Tickets for the game between the Southern Stampede and the Canterbury Red Devils sold out within 90 minutes earlier this week, and local fans are eager to see their team win the title for the first time since 2006.
For the Stampede, which stormed into the final with an eight-game winning streak, there is a sense of finality about the game.
Coach Steve Reid has revealed a major motivation for success could be that tonight might be the last game for a lot of his players.
Assistant captain Mitchell Frear, forward Connor Harrison and outstanding goalie Aston Brookes are moving on from the Stampede to begin university studies next year.
Add doubts over whether any of the team's imports will return, and it is easy to see why the coach is more than a little concerned.
Reid, who has been involved with the Stampede as both a player and a coach since the competition's inaugural season in 2005, thinks the 2013 roster is "the worst it has looked" in terms of returning numbers.
While the Canada-United States contingent will fly home this week, the next generation of Stampede players were just too young to fill the skates so soon, he said.
It would be a shame if the team lost some momentum, as this season had featured a resurgence in support.
Seated tickets were sold within 15 minutes on Tuesday night, and the rest sold within an hour and a-half for a rink which holds more than 500.
Reid said this reflected that Queenstown was building a reputation as New Zealand's No 1 ice hockey town.
"The atmosphere the crowd creates is second to none, and the guys love it. A home final is a way the boys can say thank you for all the support we have received over the years."
Having 11 players in the side who were a part of last year's disappointing finals loss to the Botany Swarm was an added motivation.
"Last year still hurts. Coming second sucks."
Reid credited his side for rebounding from a sluggish start to the season and winning the matches when it mattered.
"The mental toughness and character to come back from being dead and buried to the top is just phenomenal.
"We lost our way through the early part of the season, but to win nine of our last 10 games, and go eight of those straight, is a real credit to the boys.
"We never quit. We have been down in games by a couple of goals, and as a coach you look down the bench, and not once have I seen someone ready to throw in the towel."
While the Stampede beat the Red Devils twice in Christchurch, Reid expects Canterbury to be a different side tonight.
"They'll definitely be hurting from it, but at the end of the day it is just one game and they will be saying, 'We can do this.'
"We're not worried about what they're bringing to the table. We're confident but we're not taking very much for granted. They play some very physical hockey also and we welcome them to it. Our guys aren't going to shy away from it."
Gates open at 5.30pm and seats are allocated on a first-in, first-served basis.
NZIHL
The final
Who: Southern Stampede v Canterbury Red Devils
Where: Queenstown Ice Arena
When: Tonight, 7pm
