Tuesday morning, the Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears, announced their promotional schedule for the 2017-18 season. The Bears have been known to have some pretty great giveaways, and this year is no exception.

The Bears home opener is October 14, and the first 8,000 fans will receive a schedule magnet. Other giveaway highlights include a holiday ornament on December 9 and a bobblehead of Bears captain Garrett Mitchell on January 24. The Bears will also host themed game nights, including the always popular Teddy Bear Toss on December 3 and Star Wars Night on January 7. The regular season will culminate with the team participating in a Jerseys Off Our Backs Night on April 15. Fans will have a chance to win a game-worn jersey directly from a Bears player.

The team tweeted a teaser of the Mitchell bobblehead last week:

Promotional schedule set to be released next week. Until then, here is a little Tuesday Teaser with @Mitchy1_0 thanks to @UGI_Utilities pic.twitter.com/MYi4cYONLG

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) August 22, 2017

The Bears will also continue to wear specialty jerseys on select nights, such as Star Wars Night and St. Patrick’s Day. The jerseys will be auctioned off afterwards.

Download the Promo Schedule Here

We can’t wait to see all the goodies the Bears hand out to the fans this year!

More from the Bears:

The puck drops on the Hershey Bears historic 80th Anniversary Season soon, and the club has added to the excitement with the announcement of the 2017-18 promotional schedule. The schedule features exclusive giveaway items, five Hersheypark Pass Nights, and jersey auctions to raise money for great causes. The complete promotional schedule is attached to this email and is available at HersheyBears.com.

Additionally, the club has announced details regarding individual ticket sales for the 2017-18 season. Tickets to Hershey’s Saturday, Sept. 30 preseason game at Giant Center versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are on sale now. The game will feature general admission seating and all tickets are just $12. Additionally, individual tickets for all regular season home games go on sale on Monday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at the Giant Center Box Office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR, or online via Ticketmaster.

Hershey opens the home portion of the 2017-18 season on Saturday, Oct. 14 versus Belleville. That contest will feature a PNC Bank magnet schedule giveaway to the first 8,000 fans. The club’s opening weekend continues on Sunday, Oct. 15 with a AAA 80th Season car magnet giveaway to the first 6,000 fans, plus the first of five Dietz & Watson Dollar Dog Nights, featuring $1 hot dogs.

The Bears have listened to fan feedback, and by popular demand, have added three nights that highlight the 2017-18 promotional schedule. To help celebrate the holidays, the club will host Penn State Health Ornament Night for the first 5,000 fans on Saturday, Dec. 9. A bobblehead giveaway also returns for 2017-18. Wednesday, Jan. 24, will be UGI Garrett Mitchell Bobblehead Night, featuring a commemorative keepsake of Hershey’s captain for the first 5,000 fans. Additionally, the club will host Jersey Off Our Back Night in the regular season finale on Sunday, Apr. 15. All fans will have a chance to win a game-worn jersey right off the back of a Hershey player.

Highly anticipated Hersheypark Pass Nights return to the promotional schedule on Oct. 29, Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 10, and at the 2018 Capital BlueCross Outdoor Classic on Saturday, January 20. All fans in attendance will receive a one-day admission to Hersheypark valid through July 31, 2018.

Popular giveaway favorites return in 2017-18, including Labatt Blue Pint Glass Night (Dec. 23, first 5,000 fans), PSECU Knit Cap Night (Jan. 14, first 4,000 fans), Capital BlueCross Baseball Cap Night (Feb. 3, first 5,000 fans), and Fairview Golf Course Golf Ball Night (Mar. 25, first 3,000 fans).

The Bears promotional schedule also features several giveaways for all fans, including Papa John’s Pizza Night on Feb. 10. All fans in attendance that evening will receive a voucher for a free pizza when they order online. Free food continues the next night with Chocolate Covered February scheduled for Feb. 11. All fans will receive candy upon exit, courtesy of The Hershey Company. Also, on March 3, Hershey will host Penn State Health T-shirt Night, featuring a t-shirt giveaway to all fans in attendance.

Several annual favorites for great causes highlight the promotional schedule, including Mixed-Up Productions Pink The Rink Night on Sunday, Oct. 29, to help fight breast cancer. The WGAL & CommunityAid Teddy Bear Toss Night will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3 versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. All fans are encouraged to help kids in need by bringing a new teddy bear or stuffed animal to throw on the ice after Hershey’s first goal.

The Bears are slated to wear specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off post-game four times during 2017-18. Saturday, Nov. 11 is United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 431 American Flag Night, and Hometown Heroes Night. Hershey will wear a USA themed jersey that evening. STAR WARS™ Night will be Sunday, Jan. 7, featuring a specialty jersey that is out of this world. Hershey will also wear a vintage inspired jersey at the 2018 Capital BlueCross Outdoor Classic on Saturday, Jan. 20. The Bears will also wear a St. Patrick’s Day Jersey on Saturday, Mar. 17.

All promotional nights are subject to change. For the latest information, visit HersheyBears.com.

Photo: Hershey Bears