Austin Ice Bats Warm Up The Holiday Season With Special Operation Blue Santa Night - CHL

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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League plan to make the holidays a little brighter, today announcing a pair of December promotions to help those in need. The Ice Bats will host “Operation Blue Santa Night” this Saturday, December 9th, and “Support Our Troops Night” the following Saturday, December 16th at the all-new Chaparral Ice Arena.

At this Saturday’s game against Corpus Christi, the Ice Bats and their fans will be providing assistance to the Austin Police Department’s “Operation Blue Santa” program, which has delivered toys and food to families in need throughout the Austin area since 1972. Each year, the program serves nearly 4,000 families, with 14,000 children in those families receiving gifts.

Fans may help the program in two ways. They may call 927-PUCK and order tickets for the game, and when they mention “Blue Santa,” 25 percent of the ticket proceeds will go to help fund “Operation Blue Santa.” Or if they prefer, fans may receive $5 off regular admission to the game when they deliver a new unwrapped toy to the Ice Bats offices in advance of the game, or on game night at Chaparral Ice Arena. The evening will also feature a post-game auction of the holiday jerseys worn by the team during the game, with all proceeds from the auction to benefit Ice Bats Children’s Charities. Other featured auction packages include Dallas Stars club seats, an opportunity to be “Assistant Coach” for an Ice Bats game, and Ice Bats signed memorabilia. In addition, fans may have digital photos taken with Santa free of charge, and the “Texas Lottery Race” will take place between periods, giving fans an opportunity to win a free Texas Lottery scratch-off ticket.

The following Saturday, December 16th, the U.S. Army presents “Support Our Troops Night,” as the Ice Bats face Rio Grande Valley. Fans who attend that game will have an opportunity to express their support by signing a large banner in the main lobby at Chaparral Ice Arena. After the game, the banner will be sent to U.S. Army troops in the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed near Baghdad in Iraq . The unit’s former troop commander says the support will go a long way toward making the season brighter for soldiers stationed in Iraq . “Having been over there for a year, I can tell you that anything that brings a little piece of home to Iraq is greatly appreciated,” said Major Robert C. Morris III, now Company Commander for the U.S. Army Austin Recruiting Company. “Care packages for the holidays, the ability to watch the Super Bowl… these are all little things that mean a tremendous amount. And having a show of support from a local organization like the Ice Bats that people know, means even more.”