Bulldogs fans who get to the gates early Saturday will be rewarded with a free pack of first-ever Bulldogs Hockey cards, complements of Alberni Valley News and the Bulldogs.
The 24 deck of cards features an action photo of each player on the front and the player’s statistics on the back.
The cards are each sponsored by local businesses, in most cases the same businesses that sponsor the players’ jerseys.
“With the team becoming community owned this year, it just felt right to do something special for the fans and for the team,” said Alberni Valley News publisher Teresa Bird.
The first 150 fans through the gates Saturday night for the Bulldogs game against Victoria, will receive a deck of the cards.
Players will each get their own packs, sponsors will each receive two decks and the remaining sets will be donated to the Bulldogs for fundraising.
“It is a win-win project for everyone,” said Bird who acknowledges the invaluable assistance of Bulldogs marketing manager Laurie Smillie and The Graphics Factory’s Peter Wienold in the success of the project.
Fans at the game can also purchase pucks for the Movember puck toss and donate their change to the Alberni Valley News Pennies for Presents between periods.