The Trail Smoke Eaters are primed for a long playoff run and action around the Cominco Arena is feverish in anticipation of Friday’s Game 1 matchup against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The final home game of the season brought in the season’s largest crowd in a 3-1 Smokies victory over the Vernon Vipers, paving the way for the Smoke Eaters third-place finish and top seed in the first-round Interior Division playoff.
Trail Smoke Eaters Corporate Sales and Event Manager Allison McCarthy is expecting even more for tonight and Saturday’s games, and is stocking up for the Smokies first playoff run in six years.
“We’ve probably sold over 600 tickets so far,” said McCarthy. “We had to place a really large order for our food and beverage, because last game we had over 1,800 fans in attendance, which was great, but we’re hoping for 2,000-plus fans for playoffs.”
The Smoke Eaters will also add even more noise to an already electric evening with its Thunder-Stick give-away night on Friday, courtesy of Re/Max All Pro Realty and the Trail Smoke Eaters Society.
“The first 500 fans who enter will be given a pair of Go-Smokies Thunder Sticks,” said McCarthy. “We’re also doing a Facebook contest for a shoot-to-win challenge during the first intermission.”
Trail supporters are encouraged to go online to the Smoke Eaters Facebook page, and enter the contest to be one-of-three individuals that face off at centre ice Friday and shoot three pucks for a chance to win $100 cash. On Saturday, the Smoke Eaters Underwear Band will lead the cheers in Game 2.
The Trail Smoke Eaters office doors will be open to purchase game tickets and colourful merchandise like the ‘Bleed Orange’ T-shirts from 9 a.m. to game time on Friday and 10 a.m. to game time on Saturday. Season-ticket holder seats are reserved.
Adult tickets are $14, Seniors $13, students 13-18 are $8, ages 7-12 $5, and 6-and-under are free.