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“Bieksa’s Buddies” charity hockey game sells out in two hours

San Jose Sharks v Vancouver Canucks - Game Two

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 18: in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 18, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Harry How

It only took two hours for fans in Vancouver to snap up 5,000 tickets for a charity hockey game being put on by Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa.

Just in case you were wondering if the NHL lockout had killed hockey’s popularity in Canada.

The “Bieksa’s Buddies” game on Oct. 17 at the University of British Columbia will feature current members of the Canucks like Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malhotra, Max Lapierre, Cory Schneider, as well as former Vancouver defenseman Willie Mitchell.

And as you might imagine, there’s not expected to be much defense played out there.

“It’s not playoff hockey,” Bieksa told the Vancouver Sun. “It’s a charity game and, more than anything, it’s entertainment. I’m encouraging guys to be creative out there, have some fun and don’t backcheck too hard. So for the Sedins, just play your normal game ... be creative but don’t backcheck.”

Zing.