Patriots’ Trey Flowers bringing Super Bowl trophy to Springfield: Meet-and-greet before Thunderbirds game Saturday

Updated 1:43 PM; Posted 12:09 PM

Patriots star Trey Flowers and the Lombardi Trophy will be at Saturday's Springfield Thunderbirds game. (Springfield Thunderbirds)

By Nick O'Malley | nomalley@masslive.com

Hockey fans in Western Mass. will get a chance to celebrate the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII run up close and personal with one of the team’s most valuable defenders -- plus the ultimate prize in football.

On Saturday, March 2 the Springfield Thunderbirds will be hosting defensive lineman Trey Flowers as well as the Lombardi Trophy at the MassMutual Center at part of Military Appreciation Night. The meet-and-greet event will begin at 6:00 p.m. before that night’s 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Providence Bruins.

Fans will have a chance to take a photo with Flowers and the trophy on a first-come, first-serve basis. Autographs are not permitted at the event.

According to Thunderbirds team president Nate Costa, Flowers himself played a big role in helping get to Lombardi Trophy to come with him to the game. It marks the first time the Thunderbirds have hosted the trophy and the first time that Costa can remember that it has made its way out to Western Mass.

“I don’t think the trophy gets out very much," Costa said. "So to have it out here in Western Mass. was really a great way for us to be able to let all the Patriots fans that are here in the area come on out and celebrate the Super Bowl win.”

Flowers’ appearance marks a highlight for Military Appreciation Night. In addition Flowers’ appearance, the Thunderbirds will also be placing the spotlight on local military personnel, recognizing service members throughout the night -- and putting military vehicles on display right outside the arena box office.

In addition to the meet-and-greet event, Flowers will also take part in pre-game and intermission activities for the game against the Bruins.

Tickets for the game are available on the Thunderbirds website. As of Friday afternoon, only about 1,000 tickets remained available for the game.

Flowers just finished his fourth season with the Patriots and led the team with 7.5 sacks on the year and has emerged as one of the best young defensive linemen in the NFL.

After four productive seasons in New England to start his career, Flowers is set to become a free agent this offseason and is expected to score a big contract, which could come from the Patriots or another team.