Minor Military Homage
A couple of minor league teams are paying tribute to American and Canadian military forces with special camouflage jerseys. I know it's a good cause but these are some of the most hideous sweaters I've seen.
First, the AHL's Chicago Wolves. You can read more here.
The WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings also joined the fray. Further info available here.
From the honorable to the dishonorable now.
The ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers are taking a cheap shot at an embattled governor from across the continent. Don't know why they're getting involved, but regardless the Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors will taunt Rod Blagojevich when they face off on January 31.
The Las Vegas Sun revealed the jerseys that will be worn on the ice that night. The Wranglers will don black and white striped sweaters with "ILLGOV" and the player's number on the front shoulder.
The Condors will don solid orange to mimic the jumpsuits now worn by inmates. And wait for it... the refs will wear policeman jerseys to keep everybody in line.
Oh, the campiness.
I must say that despite my mockery, I'm actually quite impressed at the cleverness of this. Someone actually sat down and thought this through.
And yes it's goofy, but I'm sure those jerseys will more than accomplish their intended effect of giving everyone a laugh. Can't wait to see game action photos.
So do you guys have any thoughts regarding specialty jerseys like these? Personally, as long as they never find their way to the NHL, I'm not bothered. But they do provide us all good lessons in dreadful design.
I'm hoping to put together a new Concept Collage soon. Just haven't had the time to sit down and make one lately. I'll find the time eventually.
By the way, if you guys have spotted any other military-themed jerseys recently, shoot me an email with pictures or links to pictures and I'll update this post.
Chris
Of course we can't forget about the Brampton Battalion, whose standard home and road sweaters constantly pay military tribute.
If you've got any other pictures, feel free to send them along and I'll add them to this post.
Reader Comments (14)
That Wolves jersey is actually really cool. Don't know about the Oil Kings though.
we can add that to the long list of jerseys that the wolves have worn over the years....
sigh
i'm loving the ECHL game, especially the fact that they're getting the refs to wear special sweaters. freaking awesome. are there going to be replica jerseys available?
Never been a fan of specialty (or "one-off") jerseys--but I don't like alternate jerseys of any sort. In my perfect sports world, every team would have only two jerseys: home (white or light color) and away (dark color).
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q124/cdnuniguy/Jerseys/americanscamo0708.jpg
Found an older jersey this is the Rochester Americans take on a camo jersey.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brld/3119012850/
Basingtoke Bison Camo honor the troops jersey
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onetigerfan/104741483/
Danbury Thrashers
living in Vegas and attending several Wranglers games, i've come to learn one thing...
they have a RIDICULOUS number of jerseys.
I think i need to get to a game and start taking pics of the ones that fans are wearing. I know they have all sorts of them and then sell them or auction them to the fans. it's insane. They have one for st-patty's day, 4th of july, some hawaiian jersey, a few random vegas related ones, they're actual jersey, now this one...
it's nuts!!! though i find this one the funniest of them all... hands down (or handcuffed, whichever works)
I have to admit... if it weren't for the goofy wolf logo on the front of those Chicago jerseys, those would be some sharp looking sweaters. I didn't think the design would work, but then I zoomed in and was surprised. Pretty cool that they went with the digi camo rather than the classic style. I think its great that the minor leagues have such a good sense of humor and a lively spirit to where they can do crazy stuff like was LV is doing. The quirky humor would probably never fit in at the NHL level though, to many fans would complain their little heads off.
I like the shoulders on the Wolves jerseys not so much the body though. I know this is off topic but have you Chris or any other user heard rumors of the Islanders moving to Kansas City? If they have some truth to them it would be nice to see some concepts for them.
I love the prison jerseys. And Adam, with the Coyotes and the Panthers how they are, and the Islanders history, the Isles are not moving anywhere anytime soon, especially not to Kansas, where every NHL team there has folded or been forced to move.
although a little off hockey, army had incredible camo uniforms for the annual army-navy ncaa football game
Hobart Statesmen (ECAC)
http://www.uscho.com/images/colorscans/20072008/AdlerRyan.jpg
Those Oil Kings jerseys look like the logo is printed on instead of it being a patch. And could the logo be any bigger?
Those wranglers jerseys look more like refs or linesmen.... and now the refs and linesmen are wearing different things... won't that be confusing?
Not that I mind, though.... it's always nice to see the wranglers do something neat (being a flames affilliate and all)