COVENTRY Blaze have announced their pre-season schedule ahead of the 2019/20 Elite Ice Hockey League season.
Blaze will face Nottingham Panthers in the opening warm-up fixtures of pre-season, as the two sides contest for the Aladdin Cup.
The Panthers will host the opener at the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday August 24 (7pm), before the two sides battle it out at the Skydome the following day (5.15pm).
A penalty shoot-out to decide the cup may be in the offing in the second game, as goals scored will not go towards deciding the overall winner – should both sides win a game each.
Manchester Storm then form their next opponents, with Blaze hosting the first game at the Skydome Arena on Wednesday August 28 (7.30pm), before visiting the Altrincham Ice Dome the following week on Wednesday September 4.
It will be the first meeting between the two since a 4-1 victory for the Blaze in Altrincham all but confirmed Coventry’s play-off place, at the expense of the Storm.
A further home and away tie on Saturday August 31 and Sunday September 1 are set to be announced in due course, ahead of the season start on September 7 & 8.
Meanwhile, the club have announced that goalkeeper Matt Hackett has departed the club, following a move to Stjernen Hockey in the Norwegian top flight.
The 29-year old made 28 appearances in all for the Blaze since signing in January, posting a .893 save percentage during the regular season.