ST. LOUIS - Back in 1967, when the city of St. Louis was first introduced to its hockey team nearly 50 years ago, fans welcomed the Blues with open arms by packing the Old Arena on Oakland Avenue to capacity for seven consecutive seasons.

In fact, they loved their new team so much, they even serenaded them with a song when they stepped onto the ice every night.

Back in those days, more than 18,000 people would belt out “When the Blues Go Marchin’ In” at the top of their lungs, and the Blues are hoping to recreate that tradition as the team hits the ice for the regular season finale on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Washington Capitals.

“For people in St. Louis, this was their team,” Bob Plager said of the early days at the Old Arena. “The fans were there every game, you waved at them, they sang - when you lost a game, it was ‘we’ lost the game and if you won the game, it was ‘we’ won the game.

“It was a family.”

And it still is.

So practice those scales and warm up those singing voices - we’re going to need you on Saturday.

LYRICS

Oh when the Blues go marchin’ in

Oh when the Blues go marchin’ in

Oh I want to be in that number

When the Blues go marchin’ in.

(repeat 2x)