Friday is CH2M HILL Nuclear Night with the Tri-City Americans.
This game brings out-of-this-world colors to the game, starting with the Americans’ nuclear-inspired jerseys. They have been green in the past, but this year they are yellow. Not the yellow of your grandma’s house, but the yellow of the highlighter in your desk.
The accompanying photo doesn’t do the actual color justice. Brighten the photo 10 times and you will come a bit closer.
The jerseys from Friday’s game will be auctioned, with the proceeds benefiting the players’ education fund. The jersey go up for auction after the game at 10 p.m. Minimum bid is $200 with a buy-it-now option for $500.
Fans also will be able to purchase and bid on other Nuclear Night items that will be sprinkled throughout the concourse. One of those items is a glow-in the-dark puck — each player has signed one. It is translucent in color (see photo), but glows in the dark — and it doesn’t even need to be that dark (I test drove that theory the other day).
Don’t want to buy the puck, then get one for free. The first 800 people to donate 3 cans of food or 3 children’s books will received one of the pucks (not signed). Donors also will receive a coupon for a free Alexia potato product, courtesy of ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston.
The Americans will host Seattle on Friday. The Thunderbirds, led by goaltender Calvin Pickard, haven’t won at Toyota Center since Jan. 27, 2008, a span of 18 games. Pickard is winless in 13 starts at Toyota Center.
Pickard has won in 15 of the league’s 22 barns. He has at least one win in every Western Conference venue but Tri-City. Pickard also has not won at Moose Jaw, Edmonton, Kootenay, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Swift Current.
