Calgary Flames take on Colorado Avalanche in home opener

The Calgary Flames are hosting reigning Stanley Cup champions the Colorado Avalanche Thursday in their home opener at the Saddledome.

If you are heading to the game to be part of the C of Red, be sure to get there early, as the first 5,000 fans who arrive (and are of legal drinking age) will get a coupon for a free beer.

You can claim your free beer ticket from ushers as you enter the ‘Dome, as long as you get there in time. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The departures of Johnny “Hockey” Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sean Monahan turned into the arrivals of Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Mackenzie Weegar in the offseason.

Before the game, Calgary’s newly signed Kadri will get his Stanley Cup ring.

Hand-delivered by his former Avalanche teammates hours before facing them in his Flames debut, the 18.5-carat bauble will be placed on his finger.

Kadri won the Cup last season with Colorado after a career year, earning 87 points in the regular season and seven big goals and 15 points in 16 playoff games.

Meanwhile, Huberdeau’s sister will be in attendance at the game, albeit not strictly as a fan. She’ll be performing the American national anthem during the game’s opening ceremonies.

“Should be a lot of fun, lot of family, friends tonight in attendance. So, it’s gonna be exciting, plus my sister’s singing, so it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” Huberdeau told reporters Thursday.

He admits he only sings in the shower and that his sister is the one with the musical talent. His favourite song to belt out in the bathroom? I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys.

His sister, however, is no stranger to singing at NHL games.

“We started that way, when I was junior, and when she was probably 14 at the time — even younger actually … In Florida she sang a lot against Montreal. A lot of family were at the games so we just thought it was cool,” Huberdeau said.

“Now she’s been asking me every year, so then when I got traded here, she’s like, ‘oh, you could ask if I can sing?’ I was like, ‘yeah that’s a good idea.’ Then first game, she’s here, so I was like, ‘yeah, might as well ask’ and the Flames [have] been great, and they said yes.”

Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. in Calgary. You can watch the game on Sportsnet ONE or Sportsnet NOW.

–With files from Logan Stein and Sportsnet’s Eric Francis