The Seattle Thunderbirds open the regular season at 7:05 p.m. Saturday against the Tri-City Americans at the accesso ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds encourage fans to be in their seats by 6:55 p.m. as the team will raise the Western Conference and Western Hockey League champion banners to the rafters in a pre-game ceremony. The full 2017-2018 team roster also will be announced.

Fans attending the game are invited to the Party on the Plaza, featuring food, music and a beer garden starting at 4 p.m. The team will arrive with the Ed Chynoweth Cup at 5 p.m. Seattle musician Aaron Crawford will perform at the Party on the Plaza. Crawford just released his second album, “Evergreen,” which embraces the sounds of living in the Northwest.

The T-Birds come into their opener having lost six of their seven preseason games.

For more information, including ticket purchases, visit seattlethunderbirds.com.