Four of the nation’s top eight point-getters headline the West team for the Shrine East-West Senior College Hockey Classic at the Alfond Arena in Orono on April 10.

The University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Derek Plante, North Dakota’s Greg Johnson, Michigan State’s Bryan Smolinski, and St. Cloud State’s Fred Knipscheer will provide a lot of offensive pressure for the West.

The game is sponsored by Bangor’s Anah Temple Shrine and the proceeds will benefit the Shrine hospitals for burned and crippled children.

Joining those four on the team will be forwards Chris Campbell and Glenn Lang (Wisconsin-Superior), Chris Bergeron (Miami, Ohio), Jamie Erb (Bemidji State), Brett Harkins (Bowling Green), David Roberts (Michigan), Todd Tretter (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), and John Young (Michigan Tech);

Also, defensemen Joe Cook (Miami, Ohio), Brett Hauer (Minnesota-Duluth), Pat Neaton (Michigan), Barry Richter (Wisconsin), Michael Smith (Lake Superior State), and Chris Valicevic (St. Mary’s);

And goalies Shaun Gravistin (Alaska-Anchorage), Tom Newman (Minnesota), and Bryan Schoen (Denver).

Michigan State Coach Ron Mason, Wisconsin-Superior Coach Steve Nelson, and Minnesota-Duluth assistant Jim Knapp will coach the team.

Mason is the father-in-law of University of Maine Coach Shawn Walsh, who is one of the East coaches.

“It’ll be fun,” said Mason. “It’s a time to do something different. Wins and losses aren’t as important. The whole scene and the cause are important. And the fact we’re having the game again is important.”

Mason likes his roster, but said expectations for a shootout might be premature.

“In somes cases, offense can prevail. But not necessarily,” said Mason. “These guys haven’t played together before and not all of them are offensive players. It’s not like the NHL All-Star game where they’re all offensive players. There’s a balance of offensive and defensive players.”

Close to 4,000 tickets have already been sold for the game, and Mason said, “That’s a tribute to the Maine program and what Shawn has done. Only a couple of places could pull that off.”

Walsh formerly played for and coached under Mason.

“Shawn and I (coaching against each other) will be an added bonus,” said Mason.