The sports world is chock full of heated rivalries, some so famed that even people who don’t like sports have heard of them. I’m talking here about rivalries like the Cowboys v. the Redskins, the Yankees v. the Red Sox, Army v. Navy and the Lakers v., well, everyone.

Not quite as well known to the world at large but not one bit less passionate is the long-standing rivalry between WHL teams Seattle Thunderbirds and Portland Winterhawks, a rivalry so intense that die-hard T-birds fans chant “Portland sucks!” at the opening of every period of play, no matter which team is on the visitors’ bench. (Before you ask, yes, I am one of those fans.) Terry Frei of ESPN includes the rivalry between the teams in his list of the “Ultimate Hockey Experiences in North America” [ESPN], encouraging hockey fans to watch “one of the game’s most heated rivalries” on February 2 in Portland and February 3 in Seattle. You don’t have to wait that long to take in this experience, however, as the teams face each other this very weekend on Saturday, November 10, at the Key Arena in a special afternoon game that starts at 2:05 pm.

In addition to what is certain to be an edge-of-your seat exciting game, the T-birds are conducting a pre-game food collection for Northwest Harvest, so don’t forget your non-perishable food items for the collection bins. Then, after the game, all women 18 and older are invited down to the ice for the chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey in the Fred Meyer Turkey Shoot.

A brand new special bonus feature for the game is the first ever Fling-a-Fish. Prior to the end up the first period purchase foam rubber fish at two fish for $5 to fling into the designated fish pond near center ice during first intermission. All fish that make it into the pond earn their flingers tickets for the next home game; the fish that gets flung the closest to the center targets earns $250 for the person who got it there. Should no fish make it into the pond, the pot will be increased for the next Portland game.

With all this going on–and a 2:05 pm start time that means you can get your game on and still have plenty of time for going out Saturday night–you really don’t want to miss this game. New to hockey? Take a look at the teams close up through the blogs Let’s Go Birds (T-birds) and After the Whistle (Winterhawks).

Tickets are available at the box office on game day, but for the best seats buy in advance by calling the Thunderbirds’ office at 206.448-PUCK.