WICHITA – The National Hockey League is heading to Wichita.
No, the NHL won’t be expanding to Wichita, but INTRUST Bank Arena will be hosting another significant event.
“On Sept. 24, we will be hosting the G1 Sports Frozen Face-Off featuring the Arizona Coyotes and the St. Louis Blues here at INTRUST Bank Arena,” G1 Sports and Entertainment president Brian Hargrove said.
The preseason game will be the first NHL game that Wichita will host. The announcement follows after Wichita hosted the women’s regional championship of the NCAA tournament in March and also hosted the non-conference matchup between Wichita State and Kansas State in December.
“The Coyotes are excited about bring NHL hockey to Wichita, Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said in a recorded message. “I know Wichita is a great sports city, and we’re looking forward to playing in front of a full house. See you in September.”
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The game will be on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., per release.
INTRUST Bank Arena is fitted for a 15,000-seat capacity and is the home of the Wichita Thunder, a minor league hockey team that affiliates with the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL and Bakersfield Condors in the AHL.
“To the NHL and its fans, thank you for giving Sedgwick County this wonderful opportunity,” Sedgwick County chairman David Dennis said at the press conference. “No matter who you root for, this is a win for the people who live, play and call Sedgwick County home. This is the very reason that we built this arena – to host larger-than-life events, concerts, and family-friendly opportunities for our community.”
In the past five years, INTRUST Bank Arena has hosted the indoor football team Salina Liberty, the Harlem Globetrotters, multiple concerts featuring Luke Combs, Metallica, and Kelly Clarkson, former Champions Indoor Football league team Wichita Force, WWE, professional bull-riding and more.
The Blues’ full 2022 schedule will be released at a later time. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at selectaseat.com.
Billy Watson is the sports reporter for The Hutchinson News and has been in Kansas since March 2021. To reach out about story ideas, you can send an email to wwatson@gannett.com or send a direct message on Twitter @hutchsports or @billywatson4l.