USM’s Commuter Student Association supplies free tickets.
By Amber Friend | Sports Editor
The Maine Mariners hosted college night on Sunday, November 3rd. The Northern division team of the Eastern Conference hockey league faced Pennsylvania’s Reading Royals at a 3:00 pm puck drop. On Saturday, the day before, the Mariners knocked down the Royals 3-0 in the first game of the doubleheader weekend, ending in a shutout for Maine’s Nolan Maier. Cross Insurance Arena in downtown Portland was packed with people of all ages, as tickets were $15 for those with a college ID. The University of Southern Maine’s Commuter Student Association, or CSA, offered 60 free game tickets for interested USM students via the CampusGroups app. The score remained 0-0 until slightly past the halfway point of the game, with the home team scoring the first goal of the game from Patrick Guay’s backhand. Intensity grew after the start of the 3rd period, with the Mariners only leading 2-1. The men in black and gold jerseys were able to tally three more goals through a high-action battle in the last 20 minutes of the game, with the final score being 5-3 Mariners. Students in the stands clearly enjoyed the fun atmosphere and seeing themselves show up on the jumbotron. Some Huskies took advantage of the free street parking Portland has on Sundays. However, the rink is just down the road from the Monument Square stop for those who took the Busky. The record of this affiliate team for the NHL Boston Bruins and the AHL Providence Bruins is currently 3-4. With upcoming themed games at home, you can check out the Maine Mariner’s full 2024-2025 schedule on their official website, www.marinersofmaine.com.