School spirit and Brock Badgers energy will return to downtown St. Catharines on Friday, Sept. 18 when the Steel Blade Classic hits the ice at the Meridian Centre. 

Part of Brock’s Homecoming celebrations, the highly anticipated game kicks off a new men’s hockey season with a puck drop at 7 p.m. Thousands of fans attend annually to cheer on the Brock Badgers as they take on the Guelph Gryphons. 

Here’s everything attendees need to know before heading to the game: 

Don’t put the bad in Badger 

The Steel Blade Classic is a thrilling community event, but all fans are reminded to celebrate responsibly. Any students or attendees who are visibly intoxicated will be denied entry and will not have their tickets refunded. Spectators are reminded to stay hydrated, eat enough and make smart decisions to ensure a fun experience for everyone. 

Getting to the game 

To make it easy to get to the Meridian Centre, Brock is offering free shuttle buses running to and from the University’s main campus. The buses will run on a continuous loop from 5:45 p.m. until 7 p.m., with pickups at Lowenberger, Quarry View and Vallee residences. 

Return trips to campus will begin at 9 p.m. with drop off taking place in front of Isaac’s. 

Brock student identification is required to ride the shuttle buses and proof of Steel Blade ticket will also be required. 

Ticket information 

Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.ca until the 7 p.m. puck drop. 

Limited tickets will also be sold at the Meridian Centre box office starting at noon on the day of the game. After doors open at 6 p.m., anyone wanting to purchase tickets at the box office will need to pass through security. 

Attendees are encouraged to download their mobile tickets before entering the venue as the Meridian Centre does not offer Wi-Fi. Screenshots of tickets will not be accepted. 

What you can bring 

While outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the Meridian Centre, empty, refillable water bottles are permitted. Bags smaller than 12″x12″x12″ are allowed, but laser pointers, professional cameras, drones, weapons of any kind, drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited. 

Security protocols 

All guests will need to pass through a metal detector at the entrance, so should be prepared to remove keys, wallets and any metal items that could set off the alarm. More information on entry requirements can be found on the Meridian Centre website. 

Merchandise 

The Campus Store will be open Thursday, Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for last-minute Badgers gear. Merchandise will also be available at the Meridian Centre concourse and club level starting at 6 p.m. 

Parking 

Please note there is no parking at the Meridian Centre, so anyone driving to the game is encouraged to park in one of the nearby downtown parking garages. 

Alumni VIP tickets 

The exclusive Alumni VIP section is now sold out. Electronic tickets that have not been accepted by Thursday evening can be picked up at will call.