By Paul Kurtz

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Flyers are going all out to whip up fan support for the strike-shortened season that begins this week.

The team is holding an open practice at 6pm tonight at the Wells Fargo Center, and earlier today they gave away tee-shirts at the Reading Terminal Market.

But if you didn’t get there on time you missed out.

“We just went through about 500 tee-shirts in five minutes,” said Flyers’ publicist Rebecca Goodman.  She says Flyers’ fans, starved for hockey, have picked up right where they left off last spring.

“We had training camp on Sunday, and we were packed to capacity with fans. So we know they’re ready for hockey.  So are we.”

(Flyers fans Mark Cifelli, left, and his son Matt, at a Reading Terminal Market rally. Credit: Paul Kurtz)

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And the strike? What strike?  Lifelong Flyers’ fan Mark Cifelli (above left) says that’s yesterday’s news.

“I cracked up ’cause you hear all these guys (say), ‘We’re boycotting!’  Don’t lie to yourself.  No you’re not. If you’re a hockey fan, you’re not boycotting nothin’.  Especially if you’re a Flyers’ fan.”