LEWISTON – Jennifer Soucy adores the Lewiston Maineiacs.

The 13-year-old goes to all the hockey games she can, and this winter got season tickets with her family. She has a hard time choosing just one favorite player.

“I like them all,” she said.

When Soucy learned that a select group of student musicians would perform at a game, she jumped at the chance to be included.

“I thought it would be cool to do it,” she said. “I just went for it.”

Tonight, she will get closer to the team than she ever thought she could.

Soucy and 11 other young violinists from the Lewiston school system will lead the game’s opening ceremony. They will play Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” and America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” for a crowd that could swell to 3,000.

“The kids are totally thrilled,” said music teacher Greg Boardman, “and so am I, to be quite honest.”

Boardman came up with the idea after a friend and fellow music teacher got her students to perform during a New York Knicks game. He asked the Maineiacs, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, if his kids could play for them.

Retired police officer Maurice Morin normally opens each home game by singing the Canadian and American anthems. Rarely, guest performers take his place.

Team officials said Boardman’s offer was one they couldn’t refuse.

“I thought it was awesome,” said Chris Mason, promotion coordinator for the team. “It’s nice to get the kids involved.”

Boardman told his violin and cello students they would have to audition for a spot on the special string ensemble. Twenty elementary, middle and high school students tried out. Twelve made the cut.

Like Soucy, 13-year-old Matt Lamare is a middle school student and a Maineiacs fan. He’d seen Morin perform at the games.

“I thought I would like to do that,’ but with a whole group behind me,” said Lamare, a violinist, singer and guitarist who also plays for the Junior Maineiacs.

He has rehearsed nearly every night since he made the ensemble.

“I’m nervous but I’m excited for the actual night to come,” Lamare said.

Brandon Bissonnette, 11, wasn’t a hockey fan. He just wanted to perform for a large audience.

“I really like it. I like playing for other people,” said Bissonnette, a McMahon Elementary School sixth-grader who has been playing the violin for four years.

Bissonnette will get his wish. Between 2,500 and 3,000 people are expected to attend tonight’s hockey game, including state legislators and city leaders from Lewiston, Auburn, Augusta, Bangor and Portland.

The young musicians will receive discount passes to the game, and officials said they may consider taking them on a special tour.

Some of the violinists are looking forward to the game. Others are looking forward to the applause.

Soucy is looking forward to something else.

“Just this opportunity to go play for the Maineiacs,” she said.