Latest / Inside Cyclones Hockey / Players Are Reporting To Wausau + October Promotions Released

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Players Are Reporting To Wausau + October Promotions Released · Inside Cyclones Hockey

• 0:00
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• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Mark Robinson, and as usual, this off season, joined by our amazing director of business operations, Zach Stirway, we are creeping closer and closer and closer to the 2026-27 NA3HL season.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, this episode that you're listening to right now is the last episode before we have an episode in the same month that the season starts.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: So if that doesn't show you how freaking close we are getting to watch the cyclones hockey being back in action, I don't know what does.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: But as we wrap up the off season, Zach and myself have another episode to get you all the info you need about the Cyclone season starting up, some promotions coming up, some other things to keep in mind in terms of housekeeping as we get closer and closer to the season.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: So once again, pleased to welcome Zach to another episode of The Pod.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: Zach, thanks for joining me.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: How are you?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: And how excited are you getting that we are almost back in action for the wasp cycling season?
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_02: I'm ready to go.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_02: It's uh uh under uh it's gonna be coming up on believe it or not, 30 days uh this coming weekend here as we record.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_02: So um players are back in town and things are things are moving, that's for sure.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, so I that was the first thing I was gonna ask you, actually, is uh players reported uh you know mid to late this month, which means everybody's back in Wassa, getting out on the ice, skating with uh newest head coach of the Wasa Cyclones, uh Luke Meyer.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um just how exciting is that to think about how, you know, whether it's the older guys that are returning for another season or some of the players that are maybe stepping foot in Wassa for the first time.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um I guess first of all, how exciting is that for you?
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: And second of all, have you been up and around Wassa in the arena and have you seen anybody getting back at action?
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Is it starting to get you excited for the season?
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, the uh I was up in Wassa this past Monday, Tuesday, and we had our um we had our annual uh kickoff party with the Billets and players on on Monday night, and I set it at that event.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_02: Um that's one of my favorite nights of the year, just because um it's always just cool, I think, to get everyone that is really important to the organization in one room together to just signify obviously um everyone being on the on the same team and and working together, obviously what the bills provide for the the players with their first experience away from their mom and dad, um, and obviously providing that foundation for them to be successful and have a good mindset on the ice um and really keep obviously any off-ice um things to be at a minimum um in terms of distractions and things like that.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_02: So um it's always cool to have a um you know new group of of families coming in and joining us and being part of the Wells Society family and and two.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_02: Um they're always obviously really excited for the the year to come.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I know Luke uh and the guys got on ice um this past Monday for the first time, so that's always always really exciting, obviously.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_02: And believe it or not, they're gonna be uh already having games uh next weekend down in Peoria.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_02: So they got a short, short time to uh get acclimated with everyone.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_02: Um just have the schedule laid out this year, but it's gonna be a lot of fun, you know, obviously knowing that we're we'll be home here in about a month um at Marathon Park.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_02: The arena is starting to shape up, uh getting everything cleaned up, obviously, from the fair that took place a couple weeks ago.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_02: But uh it's uh always really cool when the weather starts to turn and um you get that hockey feeling back in there.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, uh like you said, we are actually exactly one month to a T away from the first home game of the season, September 26th.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: The Cyclones open their home season at Marathon Park against the newest team in the NA3HL, the Fox Cities Forge.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but as you mentioned as well, in the meantime, they'll have some away games to get under their legs a little bit, get under their skates, get used to the start of the season, get used to you know working with a new head coach.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I can almost guarantee that by the time they're uh by the time they're here at Marathon Park for the first time, they're gonna be ready to rock and roll in front of an awesome home crowd.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: And uh if there's one thing I remember, Zach, from last year, that first home game, that that crowd is fired up to see Cyclones players back out on the ice.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: So that's that's definitely a game that you don't want to miss is that that first uh that first home game of the season.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I know other thing I wanted to say about that too, just speaking on the season being a month away.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_02: Um it just reminds me two weeks season or I should say single uh game tickets went on sale yesterday too.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_02: So um fans can now get um, you know, if you're not necessarily obviously getting a full season plan with the founders or flex plan um to get multiple games, you can now buy single game tickets.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_02: We had a number of people that obviously hopped right on when those uh went on sale um yesterday at 10 a.m.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_02: So you want to scroll through and and check out uh some of the different promotions that we have going on and get your tickets opening day um or opening nights, I should say.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_02: Um you need to do so now.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_02: So that's really exciting.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, that's one of for me, at least uh on the business side, it's always a cool benchmark that uh tickets are back on sale for our games.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_02: That obviously means hockey's really, really close.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's getting closer and closer, like I said, creeping, creeping very close up, which is which is super exciting.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, one thing that I know comes along with cyclones hockey at Marathon Park Arena, not just the the awesome hockey, the good food, the community, the fan base, uh, but the promotions is always something that you know we we pride ourselves on, Zach.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: And you you guys and the business team do such a phenomenal job with.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: And um, last year there was countless different awesome things.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: A team USA wasp, a t-shirt, a Sally, the Cyclones, Dr.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: Sally Bobblehead.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: I actually got him sitting on my desk right now.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, a Cyclones football jersey that was designed just like the Packers jersey.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: My point being, I could go on and on about all these awesome giveaways, is there are countless different things that you can get your hands on with all our different promotional nights.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: And we talked a little bit about uh what which promotions are going to be in September on the uh the last episode.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_00: Uh obviously some$2 beer nights coming up again, and then some other really exciting stuff.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: But we've got some October promotions rolling out as well.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_00: So wanted to turn it over to you, Zach, to let everybody know what they can expect on the October games, the October schedule in terms of what kind of promotional nights they'll see uh during the October home games at Marathon Park Ice Arena.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so this year, um, as you just mentioned, we have three home games in October, and that first one kicks off with the promotion we had already mentioned that$2 beer night uh presented by Bush Light.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_02: And then we do now have set excuse me, the uh game on Saturday, October 17th.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_02: This has been a popular promotion over the years um for obviously kids and their and their families to come out and and uh always um order as kind of a a warm-up or uh a test drive of um of their Halloween costume con uh for the up um trigger treaty in a couple weeks, obviously on the 31st of of October.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_02: So that is gonna be Saturday, October 17th, our Halloween and costume contest and Trigger Treaty game presented by Goodwill NCW.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um with that costume contest, as maybe if you're listening, you haven't been to that event in the past.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_02: That costume contest takes place during the first intermission of that evening's game.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_02: Um we've had some really cool and y unique um costumes over the past uh couple years.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_02: I'm thinking back to last year, uh Mark, I know we had uh two y young girls that was pretty creative and they came up with two blind referees as a as a mascot or as a costume.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_02: There was um all kinds of different things.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_02: I think in the past we've had I don't know if it was last year or two years ago, we had a porcupine uh that that was uh one of the costumes.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um a lot of different creative stuff.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_02: Like uh I know in the past uh I believe it was last year, we had a cyclone uh girl dressed as a cyclone's cheerleader, um, all kinds of of different different costumes.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_02: So be creative with it.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um and obviously we do a judging based on audience reaction um during that first intermission um as well.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_02: And then two during that game with the trick-or-trini, we'll have that going on throughout the the lobby and over to the entrance of the um of coming into the the ice arena as well.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_02: So the different tables, whether um tickets, different ticket stands, and we'll call it at the front entrance, uh merchandise, check-a-puck, um, all those different items.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_02: Uh we'll have uh candy to give away for the kids to, like I just said, test drive uh test drive their costume for the upcoming Halloween uh holiday on the 31st.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: Enjoy the excitement of Cyclones hockey in the Bushlight Clone Zone.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_00: Your ticket in the clone zone includes a limited edition Bushlight Clone Zone beer mug and complimentary Bushlight and Mikelove Ultra from doors opening through 10 minutes remaining in the third period.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: Complimentary snacks include assortments of pub mix, pretzels, and chips.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_00: Ice level seating with pub tables and general admission bar height chairs with an excellent view of all the action.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: Visit WastaCyclones.com slash bushlight clone zone to learn more today.
• 12:10
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• 12:20
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• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: Nothing like getting to test drive your costume for one.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: I remember being a kid and always wanting to put my costume on days and days and days before actual Halloween night.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: And so it's always fun when there's a day that you get to do that and kind of get the rains going on a little bit.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: And it's such a fun time for those kids.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_00: And I gotta say, Zach, you you stole my thunder a little bit.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: I was gonna mention those referees as well.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: That was just the most creative costume that I think I've ever seen.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: So I'll be excited to see uh what kind of what kind of other creative creativity comes out with those um with those costumes.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: I know you know it's uh it's the low-hanging fruit, but I always just love seeing the hockey players too.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: There's lots of Austin Matthews out there.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: I think I even maybe saw a Nathan McKinnon at one point.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: There's just there's always always a few hockey players as well, and that's uh, you know, like I said, kind of the low-hanging fruit.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, when you're going to a hockey game, how could you not dress up as a hockey player?
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's just a classic.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I know we've had a number two um of kids dressed up as um from hockey, obviously hockey-related movies too in in the past, so it's always really cool.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_02: And obviously kids get um, like you just said, kids get really into it.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, the other thing I'll say too that uh I don't know, I'm sure you're familiar with over in Colorado too, where you grew up is in Wisconsin a lot of times the the joke is always about you you're always dressed up, uh have your costume on, and then you have a coat over it because it's always so cold for for Halloween.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_02: So this is an opportunity where you obviously are indoors at this event, so uh you don't need to have that uh that big bulky coat to cover your costume, so it's hard to tell what what uh you're actually dressed up as.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_02: So um it's always a a lot of fun and we'll look forward to that um on Saturday, October 17th, and then to the final promotion for the October schedule.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I believe we mentioned it briefly to a couple weeks ago was that Cyclone Salute to Service Hat giveaway that be presented by our friends at the Medical College of Wisconsin to the first 250 fans for that event as well.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_02: Um I will tease two also.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it's gonna be either later this week or next week.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_02: We'll have um the actual design of that hat out publicly.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_02: Um it turned out really, really well.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_02: I think uh again, like we said a couple weeks ago, we'll get to kind of design it up as similar to what the NFL does with their saluted service hats um with uh with that similar type of design.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_02: So really looking to forward to that one, and that one um will be the re first um obviously clothing item that we'll give away for this upcoming year.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: And the clothing items are just once again the things that you always want to try to get your hands on.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I've got the camo hat from last year.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_00: I mentioned these two things already, but the football jersey, the the team USA Wassa t-shirt, um, the pink Valentine's Day shirt, just a ton of different merch and a ton of different stuff.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: And it's it's like, you know, I I think to myself, you know, the average fan of an average team all around the country.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: You buy a ticket to go to a game, and then you end up having to buy, you know, a piece of merch, a hat, a shirt, whatever it may be.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: This is like a golden opportunity to take off the purchase factor for getting your hands on merch to support your team, which is unbelievably awesome.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't know how you couldn't jump on that opportunity almost immediately.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: So that's a that's a another thing to consider for fans, too, is if you want to if you want to get your hands on some cyclones merch, all you gotta do is map out your plan to come to these games, get your tickets in advance at waspcyclones.com, and then you're good to go.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's just it's awesome.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: So another super exciting promotion to get your hands on some Cyclones merch, which is super, super cool.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no doubt.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I mean, what like you just said, I I think the thing that is it's is kind of crazy, but it really it goes back to a lot of the obviously the business relationships that we have in the community with our partners, is we're able to give that pass set on to fans um to their benefit.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, we all know that like especially with the merchandise and stuff like that, when you're trying to support something and you um a great way to do it is you know, obviously get that marketing out in the community, is people obviously with different things wearing your stuff.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_02: So um really happy that that fans really enjoy it.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_02: We've seen it, uh I know we've talked previously on that on the podcast about it, is people in Wausau love free stuff, so um it's always really cool that we're able to uh to get that in their hands and for them to enjoy it and obviously wear down the line.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, 100%.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um and speaking of promotions and I guess more so merch, um you know, I just obviously mentioned that the best possible way to get your hands on some one-of-a-kind, unique Cyclones merch.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_00: Because I guess the other thing too, Zach, that's cool about all the promotional stuff is it's it's it's one of one.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: Like once you get your hands on that, we usually sometimes we do, but we don't usually repeat promotions.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: And if you are one of the first 500 fans or first 250 fans, whatever the number may be, to get your hands on some of these items, they aren't sold on our website or anything like that.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: So that's another really cool thing about um all these promotional items and and especially the merch side of it.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um but in addition to all the promotional stuff that we're doing and all the promotional merch we're giving away, we obviously also have our Wassa Cyclones store.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: You can buy merch at the games.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: We have a wide array and a wide selection of hats, shirts, jerseys, sweatshirts, sweats, whatever it may be, whatever you can think of.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_00: But lucky for Cyclones fans, we've got a little bit of a sale going on, it sounds like.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: And it sounds like Cyclones fans can get their hands on some Wassa Cyclones merch at a discounted price before the season starts.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: If you want to give some details on that, Zach, and how fans can get their hands on some awesome Cyclones merch at potentially a pretty significant discounted price.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so we'll have um our merchandise, which uh fans are in the past know that we do annually an online store um leading up into the season in September, and then also um over the just prior to uh around Black Friday in early December, too.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_02: So we only do this two times per year.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_02: So I want fans to take uh advantage of this.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, if you're listening um from somewhere further off, you maybe you're not able to really get too many games, or it could be something where your family of a player and I don't know, you live in Ohio or whatever the case may be.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um, this is really your only one of two opportunities all year to be able to get your hands on Cyclones merchandise online.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_02: So we will be running a store on Wassacyclones.com backslash shop.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_02: That's gonna be launching here this week.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_02: So stay tuned to our social accounts um for all the details and the link on that.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_02: That will that store will run um through uh early September.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_02: So you want to get your hands on that um in place that order uh to get that merchandise um coming up for the upcoming year.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_02: We have a lot of really cool designs that I think people are gonna enjoy.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um brand new um to this this upcoming come upcoming season, obviously.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_02: So a lot of different items to for fans to choose from um over the course of uh the upcoming year uh with that.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_02: So again, I just want to emphasize it's only one of two times that we do this um all year round.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_02: So don't say, hey, uh share me an email in in uh October.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_02: When when do you have that online store?
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_02: Well, it just happens.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_02: So um you only get one of these couple of opportunities all year round.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_02: So I just want to really focus on that to make sure that those folks that are out of state uh to get on that.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I know that we do still obviously have some people that'll purchase it that are in the area that want is uh more convenient.
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe they're not making a game until December or something like that.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_02: Um to uh to jump on and browse the merchandise.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_02: Another thing I'll say too with that is even if you not necessarily uh place an order through the store, um, a lot of these items will be items that we will carry on hand.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um obviously at all the 22 record season games as well.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_02: So you're gonna get a preview uh of that uh for the upcoming year too.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_02: So all these items too, I will say obviously will be shipped out to you um towards late uh September um to get them in hands for Rom at uh timing of the home opener.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: I I I would say the biggest thing that sticks out to me about this, you know, unique merch sale opportunity.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: If you're listening uh as as a friend or a family member of Of a player, you know, like to your point, Zach, maybe someone who supports a Cyclones player from afar, if you live far away.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_00: This is a golden opportunity to with ease get your hands on a piece of Cyclones merch to where, you know, regardless of where you live, if you're supporting someone from Colorado, California, somewhere on the east coast, uh, you know, near Wisconsin, but not close enough to make the drive to buy it, buy a piece of merch quite yet.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, this is a a perfect opportunity to purchase some and get your hands on it, and that way you don't have to worry about not having all the awesome stuff to support the cyclones.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: So pretty awesome that we've got this opportunity uh for Cyclones fans to get their hands on all our new merch this year.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, like you said, Zach, wassacyclins.com slash shop.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and that'll go live in about a week here, and we can start rolling out our awesome new merch for the 2026-27 season.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_02: And the other thing, one last item I want to point out on that store is um the other real benefit to it too is obviously with that online store, we have all the the options for the different sizings that you or sizes that you want for those different uh clothing items.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, if you come, let's just say, for example, you come to a game, um, obviously early in the season will be plenty in stock, but maybe it's as the stock is down a little bit, let's say it's uh mid-December or something like that.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_02: We might be out of a certain size and and things like that.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_02: So this is a great way to guarantee you know you're gonna get your size of of what the item you're looking for, too.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_02: Not that saying that it happens a whole a ton, but it does happen where you know, obviously we come out, uh run out of a certain size.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_02: So um it's a great way to just uh have a little bit of insurance for yourself, like we just said, if you're further away and you're not 100% sure if you're gonna make a game, um, to get your hands and and support um cyclones this way.
• 24:05
  SPEAKER_02: The other thing that's always really cool, obviously, that personally for me, and I know from um other employees of ours is seeing all the merchandise around at you know across the country at different uh events, whether it's like in the beach in Florida or wherever the case is, it's always really cool for for fans to uh to purchase those items um and and go to all kinds of different um locales to uh support the cyclones.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_02: So it's uh it's a cool thing for sure.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely a super cool thing.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so talked a little bit about how families from afar can support the Wassa Cyclones and get their hands on some merch, but we've also got some stuff coming up this season for families that are in Wassa, and it's not just for families of players, but just families that are local in general.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so I want to talk a little bit about family nights, Zach, and what those it will entail for the 2026-27 season and how uh local families in the Wassa area who who love getting out to Wasa Cyclones games can can reap the benefits of it and and make sure they're involved uh at full capacity.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so these have been become extremely, extremely popular um over the last several years, several years, just simply because it's one of those things that's very limited on our promotional schedule.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_02: Um, as most fans know.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_02: We have 22 regular season home games during um the season.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_02: And uh of those, we only do two family nights throughout the course of the year where we discount um the single game tickets for those games.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_02: So um the first one of those uh being is gonna be on Black Friday, it'll be on November 27th.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_02: Historically, we've done it um on that night, and obviously it always lends itself to a really good turnout because a lot of times obviously people have family in town for Thanksgiving the day before, and they're looking for something fun to do um on that evening.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_02: So again, this year family nights are presented by our friends at Festival Foods, um, and fans are gonna save up to 20% on those tickets.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um that first one is November 27th, and the second one and final one of the season is happens to be on February 27th.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um, again, another Saturday night uh where fans will be able to save up to 20% on tickets.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_02: So, Jen, just want to reiterate um the only time that we have single game tickets at a reduced price are those two games throughout the course of the year.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_02: So if you want to extend your dollar a little bit, um, bring your family to a couple games during the year, those are two great options for you for the upcoming year.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: Great way to save money.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_00: And as usual, the biggest priority for us, the players, the coaches, and the fans, great way to spend a weekend and get out to a Wassa Cyclones game.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, all right, Zach, as we wind things down here, uh, we've kind of gone over all of our housekeeping items.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_00: Uh players have reported back.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: We've got more and more promotional nights rolling out.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the merch sale will be live in about a week if you go to wassacyclines.com forward slash shop.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_00: Family nights coming up as well.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, like as we wind things down, Zach, uh, you know, you mentioned that you wanted to have a conversation of this sort before we went uh live on the recording, but um uh figured it'd be cool to just talk about what what's so fun.
• 27:43
  SPEAKER_00: What's the what are the kind of the favorite things about hockey being back?
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: So I'll turn it over to you to start.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_00: What are some of your your favorite things about hockey starting to ramp up and just getting back into the swing of uh the sport being in season?
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think one of my favorite things about it is just um just getting back into that fall feel or that winter feel of obviously it's about hockey um in our realm, but too, you know, and about different other fall sports that are coming into place.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think for sports fans specifically, um you know, I know a lot of our fan base are they're not only just hockey fans, but they're fans of of of whether it's the NFL or um major league baseball.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um it's always great to have all the major sports going.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, that kicks off um in a um, I should believe with the NHL in late September this year uh as well.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_02: So to get all that it obviously times up right with our home opener too of uh obviously kids back in school and and families coming out um and having a good night uh at a game.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_02: I will say probably the thing that I l enjoy the most, um my one of my favorite moments is when the game of season started is going out and seeing the ice for the first time when it's installed.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um I don't know, it I feel specifically with Marathon Park, it's always the ice just looks I don't know for that first time, obviously after it's painted, it just looks absolutely perfect from uh what it's gonna look like at any point during the year.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_02: It's obviously barely been skated on at that point too.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_02: So um and then two, the other thing that's really my favorite item is for uh when we open the doors for the first time at at the home opener.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um obviously these next four weeks for me personally are probably the of uh my twelve months, probably the the busiest month um getting everything planned.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_02: So it's always been super rewarding when to see those first people coming in of the doors that uh had Saturday night on the 26th this year.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_02: So um there's a lot of different things and two um finally and just on the player side, um, it's always great to see these um kind of like I said earlier, these new influx of players that are joining the team and and how those um how the veterans on the on the team start to lead those young players that have uh obviously already been through a a year or two and uh showing them the way of of how we operate here in Wassau uh in a professional manner and obviously representing the community in a in a positive way.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_02: So uh there's a lot of different things, but um it's always just really exciting to uh see everything, um all those puzzle pieces, if you will, come together towards uh towards late September.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: 100%.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_00: I uh that that the ice one, that's a that's that's that's that's a sleeper pick.
• 30:47
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know if I've I don't know if I've ever heard um anyone say that their favorite thing about hockey starting is that fresh sheet of ice with the fresh paint job.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_00: I I like that one.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's really good.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um I would say my favorite thing about hockey getting started, I kind of have two as well.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_00: One of them, it's kind of a it's kind of a cliche answer, uh kind of a low-hanging fruit answer, if you will, but it just feels like it has to be mentioned.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't matter what level of hockey you're getting ready for, whether it's the NHL or juniors like this or college hockey, or you know, if you're a parent or a you know, a family member of a kid who you know plays who plays mites, just the the community coming together and getting excited and being being ready to go for for one common thing.
• 31:39
  SPEAKER_00: That's one of my favorite things.
• 31:41
  SPEAKER_00: You know, for for me, you know, here in Colorado right now, my my friends, my family, we're all huge Colorado Avalanche fans, and everybody just gets this collective excitement.
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody comes together and gets so pumped up for that first puck drop.
• 31:55
  SPEAKER_00: And I just love seeing everybody come together.
• 31:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I love seeing everybody get excited for just the same thing.
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_00: And and it feels like something that you know you take for granted.
• 32:05
  SPEAKER_00: It feels like something that you haven't had in such a long time because you know the off-season creeps along for so long.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_00: We we haven't had you know professional hockey, that is, since end of June, and we haven't had Cyclones hockey in NA3 since like March or April.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_00: So super awesome to get ready as a fan base and just as a community for all that stuff um to happen.
• 32:31
  SPEAKER_00: And then as kind of a subcategory of that, I love when everybody just starts rocking their jerseys again.
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_00: I hockey sweaters are one of my favorite, favorite things to own, to collect.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm looking at um four of my own that I own right now, just that I'm so excited to bust out again and start wearing, you know, repping your favorite players, repping your favorite teams.
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, it's just such a cool thing to get to have a hockey sweater, and people don't really wear them until the seasons get started again.
• 33:01
  SPEAKER_00: So, one of my favorite things about hockey starting up is getting those sweaters going, and I just think that that's such a cool thing.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and then last but not least, this kind of this one mostly goes along, like people will usually say that this coincides with football, but with when the NA3 is starting and when the NHL is starting, I'm tying this into hockey.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_00: My favorite thing that I'm excited for this year with hockey season starting is the transition from summer to fall.
• 33:30
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait for the leaves to start changing, for the temps to drop a little bit, that fall crisp air, that beautiful scenery outside.
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_00: Not only am I gonna kind of pair that up with football, but I'm pairing that up with uh I'm pairing that up with hockey this year.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to see, like I said, the leaves change, the air get a little cooler.
• 33:51
  SPEAKER_00: That's gonna get me fired up for hockey season, and it's got me super pumped for the cyclones to start, for the NHL to start, for college hockey to start, just all of it.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_00: I'm really, really pumped to see the fall transition, and I'm gonna have it perfectly aligned in my mind with uh hockey starting on whatever level you know we're talking about.
• 34:10
  SPEAKER_00: So I am super excited for hockey on all sorts of different levels.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait for for everything to get rolling.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's always um the other thing I was thinking about too as you're talking there, is just um with the hockey as you know, the hockey community is it feels like it's just like a really positive group of people.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_02: Um they all have like they know the grind of what hockey is, and you know, on the parents' side of like youth hockey players, they you know, they're basically traveling across the the state of the Midwest or wherever they are, they're making these long road trips for their their kid and all that stuff.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_02: It's just like um the culture behind it is really good, and um, like I like I just said, it's just a positive culture of um people wanting other people to succeed as the best way to describe it.
• 35:04
  SPEAKER_02: And too, it's obviously on the fan side of things, it's in terms of what we offer here in Central Wisconsin, it's it's just a unique experience where frankly, in the time from September through March, there's not many other things in the our community that are like this that you can all collectively come together um to support something.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, there's high school sports and stuff like that, but that's a little bit different where um I mean obviously a lot of those people are just uh just um parents of players and stuff like that.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_02: This is legit community support of you know people coming out, whether it's as we've talked about previously on the episodes, um the promotions, there's a lot of different reasons obviously why people come out to games and support us.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_02: So it's all really cool to get um, no matter what reason you're coming for, to see them all supporting the cyclones um during the season.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_00: So we got a little bit of a little bit of time left, but we're starting to gear up for that time of year, and I could not be more excited.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Zach, you got anything else for us on this week's episode before we before we wind things down?
• 36:16
  SPEAKER_02: No, thanks uh for all the listeners.
• 36:18
  SPEAKER_02: Really looking forward to getting into our uh rugger episodes um upcoming.
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_02: And obviously we'll have uh Mark will have a lot of interviews with the uh players that'll make the roster here this upcoming year.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and obviously some returner interviews as well.
• 36:34
  SPEAKER_02: So really looking forward to that and obviously the opportunity for our fans to get to know get to know the new guys um that will be supporting uh or should be uh donning the um cyclones uniform this year.
• 36:48
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_00: Looking forward to it very much, and just want to echo what Zach said.
• 36:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh huge thank you to our listeners.
• 36:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we know we're excited to get back in the swing of things from a podcast standpoint for the regular season.
• 37:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and in the meantime, hang tight.
• 37:03
  SPEAKER_00: We got some stuff coming out for you in the meantime before the season starts.
• 37:07
  SPEAKER_00: But uh yeah, like we said before, we know it will be back in full force.
• 37:11
  SPEAKER_00: All right, that's gonna do it on this week's episode of the Inside Sci Clones Talk to Podcast.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks again to Zach, as usual, for joining us.
• 37:18
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks to our sponsors who make this podcast possible.
• 37:21
  SPEAKER_00: We could not do this without all of your guys' support.
• 37:24
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we'll catch you guys on the next episode.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_00: In the meantime, go clones and get ready for an electric 2026-27 season.
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for listening to Inside Cyclones Hockey as we give you a behind the scenes look at the team.
• 37:39
  SPEAKER_00: Please rate, review, and subscribe to stay up to date on all things Cyclones Hockey.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_00: And as always, go clones.