MONTREAL – The season-opening puck drop is just around the corner. As part of the team’s “Hockey is Back!” festivities, the Canadiens have announced a lineup of events for fans to enjoy.

On Thursday, Jan. 17, fans are invited to take in the team’s Red vs. White scrimmage at the Bell Centre, free of charge. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. game and seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans in attendance will also receive a free combo meal, consisting of a hot dog, bag of chips and a soft drink.Two days later, on Saturday, Jan. 19, morning skates at the Bell Centre for both the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be open to the public. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Canadiens will hit the ice at 10:30 a.m. and the Leafs will practice at 11:30 a.m. Fans in attendance will also receive a free combo meal, consisting of a hot dog, bag of chips and a soft drink.Then, beginning at 3:00 p.m., the festivities will move outdoors to Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal. DJ Psychology will be on hand to kick off the party and Youppi! will be giving out bleu-blanc-rouge face paint. That afternoon, musical group USS will hop on stage to give a free concert, followed by a performance by internationally renowned recording artists – and diehard Habs fans – Simple Plan.That night, the Canadiens-Maple Leafs game will also be broadcast live outside on big screens and all fans inside the Bell Centre for the season opener will receive a free combo meal.Fans looking to gear up for the season can also take advantage of 50% off all Canadiens merchandise at the Habs Zone boutique at the Bell Centre on Thursday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 19.Finally, the Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame will be offering free admission to all fans on Saturday, Jan. 19 and Sunday, Jan. 20.

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