IRISH NIGHT, PINK IN THE RINK CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHT UPCOMING WEEKEND

Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons, AHL affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, have exciting promotions planned for this upcoming weekend at the MassMutual Center, with home games scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

As a preview to St. Patrick's Day, the Falcons will hold "Irish Night" on Friday, Mar. 1 when they welcome the Adirondack Phantoms to The Nest at 7:30 p.m. Springfield will wear green specialty jerseys as part of that night's Irish celebration. Corned-beef sliders will be available in the concourse, and traditional Irish music will play throughout the contest. Fans are also invited to attend the conclusion of the suspended Feb. 17 game free of charge that evening at 6:05 p.m. The contest will resume with Adirondack leading Springfield, 2-1, with 3:42 left in the second period.

The Falcons battle the Providence Bruins on Saturday, Mar. 2, and Springfield will wear specialty jerseys again, this time for the annual "Pink in the Rink Night." The first 2,000 fans will receive pink thundersticks, courtesy of TD Bank, and proceeds from a silent jersey auction on the MassMutual Center concourse that night will benefit the Mary Kay Foundation, helping to end cancers affecting women as well as domestic abuse. Each of that evening's specialty jerseys will be up for auction during the game to benefit this great cause.

As part of the weekend's festivities, fans are asked to wear green on Friday and pink on Saturday.

To close out the weekend, the Falcons will hand out blue youth jerseys courtesy of Dunkin' Donuts to the first 1,000 fans 12 and under when Springfield hosts the Worcester Sharks in a "Battle of the Bay State" on Sunday, Mar. 3. Fans can skate with their favorite Falcons players on the MassMutual Center ice following that day's game. Falcons players have also organized a food drive that day to support the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and are asking fans to bring a non-perishable food item to the game for donation.

Friday's game is "Flat-Screen Friday," and fans at The Nest are eligible to win a brand new, high-definition television courtesy of Manny's TV & Appliances. Saturday's contest at the MassMutual Center is "Cycle Saturday," and fans can enter to win a free bicycle, courtesy of Gus Coelho Auto Repair at 442 Holyoke St. in Ludlow.

Single-game tickets to see the Falcons in 2012-2013 can be purchased at the MassMutual Center Box Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. through game time on Saturday home dates, and starting four hours prior to Sunday home contests. Fans can also purchase tickets by logging onto Ticketmaster.com. For information about discounted group packages to Falcons home games, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625).