The Alaska Aces today announced their annual preseason two-game series to benefit cancer awareness, and the opponent is familiar: The Aces will take on the Las Vegas Wranglers in a rematch of last spring's Western Conference Finals, won by Vegas.

The games are set for Monday, Oct. 8 and Tuesday, Oct. 9 at Sullivan Arena.

As always, funds raised from the "Paint The Rink Pink'' games will go to Breast Cancer Focus Inc. and the American Cancer Society, according to the Aces "to ensure that 100% of the funds raised during "Paint the Rink Pink" will stay local in Alaska.''

Tickets for the games are $10 for Aces season ticket holders or groups of 10 or more, and $15 to the general public.

Great cause (though The Blog isn't crazy about the pink ice, and neither are goaltenders, who have some trouble tracking the puck) and an opponent fans know well should make for a good start to the season.

Cool too because the Wranglers only make one trip to Alaska this season and it comes in February, so it'll be nice to catch up to Vegas coach Ryan Mougenel and his crew a few months ahead of that series.

In case you missed it, Moug kinda had an eventful offseason, you know, what with saving a dude’s life and all.