SAINT PAUL, MN - The State of Hockey's loyal fans have an opportunity to be part of history when the Minnesota Whitecaps raise their Isobel Cup championship banner prior to their home opener on Saturday afternoon.

The Whitecaps will raise the 2018-19 Isobel Cup banner before they play the Metropolitan Riveters on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. CT at TRIA Rink.

Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance of the game and to take their seats or standing-room positions at TRIA by 1:50 p.m. in order to witness the special moment. Tickets are available now at www.NWHL.zone/tickets.

The Whitecaps' event precedes the home opener of the Minnesota Wild against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:30 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild will host a Pregame Party from 3-6:30 p.m. in Rice Park in downtown Saint Paul. Minnesota's two professional hockey teams are aligned, as the Wild provide far-ranging support of the NWHL team, including hosting the team's games and practices at TRIA Rink; the Wild sharing their extensive resources, including support in marketing, promotions, communications, social and digital media, and community relations; and pairing of the clubs' regular season home openers. The two organizations collaborate on programs to enhance the development and visibility of girls' and women's hockey in the State of Hockey.

In their first season in the NWHL, the Whitecaps were an expansion team for the ages. They not only had the league's best record in the regular season and captured the Isobel Cup, but the fans of the team filled the stands to capacity at all ten home games.

This season, more than a dozen Whitecaps are back to defend the title, including star goaltender Amanda Leveille, NWHL Newcomer of the Year Jonna Curtis, and Best Defender finalist Amanda Boulier. Among the elite players joining the team this season are U.S. National Team forward Nicole Schammel and former University of Minnesota top defender Sydney Baldwin. The Whitecaps have announced that legendary Minnesotan Winny Brodt Brown remains as the team captain. The assistant captains are Curtis and Brooke-White Lancette.

About the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)
Established in 2015, the NWHL was the first professional women's hockey league in North America to pay its players. The mission of the league is to fuel the continued growth of the sport and brand of pro women's hockey. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, and Minnesota Whitecaps. Visit NWHL.zone and follow on Twitter and Facebook @NWHL and Instagram @NWHL.zone.

Minnesota Wild single-game tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, wild.com/tix and ticketmaster.com. For information about Season Tickets, including 11-game, half season and full season plans, please visit tickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting 651-222-WILD.

Visit www.wild.com/pressbox for the latest news and information from the team including press releases, game notes, postgame notes, multimedia content and daily statistics.

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