Utah Valley Thunder to open season

OREM — The Utah Valley Thunder, a new franchise in the American Indoor Football Association, will see exactly what they have when they host the Wyoming Cavalry in the season-opener Monday at 7 p.m. at the McKay Event Center on the campus of Utah Valley University.

The Cavalry, which returns 16 players from last year, won the Western Conference title in 2008 with a 11-3 mark and advanced to the AIFA Championship Bowl II before losing to the Florence (S.C.) Phantoms.

The Thunder roster is filled with local players from BYU, Utah, Utah State, Southern Utah and Weber State, including Sete Aulai, Chris Bolden, Dustin Rykert, Casey Sutera, Justin Johnson, Andrew Beck, and Mike Affleck.

Families and student "FHE" groups of five or more (up to 10) can get in for $50 (general admission only tickets and are available while supplies last.)

Also, bring a date and buy a ticket and the Thunder will pay for the second ticket.

Season tickets are on sale through the team's website, www.utahvalleythunder.com. Single-game tickets are also available through SmithTix and at the McKay Events Center Ticket Office.