AHL Jersey News

I've got a few pieces of AHL jersey-related news. To start, I need to dispel a weird rumor. EA released a bunch more screenshots of NHL 09 and you wouldn't believe the number of emails I got from folks who thought this was the San Jose Sharks' new third jersey.

Without question it's the AHL's Worcester Sharks.

Some other screenshots of the game showed the backs of the Iowa Chops' new uniforms.

Basically they'll be wearing a red (instead of orange) version of the Anaheim Ducks' sweaters.

And finally, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins evidently have a third jersey design out there that I hadn't seen before...

credit: Penguins official site

...I'll leave my words out of it, availing myself of the adage: "If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all." However if you'd like to comment, please do so.

Iowa Chops? No, I'm Not Kidding

So the American Hockey League will have a new team this fall based out of Iowa which will serve as the Anaheim Ducks' minor league affiliate. And they're called the Chops.

Yes, the Iowa Chops. I'm not even making a joke here. And if I was, it would be a bad one. What is a Chop? See below for the logo.

All right, now that you've peeled yourself off the floor, wiped away the tears of laughter and stumbled helplessly back to the computer, take another look at it.

Still bad, isn't it? I'm surprised because nowadays I think we've come to expect more from new expansion clubs. Better names, better logos. I mean, consider the Ontario Reign of the ECHL. Great name, great logo — though I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't initially realize Ontario was a city in California. Despite living in an ECHL town, I pay almost no attention to that league.

Anyway, I'm eager to hear what you guys think of the Iowa Chops and their new logo. I'll be putting together new logo tournaments for the AHL and ECHL some time this year, by the way.