Get to know Maine’s winter sports activities groups and what they’re providing for fan enjoyable

Whoever coined the phrase “fun and games” should have been a minor league sports activities fan.

Maine’s minor league groups are nice sources of household leisure, mixing lots of enjoyable with the precise video games. There’s music and mascots, teddy bear tosses and towel giveaways. Plus you get to scream with a whole lot — or hundreds — of latest pals, sip beer, dine on nachos and scorching canines and possibly see a struggle or two.

Right now it’s winter sports activities season in Maine. We’re fortunate sufficient in southern and central Maine to have a number of groups to cheer for, together with the Maine Mariners hockey crew and Maine Celtics basketball crew in Portland, together with the Maine Nordiques in Auburn and Lewiston Maineiacs in Lewiston. The Mariners and Celtics are skilled minor league groups, which means their gamers aren’t too far faraway from making it to the NHL or NBA. The others play junior hockey, with rosters stuffed with 17- to 20-year-olds hoping for larger issues.

Also this winter there’s a brand new junior hockey crew enjoying in southern Maine, the Connecticut Chiefs North, which is owned by one other crew based mostly in Newington, Connecticut. That crew has video games scheduled at Biddeford Ice Arena in addition to on the University of Southern Maine’s enviornment in Gorham.

Here’s somewhat bit about every crew and what their video games provide to followers.

Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Square, Portland. marinersofmaine.com

The Mariners are an expert crew simply two rungs under the NHL, and affiliated with the Boston Bruins. So meaning the Mariners you watch at this time may very well be within the NHL tomorrow (or two years from now).

Most video games there’s some promotion or contest to get followers concerned. There’s a “Throwback Night” on Sunday, with $10 tickets and a crew autograph session. And each Sunday is a “Sunday Fun Day” with cornhole, a placing inexperienced and face portray on the concourse.

The subsequent teddy bear toss occasion is Dec. 6. Patrons are requested to carry a brand new or evenly used stuffed animal to the sport and toss it onto the ice when the primary Mariners’ objective is scored, to be scooped up and donated to Toys for Tots. Hundreds of teddy bears flying via the air is a sight to not be missed. Also that day there’s a free winter beanie for the primary 1,000 followers. See the total schedule of promotions and giveaways, together with bobble heads and foam tridents, on the Mariners’ web site. Advance costs vary from $20 to $32, plus charges when bought via Ticketmaster.

Portland Expo, 239 Park Ave., Portland. maine.gleague.nba.com

Another professional crew, the Celtics are a developmental crew of the Boston Celtics. So you actually might see a participant right here at this time and there tomorrow. The crew performs within the historic city-owned Expo, which opened in 1915.

As if basketball isn’t fast-moving sufficient, there’s additionally the Maine Hype Team, a precision dance crew, to offer extra fast-moving leisure when the ball is just not in play. The crew’s mascot, a inexperienced lobster named Crusher, usually joins within the enjoyable. Team members additionally assist out with on-court contests. There’s a lightweight present and music at each recreation in addition to some kind of halftime efficiency, together with nationwide acts like Red Panda or The Zooperstars.

Some upcoming game promotions embody a go to from Santa Claus and a T-shirt giveaway on Dec. 14, a efficiency by the Frisbee Dogs on Dec. 31 and Fan Appreciation Night on March 22, with a free crew poster and an autograph session. Tickets begin at $19.

The Colisee, 190 Birch St., Lewiston. lewistonmaineiacshockey.com

The Maineiacs play in a division of the United States Premier Hockey League, and supply a “track to college hockey” for its younger gamers, based on its web site. That means you’ll get to see some high-energy hockey and gamers with younger legs. They play within the historic, 4,000-seat Colisee. The wonderful thing about junior hockey is that it’s usually an inexpensive night time out. Tickets are $5.45 to $6.48, on-line. Some promotions embody crew meet-and-greet periods, and free tickets in change for donating varied objects. The Mainiacs tackle Universal Quebec Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m., at residence.

Norway Savings Bank Arena, 985 Turner St., Auburn. nahl.com/teams

The Nordiques play within the North American Hockey League, which has groups as far-off as North Dakota and Texas. The subsequent residence recreation is Nov. 26 at 7:15 p.m. towards the Northeast Generals, based mostly in Canton, Massachusetts. Tickets begin at $5.50 for standing room close to the participant’s entrance and $10 for bleachers. Season ticket holders get reductions on Nordiques merchandise and have entry to game-used gear giveaways.

Biddeford Ice Arena, 14 Pomerleau St., Biddeford. ctchiefshockey.com/teams/ncdc

This is a brand new crew, owned by one other crew based mostly in Connecticut, that simply began enjoying in Maine this 12 months. It performs in the identical convention because the Maineiacs, with video games scheduled in Biddeford and on the University of Southern Maine rink in Gorham, based on the league schedule online. The crew’s subsequent scheduled residence recreation is Dec. 19 in Biddeford towards the Maineiacs. Ticket costs and different recreation particulars couldn’t be discovered on-line, and the crew didn’t return a name and e mail in search of extra info.