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Backwards Game to Make Hockey History Tomorrow

September 5, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL) Dubuque Fighting Saints

DUBUQUE, Iowa-While hockey season gets underway tomorrow evening at the Mystique Community Ice Center, the Dubuque Fighting Saints are poised to make history. In a promotion that has gained the attention of national media members, the Fighting Saints will host the Backwards Game, an entire hockey game played completely backwards, finish to start. The festivities for this first in known hockey history start (or rather, end) at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow night as Dubuque hosts the Janesville Jets of the NAHL in a controlled scrimmage.

The evening begins at the Mystique Community Ice Center with the two teams on the ice, shaking hands, the announcement of the "Three Stars of the Game," and the celebration of a Dubuque Fighting Saints, or "Saints Fighting Dubuque," victory. Following the "postgame" festivities, the two teams will then participate in a shootout with the home team shooting first. At the conclusion of the shootout will come a five minute overtime session. The third period is next, followed by the second and first periods.

Since the announcement of the Backwards Game, word of the unique promotion has spread nationally across the hockey community and beyond. Yahoo Sports recently featured the Backwards Game and the Fighting Saints on its popular hockey blog, Puck Daddy.

Not only will the action on the ice be backwards, but the entire game experience will be flipped tomorrow night as well. The Fighting Saints have added a few new features to the program for the Backwards Game, including encouraging fans to do the wave, but in reverse. Fans will start standing up, and then wave their arms into the air as they sit down. The team will also include a "Breakup Cam," in place of the traditional "Kiss Cam."

During an intermission, the "Slingshot Bowling" game will be played backwards, with the contestant starting by the goal instead of center ice, picking up the knocked over pins, and scooting himself backwards on a sled to the starting point. Rather than have the fans throw Chuck-a-Pucks onto the ice, it will be the Fighting Saints players throwing Chuck-a-Pucks into the crowd. Breaks in the action will include games of Jeopardy, where the contestant is given the answer and must provide the question. Instead of youth Mite and Pee Wee teams playing hockey between periods, the Fighting Saints have reached out to adult leagues in the area, hoping some grey-haired Fossils will take the ice. Additionally, while the Kid's Zone is a favorite at Fighting Saints games, this night will feature an Adult's Zone for the more mature fans to enjoy.

As fans enter the arena tomorrow night, Fighting Saints staff will thank them for attending at the beginning of the night, and welcome them as they leave. The clock will run up each period rather than run down from 20:00. Players will be referred to in last name, then first name fashion, and the announcement of those assisting on a goal will come prior to the announcement of the goal scorer himself.

Tomorrow night's event will be capped off with the usual "pregame" festivities coming last rather than first. A ceremonial puck pick-up (as opposed to the ceremonial puck drop) will be held following the game, and the national anthem will be performed after this. The starting lineups and pregame lightshow will then occur, concluding a night of having the script completely flipped.

Tickets to this historic event remain available. Fans can purchase tickets to the Backwards Game online by visiting DubuqueFightingSaints.com or by calling 563.583.6880.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 5, 2012


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