Griffins set to join forces with rival Ooks in facing off against Oilers rookies Sept. 11
The game is set for Tuesday, September 11 at 7 p.m. at Rogers Place.
Players from each of the two post-secondary teams, who typically compete against each other in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, will be selected to form the MacEwan/NAIT All-Star Team.
The MacEwan Griffins have become a powerhouse in the ACAC, winning the league's last two men's hockey championships. They defeated the NAIT Ooks in the conference final series in both 2017 and 2018.
The Ooks (23-3-3-1) topped the ACAC 2017-18 regular season standings, finishing five points ahead of the Griffins (20-7-1-0). But MacEwan won the best-of-three final series 2-1, claiming a decisive 4-1 win in Game 3 at the NAIT Arena to raise another banner.
Though the teams are historic rivals, they had no trouble setting aside their differences at last year's inaugural game, coming together to shut out the Oilers rookies 2-0.
"Anytime you get the chance to participate in an event of this magnitude it's exciting," says MacEwan Griffins men's hockey head coach Michael Ringrose. "We are looking forward to temporarily setting aside what's become a great rivalry with NAIT to come together for this opportunity. It's a great showcase for our league and our institutions."
After the success of last year's event, excitement is quickly building around campus for this year's game.
"We spend the entire season on opposite sides of the ice, so it's really something to see our two teams working as one and playing together so well," says MacEwan President Deborah Saucier. "Taking on professional NHL players is an unforgettable experience not only for our Griffins players and coaches, but also for the students, faculty and staff who get to watch it happen."
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, August 24 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. All tickets are general admission and are priced at $25 each plus applicable fees.
