ESPN Tailgate and Blue-White Game Saturday

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State kicks off the 2008-09 hockey season Saturday with the ESPN Tailgate Tour from 3-7 p.m. and the annual Blue-White at 7 p.m. at the Norris Center.

The two events, which are free and open to the public, follow Tuesday's Central Collegiate Hockey Association Media Day and the season's first Laker Hockey Show.

Laker fans can view live coverage of CCHA Media Day on www.ccha.com at noon Tuesday. The Laker Hockey Show will be broadcast live from Dondee Lanes every Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. beginning Sept. 30. This week's guests on the Laker Hockey Show will be LSSU assistant coach Tim Christian and LSSU assistant director of athletics Tom Coates, while head coach Jim Roque will be attending CCHA meetings and Media Day in Grand Rapids. The Laker Hockey Show is broadcast live on WSOO AM 1230 and is hosted by Mark SanAngelo.

The ESPN Tailgate Tour includes contests such as the Quarterback Blitz throwing challenge and Wii Madden '09, a chance to win a PlayStation 3 and free food. LSSU student-athletes will be attending the event, and LSSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members will be selling Links of Love for $1 each in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Laker hockey season ticket packages will be on sale at the Norris Center Ticket Office from 6 p.m. Saturday through first intermission of the Blue-White Game. Beginning at 6:45 p.m., free Believe In Blue t-shirts will be given to the first 500 LSSU students with valid school IDs.

The Blue-White Game will consist of two 25-minute stop-time periods. Guest coaches will be Eugene and Perry Pingatore, winners of a silent auction prize at the 2008 Lake State Golf Classic.

The Lakers officially open their season with the second annual Superior Cup on Oct. 10-11. They play host to Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan Tech at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, respectively.