Kingston, Ont. (October 8, 2008) – After a year of being a full-time travelling road show, Queen's Hockey finally have a place to call home in very familiar place - the Kingston Memorial Centre.

This weekend the men's team will open their home schedule against the York Lions on Friday and host the University of Ontario Institute Of Technology (UOIT) during its official home opener over the weekend. The women's team will play their home opener a few weeks later on October 25.

To commemorate their new home and attract fans to what many believe is the best kept hockey secret in town, Queen's Athletics and Recreation is inviting the public to take this weekend's game free of charge with a donation of a non-perishable food item.

“We're very happy to call the Memorial Centre home for the next few seasons, and would like to use our home opener as an opportunity to welcome fans to our new home,” said Brad Greenwood, Manager of Marketing, Communications and Events for Queen's Athletics and Recreation.

“Queen's and the OUA offer an exciting brand of hockey that is family friendly and very affordable,” continues Greenwood. “We hope the move to the Memorial Centre will better expose our programs to the entire Kingston community. By offering free admission to our opening weekend, we want to show off the excellent product we put on the ice.”

Although, both men's and women's team did play some games out of the Memorial Centre last year, this weekend will be the first time the Gaels will be able to call it home. Last year Queen's shared time between the Memorial Centre and the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee, Ont. Additionally, when they did play at the Memorial Centre the Gaels never got the full luxury of the Memorial Centre's amenities due to the Kingston Frontenacs still occupying the building.

However, this year that has all changed. With the Frontenacs move to the K-Rock Centre downtown, Queen's has access to several amenities not available last season. This includes permanent dressing room facilities formally used by the Frontenacs, office space for the coaching staff, and additional training and storage space.

No longer will the Gaels have to pack a bag and move out each night following practice or game; nor will equipment and training or therapy tables be outside the dressing room in cramped hallways. Instead they have a place to call home.

“It was tough last season for sure,” said men's head coach Brett Gibson. “We never complained about it, but I know it was a factor at times. We missed out on a lot of small things that can give you the edge.”

“Practice was tough moving from rink to rink; I think we always forgot something,” continued Gibson Sticks, tape, or something as simple as notes on another team – it took a lot of coordination, something other teams didn't have to face by having a true home.”

It was more than just coordination however; both the men's and women's team openly admitted that they may have lost an edge when it came to team bonding.

“A dressing room is where a team becomes a team,” said women's captain Cassandra Sparks. “This year we should benefit from having a place to hang our skates and gel as a team. It's those times in the dressing room that will help you face adversity on the ice. Last year that was lost as we always had to pack up after a game.”

Fans won't be lost in the Gaels new home and also will be able to enjoy many additional benefits a rink the size of the Memorial Centre offers.

“From a fan's perspective the Memorial Centre has a lot to offer,” said Greenwood. “There is free parking at the door, lots of quality and ample seating as well as affordable concessions and ticket prices - Not to mention the hockey is very competitive. I see many reasons why it's a viable entertainment option for a family.”

This weekend's games are a kickoff to the home schedule which features many several exciting match-ups all-season for the Gales including the historic rival against McGill and the Carr-Harris Cup against Royal Military College. The women's team will face several rivals at home this season including nationally ranked Laurier who knocked the Gaels out of the playoffs last year.

On Friday, the men's team will take on the York Lions beginning at 7:30pm. This game will also be broadcast live on CFRC and fans are encouraged to bring a headset to the arena to enjoy commentary. On Saturday, Queen's will host the UOIT Ridgebacks beginning at 2:30pm. Both games are free admission with a non-perishable food item to celebrate the Gaels new home.

The women's team will kick off its regular season home schedule on October 25 versus the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks at 2:30pm.