COEUR d'ALENE - Wayne Gretzky signed autographs and posed for pictures toward the end of Friday's 9-5 win by the "St. Louis" team during Hockey Fest at Frontier Ice Arena.

Even though the Hockey Hall of Famer known as "The Great One" retired from the National Hockey League in 1999, the 54-year-old legend can still attract a crowd.

The near-sellout crowd estimated at 575 showed up to watch the benefit game, in its second year, which included some former NHL stars, current and former minor leaguers like those who played with the Spokane Chiefs, and family members of the ex-NHL players. Combined with a raffle of signed jerseys, pucks and other memorabilia, they were all part of a fundraiser that benefits the nonprofit ice arena and helps local youth hockey better afford some aspects of the game.

Gretzky owns a summer home in the Gozzer Ranch area, and a number of former NHL players, including Adam Deadmarsh of the Colorado Avalanche, who played in this year's game, also live in the area. Gretzky scored 894 career goals and finished his career with 2,857 points.

During the game, Gretzky scored with 18:37 left in the second half - the players skated for two 25-minute running halves - and earlier, with 2:34 left in the first half, he lobbed a quick pass to former Chief Derek Ryan, who scored the go-ahead goal for a 4-3 lead at halftime. On June 15, Ryan signed a one-year contract with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes.

"First of all, we're all fortunate enough we got to play in big games," Gretzky said. "We all got to know some big people because of hockey, and a lot of us decided to make a home for about two to three months in the summertime. It's a nice opportunity to get together and help people who in the community who maybe could use some help as far as equipment and ice time, so this is a fun night and we're able to raise some money for children who probably need it."

Some of the notable current NHL players included Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who led the NHL playoffs with 13 goals. Johnson was relegated to helping as a coach from the bench, due to a broken right wrist he suffered during Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Former NHL star Brett Hull, who scored 741 career goals, coached the St. Louis team.

The format changed from last season, as the NHL legends were mixed in with current and former Spokane Chiefs and family members of former and current NHL players.

Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, who led the NHL in points last season, played. Tyler Mort and Tanner Mort, brothers from Post Falls and former Chiefs, also played. Former NHL players like Geoff Courtnall, who scored 367 goals over 19 seasons, scored two goals for St. Louis. With 20:14 left in the first half, Courtnall, who played six seasons with the Blues, from 1995-2000 and another season in 1991, scored the game's first goal. St. Louis' lead got to as big as 8-4, after Cliff Ronning, a former Vancouver Canuck, scored his second goal with 16:51 left in the game.

The game was played at a bit below full speed of what you'd likely see at a Spokane Chiefs or even NHL game, with Gretzky the only one playing with no helmet.

"It's just a fun game," Gretzky said. "No slap shots, it's a combination of some of the guys (NHL players') kids, some local junior players, some NHL players who still play, so it's a nice combination of people, so it was fun."

Tyler Mort, a 23-year-old nursing student at Lewis-Clark State College, played for the Chiefs in 2009. On Friday, he played for the 'Tampa Bay' squad.

"It's not too often you get to play with a guy like (15-year former NHL veteran) Russ Courtnall and (current Tampa Bay Lightning player) Brenden Morrow," Mort said. "I even got to be out there a couple times versus Wayne, so that was cool. I think he scored three goals on me, but I was enjoying every minute of it. Last year was cool getting to play against them, but getting to play with them added a whole new atmosphere and they enjoyed it, we enjoyed it. Last year, I didn't get to see the ice much against them and this year I think I had two shifts. At the end, you're kind of speechless. You can only thank them for donating their time."

So all in all, the true winners were the arena, local youth hockey, and of course, those who watched either in attendance and on local television.

"It was a great night for hockey in North Idaho," Frontier Ice Arena General Manager Vince Hughes said. "We spent some of the money we raised last year on the asphalt leading out of the parking lot. It was very entertaining game, we got to see the best player who's every played the game. It was a unique treat for Coeur d'Alene to see that."

A treat indeed.