Owen Pederson of the Maine Mariners looks for the puck after a collision with Anthony Beauregard of the Trois-Rivieres Lions during an ECHL game last season at Cross Insurance Arena. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Hockey season is less than a month away for the Maine Mariners, whose home opener is Oct. 18 against the Wheeling Nailers from West Virginia.

The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, but you can get your tickets now at crossarenaportland.com.

The homestand continues with a game on Oct. 19, and two more on Oct. 25 and 26.

This is the sixth season for the Mariners in the ECHL.