CALGARY – The countdown is on as the Crowchild Classic veers east to the Scotiabank Saddledome for Thursday's hockey doubleheader between the University of Calgary Dinos and the Mount Royal University Cougars.

More than 4,000 tickets have already been distributed on the University of Calgary campus alone as the event draws nearer. The women's game will begin at 5 p.m., with puck drop for men's action scheduled for 7:45. The doubleheader will feature outstanding university hockey with the Calgary Flames entertainment experience, and it's completely free.

Tickets are still available throughout the University of Calgary campus, including the Bookstore, Students' Union offices, Stör, Bound & Copied, and Kinesiology Client Services. The Dinos street team will be handing out tickets across campus this week as well, and tickets can also be reserved by calling the Flames ticket office at (403) 777-4646.

MORE INFORMATION ON THURSDAY'S DOUBLEHEADER

“This is going to be a great event,” said Dinos athletic director Ron Wuotila. “The Flames and the two schools have been working hard to promote this rivalry in its first year, and we hope to get a great turnout on Thursday as the 'C of Red' cheers for the Dinos!”

It could be a record-setting night at the Saddledome. The current record attendance for a Canada West regular season game is 4,109, set on Feb. 13, 1971 at Varsity Arena in Edmonton when the Dinos visited the Alberta Golden Bears. The CIS regular season record is slightly higher after 5,346 fans saw McGill take on Concordia at Montreal's Bell Centre on Oct. 21, 2007.

The women's game will feature Hayley Wickenheiser and the defending CIS champion Dinos (21-4-1) against the 8-15-3 Cougars. The Dinos have already clinched top spot in Canada West for the second straight year and will begin the defence of their national title with a home playoff series Feb. 22-24. A win there would guarantee them a spot at the national championship tournament in Toronto.

The Dinos won both previous meetings against the Cougars this season, taking 3-1 and 1-0 victories Nov. 22-23.

On the men's side, the Dinos have much to play for as they square off with the Cougars. Embroiled in a tight playoff race, the Dinos (16-10-0) can clinch a home playoff date with a sweep of Mount Royal (6-18-2). The Cougars, already eliminated from postseason play, will look to spoil the party and send the Dinos on the road for the first round of the postseason next week.

The Dinos and Cougars split their earlier men's hockey series this season with both teams winning at home: Calgary fell 4-3 at Mount Royal Nov. 22, then bounced back for a 4-1 win at Bauer Nov. 23.

Both hockey series conclude Friday night, with the women at Father David Bauer Arena and the men at Flames Community Arenas.

About the Crowchild Classic
The Crowchild Classic is an annual competition between the University of Calgary Dinos and the Mount Royal University Cougars in CIS regular season games across the sports of basketball, hockey, soccer, and volleyball. Each year, the school that wins the most games in the series is awarded 'The Medal' – a 68-kilogram cast iron City of Calgary manhole cover. For more information, visit www.crowchildclassic.ca.

-UC-