports, how can you not include some of football's biggest fans of the coolest game on earth? The Kelce brothers, Jason of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis of the Kansas City Chiefs, have spoken before about growing up playing the sport and their love of the 1990s NHL on their podcast New Heights. Travis also spoke highly of the Russian Rocket Pavel Bure on Twitter. As active players, it may be a bit of a challenge as the NHL's all-star weekend usually falls right in the middle of the NFL playoffs, but it's still worth firing both men an invite to take part. For the recently retired J.J. Watt, the odds of getting him to lace up his skates once again might be a little easier than the Kelce Brothers. Hopefully, that slapshot still has some power left, which he's displayed before on social media. COBIE SMULDERS The How I Met Your Mother star and actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has always made it known how much of a Canucks fan she is. From appearing in the team's season-opening video to even showing up to pre-season games [https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1578593941062324224] (we know how many feel about the pre-season), she is a name that deserves to take part in a celebrity game. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RI9_Lw7l6c[/embed] Supporting the Canucks as of late has been tough, but we know she would gladly represent the team at a celebrity game. SNOOP DOGG There couldn't be any way Snoop Dogg would be left off this list. Snoop's hockey love has long been established, he's taken part in ASG festivities before, been in the broadcast booth during games and has been a special guest voice in EA Sports' NHL 20. One of the last untouched frontiers has to be getting him playing in a game, and we know he's got more than enough friends from all around the sport to get him ready for a few shifts in a celebrity game. JUSTIN BIEBER Probably one of the more experienced celebrities when it comes to playing the game, there's no way you're leaving Bieber out of a revival of the celebrity game. He's already expressed his excitement for the 2024 All-Star Game, and we know he'll find a way to be involved somehow, so why not have him lace up the skates again? A return to the ice might also bring back a return of Chris Pronger, who might try to recreate this hilarious mid-game moment from 2017's game. ADAM COPELAND AND JAY RESO, A.K.A EDGE AND CHRISTIAN CAGE Two of Ontario's favorite sons and one of the best tag teams to have graced the ring of WWE? Sign us up. Edge (currently with WWE) and Christian Cage (now signed to AEW), have made it known their passion for hockey for years. Be it from Edge doing intros for Hockey Night In Canada [https://twitter.com/archaicbro/status/1363472586865336327] to Cage cutting promos making fun of the Toronto Maple Leafs [https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1580348820600283137?s=20]' struggles in the first round, both would be amazing additions to a celebrity game.
