Connecticut Whale mascot Pucky visited Canton Middle School students at lunchtime Wednesday as part of the hockey organization's Hockey Hat Trick Reading Program.
The promotion, coordinated with the school's library, offers students who read at least three approved books a free ticket for a March 16 Connecticut Whale Game as well as discounted ones for their families.
"Anything we can do with the local schools and gets the kids excited about reading is huge for us," said Connecticut Whale Community Relations Manager Frank Berrian, an Avon native.
Although modeled after one the organization did in the inner city, the program is in its first year, he said.
Sandra Hurd, library assistant at the school, said she feels the program, which ends March 2, is going well and plans to participate in it next year.
