The Seattle Thunderbirds will open home play for the 2012-13 Western Hockey League regular season Saturday, Sept. 22 at the ShoWare Center in Kent against the Portland Winterhawks.

The home opener at the ShoWare will include a Party on the Plaza with music, food and entertainment.

Seattle starts the season on the road against the Winterhawks on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Rose Garden.

The T-Birds have six games against the Winterhawks at home, with five of the games being played on a Saturday and one game on a Friday. There are 15 games at home on a Saturday, eight games at home on a Friday and five games at home on a Sunday this season.

Seattle's other I-5 rival, the Everett Silvertips, will come to ShoWare Center five times, including three Saturday games, one Friday game and one Tuesday game.

The T-Birds travel to the East Division for a six-game road trip from Nov. 2-10. They will play the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings, Regina Pats, Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades.

Seattle will travel to Portland to take on the Winterhawks in the annual New Year's Eve game on Dec. 31.

The defending league champion Edmonton Oil Kings come to ShoWare Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

2012-13 THUNDERBIRDS SCHEDULE

September

Friday, Sept. 21 @ Portland, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 28 @ Prince George, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 29 @ Prince George, 7 p.m.

October

Friday, Oct. 5 @ Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 6 vs. Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 12 @ Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 16 vs. Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 19 @ Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 20 @ Portland, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 26 vs. Tri-City, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 27 @ Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 28 vs. Kamloops, 5:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 30 @ Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

November

Friday, Nov. 2 @ Swift Current, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 3 @ Moose Jaw, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 6 @ Brandon, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 @ Regina, 5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 9 @ Prince Albert, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10 @ Saskatoon, 5:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16 vs. Medicine Hat, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 21 vs. Kootenay, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 24 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 27 vs. Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 30 @ Portland, 7 p.m.

December

Saturday, Dec. 1 vs. Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 2 vs. Kamloops, 5:05 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 6 @ Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 7 @ Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 11 vs. Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14 @ Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 15 @ Portland, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 18 vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 28 vs. Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 29 @ Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 31 @ Portland, 8 p.m.

January

Friday, Jan. 4 @ Kamloops, 7p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 8 vs. Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 @ Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 13 @ Tri-City, 5:05 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 18 @ Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 19 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 20 vs. Lethbridge, 5:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 22 @ Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 24 @ Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 25 vs. Kelowna, 7:35 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 29 vs. Prince George, 7:05 p.m.

February

Friday, Feb. 1 vs. Portland, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2 vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 5 @ Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 @ Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 8 vs. Red Deer, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9 vs. Calgary, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 15 vs. Vancouver, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16 @ Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 17 vs. Vancouver, 5:05 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 23 vs. Everett, 6:05 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 24 @ Vancouver, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 26 vs. Edmonton, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 28 @ Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

March

Friday, March 1 @ Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 2 vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6 @ Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, March 8 vs. Prince George, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, March 9 vs. Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12 vs. Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, March 15 @ Portland, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 16 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.