MKL players will be taking part in their pre-season training camp during the week of the 11th-16th September, with fitness testing, team building and tactical preparation across the weekend, finishing with a scrimmage with MK Thunder on the Saturday evening and Meet the Players in the bar afterwards.
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 costs. Once these costs are covered, we’ll donate any profits from the gate receipts to MK Storm junior ice hockey club so every ticket helps towards this!
Last year we raised £1000 for the juniors that they spent on ensuring the age group mangers had full first aid kits and team kit bags, including spare protection equipment for players, repair kits for helmets, etc.
Lightning vs Thunder
We will match up the teams to play against each other to a competitive level. 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:
- 18:00 – Players introduced onto the ice and warm up
- 18:20 – Period 1
- 18:42 – Break
- 18:47 – Period 2
- 19:09 – Break and resurface
- 19:24 – Period 3
- 19:46 – Penalty Shoot Out
- 20:00 – Players leave the ice
At 8pm, head up to the bar (players will get changed and be up there from around 8:30) and Mike Walls 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. Note ALL tickets for this attract a 12% booking by Planet Ice.
We’re not expecting a big crowd or queues, so doors will open at 17:30.
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 League and Cup game of the season will be on Saturday 23rd September at 7pm vs. Raiders IHC.
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22/23 Pre-season Scrimmage with Thunder
