After the shortest summer we’ve ever had, the hockey season is right around the corner and that means it’s time for us to throw another party to get ready for the 2017-18 season. After closing out last year riding on a playoff high, we wanted to start this new season in the same place we left off — partying with you guys.

If you’re anything like me you’ve likely spent the summer waiting for this moment. Even though we’ve had a season-and-a-half of seeing our beloved captain rocking the blue and orange, I’m still having McWithdrawals from going months without seeing him play. I think this year is going to be a continuation of last year’s success and we’re throwing a party to kick our livers back into gear.

Thanks to our friends at Cornerstone Insurance, the Pint, Labatt, and Oodle Noodle, we’ve got a big night planned for you guys complete with prize raffles, swag bags, and shenanigans to be had by all. As René Descartes famously said, “I think, therefore I am” and I think I am going to be getting ladder match bunged up with all of you on October 7th at the Pint Downtown.

This year, I think that the team is set to take another step in their pursuit of Stanley and world domination, and that deserves a party. We’re not quite saying that we should plan the parade route just yet, but it couldn’t hurt to start planning where the thing is going to go. The season opener party gives us all a chance to put our heads together and work on what that route will look like. This could be the year that our beloved gang of heroes are going to make another big step forward, and we wanted to kick things off with another party for the ages.

As always, we wanted to include a charity component for the party, and, this time around, net proceeds from all ticket sales will be donated directly to Little Warriors.

In other words, this is a great, local organization and we’re happy to help them out in any way we can. We’re hoping to raise as much money as possible, so we’re asking you to abstain from buying those Hello Kitty stickers you’ve been eyeing up and come to the Season Opener Party instead.

Tickets are on sale now for $30 and will remain on sale straight through until the date of the party, or until they sell out — whichever happens first. Before you ask, yes you will need a ticket if you want to get in on the prizes we’ve put together for the party, and you’re going to want in on that.

For each ticket you buy, you’ll get one of the exclusive season opener t-shirts (shown above), a $10 Denizen Hall GC, a card for FREE perogies and tacos for a year at the Pint, $10 Oodle Noodle GC, a Nation sticker package, and, most importantly, a chance to kick off the season with your Nation brothers and sisters. Your ticket will also enter you into all of the draws for NationGear prizes and the jersey giveaways that will happen throughout the night.

Most importantly you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that the money spent on tickets will be going to a great cause. We have seen the light, Nation. It’s time to embrace it!

TL;DR? Here’s what you need to know:

Cool? Cool. See you on October 7th!