LEWISTON – A comedian on skates. Local coaches playing with former professionals. Cops skating alongside firefighters and everyone talking big.

The Celebrity Boston Bruins hockey game should be interesting this year.

Slated for Friday night, the yearly bout will match local hockey talent from the police force against former Bruins.

The event features on-ice antics, free loot and, usually, a painful defeat for the local cops. Yet year after year, the officers forget about previous losses and prepare for the game by boldly predicting success.

“These are the old Bruins and I stress the word ‘old,'” said Lewiston Police Detective Jim Theiss, starting goalie for the Police Athletic League All-Stars. “We usually like to get their confidence up by letting them score a few goals.”

Very charitable, considering the celebrity team from Boston will feature some high-scoring, hard-hitting characters from the Bruins’ past. Among the talent from way back: Gary Doak, Don Marcotte and Ken Hodge are expected to take the ice for the pros.

Also skating for the celebrity team, former Bruins such as Bob Sweeney, Tim Sweeney and Billy O’Dwyer. Perennial favorite Ken “The Rat” Linseman is also schedule to take the ice.

To add to that talent pool, three coaches from the Lewiston Maineiacs will skate with the Bruins.

“They need all the help they can get, the Bruins, so we’re giving them a few guys,” Theiss said. “To keep it interesting, we’ve got to give them some young legs.”

On the other side of the rink, the PAL All-Stars – made up mostly of local cops – will round out their team with an eclectic mix of skaters. Among them, Bob Marley, a comedian from Portland, who makes a living telling jokes about growing up in this state.

Sure. Marley is funny. But can he skate and handle the puck?

“They say he’s pretty good,” Theiss said.

The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday at the Central Maine Civic Center. Money raised by the event will go to various local charities. And as always, souvenirs will be hurled into the crowd at intermission and other items will be raffled off.

This year, the PAL All-Stars are raffling one of their official jerseys autographed by Bruins legends, such as Rick Middleton, Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, Gary Cheevers and Ken Linseman, as well as Boston comedian Dennis Leary.

According to Theiss, his team hasn’t been worried too much about working on their offense and defense. When the Bruins come to town, they’ll be ready.

“Like I said, they’re old,” Theiss said. “We don’t feel we need too much practice.”

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