By Brittany Burke

Hartford hockey and the CT Whale are officially back for the 2011-2012 season, and they are only a mere 11 miles and roughly 18 minutes away from CCSU.

In its first full season as the CT Whale, formerly known as the Hartford Wolfpack, the New York Rangers farm team returns to the XL Center in Downtown Hartford for at least 38 fun filled hockey nights!

The Whale is an affordable taste of professional hockey, for as low as $7 you and your friends can enjoy 60 minutes of fast-paced and hard-hitting hockey. The upper level of the XL Center begins at $7, but ticket prices don’t exceed $25, which could get you right near the glass and up close and personal with the Whale athletes.

This season Whalers Sports and Entertainment has plans to bring back college I.D. discount nights. This means on selected nights throughout the season ticket prices are reduced to as low as $5 with a college I.D., it’s just one more use for the CCSU Blue Chip card.

Aside from professional level hockey, the new season also means a new slew of free giveaways, and what college student doesn’t love free stuff? Fans also have a chance to win sponsor prizes by participating in games done throughout the game, think Minute to Win it meets the AHL.

Walking distance from some of the best bars downtown, going to a CT Whale game is a fun and affordable weekend night out for any college student, you don’t even have to like hockey to enjoy yourself.