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)
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.