Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin the 2011-12 season by reporting to training camp on Friday, Sept. 16, and will hit the ice for their first practice on Saturday, Sept. 17.
The Penguins’ first two practice dates – Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18 – will be open to the public at CONSOL Energy Center.
The Penguins will play six preseason games, beginning with a home contest against the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. on Sept. 21 at CONSOL Energy Center. Pittsburgh will also play host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. and the Minnesota Wild on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m.
The Penguins will hold the team’s second annual “Free Game for Kids” when they face Minnesota. For that game the Penguins are distributing 18,000 free tickets to kids aged 5-21 in an effort to reach out, thank young fans and continue to expose them to Penguins hockey.
Pittsburgh will have three road preseason games, including a neutral site contest against the Los Angeles Kings in Kansas City on Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. The Penguins will also visit Chicago on Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. and conclude their exhibition slate at Detroit on Oct. 2 at 5 p.m.
In addition to their six exhibition games, the Penguins will also play a Black and Gold Game at Mohegan Sun Arena – home of the team’s top minor-league affiliate the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – on Monday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
The Penguins open the regular season on Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. against the defending Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks and play their home opener at CONSOL Energy Center on Oct. 11 against the Florida Panthers at 7:30 p.m.
Individual game tickets for all regular-season home games will go on sale Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.
Notes
The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin the 2011-12 campaign by inviting fans to take part in the team’s first two training camp practices Sept 17-18 at CONSOL Energy Center.
Both practice days will be open to the public and free of charge, and will feature open seating throughout the arena bowl. Practices will run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with gates opening at 8:45 a.m. Fans can enter CONSOL Energy Center via the Trib Total Media, American Eagle or Verizon Gates.
Free parking will be available in the CONSOL Energy Center surface lots on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Penguins’ practice will begin at 9 a.m. on both days, with an intra-squad scrimmage slated for 10 a.m.
Select arena concession stands will be open, as will PensGear powered by Reebok, the team’s official store located inside the Trib Total Media Gate.
The Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office will open at 9 a.m. on both days for fans to purchase tickets for upcoming games. Individual game tickets for the 2011-12 season go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.
