This weekend sees AIB MKL players taking part in their pre-season training camp, with fitness testing, team building and tactical preparation across the weekend, finishing with Sunday evening’s scrimmage with MK Thunder.  

What’s a scrimmage? It means an informal, in-house practice game to help players get ready for real matches.  This means no refs, no real stoppages for faceoffs, and a focus on practice and intensity rather than all out competition.

We’ve asked you to buy tickets for this event to help us cover the ice costs.  Once this cost is covered, we’ll donate any profits from the gate receipts to MK Storm junior ice hockey club so every ticket helps towards this!

We will match up the teams to play against each other to a competitive level.  Lightning will play Lightning and Thunder will play Thunder at all times.  The game will run for 3 x 20 min running clock periods, with players changing every 75 seconds on the buzzer (leaving the puck where it is and play continues).  This means you’ll get to see everyone play, and there will be regular turnover in the action.  We’ll finish with a penalty shootout for a bit of fun and to test the goalies.

For the running order of the event, here’s the key details:

  • 17:00 – Players introduced onto the ice and warm up
  • 17:20 – Period 1
  • 17:42 – Break
  • 17:47 – Period 2
  • 18:09 – Break
  • 18:14 – Period 3
  • 18:36 – Penalty Shoot Out
  • 18:51 – Wrap Up
  • 19:00 – Players leave the ice

At 7pm, head up to the bar, and Chris Dickens will introduce the players and have a Q&A with them.  Entry to the bar is included in your ticket, and is on a first come first served basis up until it reaches capacity.  Once capacity is reached, we’re sorry but you won’t be able to come in.  If there is a large number of people who miss out due to capacity, we will aim to record the Q&A and put it on our YouTube channel.

You’ll need to show your ticket and have it scanned by AIB on entry to the venue so please buy in advance if you can.  Tickets will be available on the door too.  We’re not expecting a big crowd or queues, so doors will open at 4:30.  

The Supporters Club will be on hand with a selection of merch, and you can also pick up your Season Ticket from the back of Block 13 up until the end of the first period.

Our first proper home game of the season will be on Saturday 10th September at 7pm vs. Peterborough Phantoms.  This is not a Season Ticket game, so Season Ticket holders please check your email for how to buy.

For tickets to any games, please check out bit.ly/WatchMKL