First-Ever Cutest Kid Competition Next Week

Wichita, KS (Jan. 21st) - The Wichita Thunder, proud member of the ECHL and powered by Toyota, have partnered with Focus Model Talent Management to bring the first-ever Cutest Kid Competition on Friday, January 30th when the Quad City Mallards come to town. SpongeBob SquarePants will also be in attendance that night to help promote his new movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water in theatres February 6th.

Fans interested in entering their child can go to our website and click on the Cutest Kid ‘Your Face Here' banner at the bottom of the page. Child must be between the ages of 3-12 to be eligible. Kids get a free ticket with a paid adult and will take place in the birthday room starting at 6 p.m. The winner will be announced that night and will win a modeling contract for a year, courtesy of Focus Model Talent Management and will be the face of the Youth Jersey Giveaway Advertising for our game on March 20th. There will be a panel of celebrity judges on hand, including Hitman and Miranda from Power 93.5, Denise Neil from the Wichita Eagle and more. Deadline to register is noon on Wednesday, January 28th. To read about the full list of judges and more information on the event, click here.

The Thunder have also partnered with the Warren Theatres for a terrific opportunity to catch the new SpongeBob movie. Fans can purchase a special ticket package that includes four tickets to the game, four tickets to a private screening of the movie on Sunday, February 8th at 4 p.m. Cost of the package is just $60 while supplies last. Check-in begins at 3:30 p.m. at the West Warren, located at 21st Street and Tyler Road. SpongeBob will be at the game on January 30th at the Kids Zone near section 108 to entertain the fans and take pictures.

Wichita continues on its five-game road swing with two contests in the Black Hills this Friday and Saturday night against Rapid City.

Individual tickets are on sale now. Don't delay! Tickets can be purchased at the INTRUST Arena Box office, by calling 755-SEAT or go online at www.selectaseat.com. Stay up-to-date on all the news during the season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com. About the ECHL

The ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and one Canadian province for its 27th season in 2014-15. There have been 541 players who have started their career in the ECHL have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 29 who made their NHL debuts in the 2013-14 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 26 of the 30 NHL teams in 2013-14, marking the 17th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

-Thunder-