Where Are They Now?
Thursday · Dec 31 · 2009 | 1:00 PM PSTAs the year comes to an end, I thought I'd update you guys on a couple of non-NHL related topics that dominated Icethetics in the later part of this year.
The USF Ice Bulls hockey club team came to Icethetics in August, looking for a new logo to get out from under the thumb of a fee-hiking university. Dozens of artists sent in amazing concepts. But only one could be chosen — designed by Gary Cekus.
Ice Bulls goalie maskGary's design has since been implemented on the club's home jersey as well as the mask of the starting goalie.
I had to get this picture posted — not just because the goalie happens to be my brother — but because this is an awesome mask design that came as a direct result of an Icethetics contest!
The mask was designed by Todd Miska of Miska Designs, who is responsible for the artwork that adorns the helmets of such NHL goaltenders as Ed Belfour, Miikka Kiprusoff and Evgeni Nabokov.
Now he's put his touch on the University of South Florida's team and that could not be more amazing. I highly recommend checking out some of Todd's other work on his web site.
Ice Bulls home jerseyThe Ice Bulls' white home jersey also features the Icethetics contest-winning logo but unfortunately the team didn't have a lot of time to put together the best overall design.
As you can see here, they've used the Dallas Stars' road sweater, which is rather lacking in color. And while the crest logo may be a little small, they are planning to fix that for the 2010-11 season.
The road black jersey is custom-designed with the word BULLS spelled out diagonally across the front and does not feature the new logo.
For more game and team photos, check out the Ice Bulls' photostream on Flickr.
Another big non-NHL story in 2009 was the controversy surrounding the logo selection of the SPHL's expansion franchise Pensacola Ice Flyers.
It yielded quite a bit of outrage — perhaps mostly from me — as the club announced a logo design contest then ignored the voting results right after.
Ice Flyers road jerseySo after choosing to brand themselves with the worst logo in minor league hockey, how are the Ice Flyers looking these days? Glad you asked.
To the left you can see the jersey they had designed. Just as horrible as we all expected. It's dark blue with a lot of white and gold accents — including planes shooting across the bottom. We get it, your town is home to the Blue Angels.
The jersey is finished off with what is surely an iron-on logo on the chest. Have fun trying to embroider gradients.
Ice Flyers in home whitesHere's a look at the home whites. Not quite sure what's going on at the bottom there. But it's definitely not the same as what's on the dark jerseys.
I hate to sound so mean-spirited toward the Ice Flyers. I'm actually not even bothered that much, but I was a little disappointed to see the mess they made here. Especially when they started out with such great options in that online poll.
Ice Flyers in their camosFor what it's worth, the atrocities don't end with the home and road sweaters. They're all about the specialty jerseys as well. And being in a big military market, it's not hard to understand why camouflage jerseys made an appearance at one point this season.
If you want to see some more low-resolution game action photos, you might want to check out their web site. But all I can say is it's probably not worth your time.
I'm sure I've missed an update here or there, but this is all I have time to type at the moment. Have a great night and see you in 2010!
Reader Comments (10)
Gotta love the minor leagues. That dark jersey looks like a dirty sock.
the "stuff" on the ice flyers home jersey's was only for there inaugural weekend...it said something to the effect of :
inaugural weekend
october 24-25
pensacola florida
Meh, the home whites don't look horrifically bad on the Ice Flyers. The USF one is bland, though. Hopefully if Miami picks up a hockey team we can get a nice jersey or something.
any word on the Hartford Wolfpack specialty jersey contest a few months back?
The Ice Flyers is just like the Brandon Wheat kings from the last few years prior to RBK killing all the jerseys this season.
Who's up for a goalie mask section of the site?? cause that mask is sweet
get the flyers 3rd jerseys p in the gallery! wich one u gunna get? last years orange 3rds? or this years black 3rds? or mby both?
Its weird that the USF jerseys have the same color scheme and design as the Farmingdale Club team that are in the same division because when it comes time for nationals a lot of people are going to have a hard time distinguishing between the two teams. ESPECIALLY because they are both using the Edge jerseys with the Dallas template and colors. Not that its going to matter too much when Cal U runs show and brings the Natty Title back to SW Pennsylvania. =) Thats actually neat that your brother plays for them though. If they make nationals you should check out the tourney, its going to be in Ft. Myers beach so thats not too bad of a trip I would hope. Maybe we could meet in person.
Oh and though I've never seen USF play I read stuff about their goalie being amazing all the time. Case in point: Huge win over FGCU this weekend. Props to your brother man.
Well first off ia agree the logo is not the best choice.
I can also tell you it is embroidered.
the whites and the blue have the same stripes on the bottom. The jets fly'n to the right side of the jersey.
The camo jerseys were done by a couple of teams in the SPHL all by OT. Louisiana did not have a stripe on the bottom of the jersey but we did.
We will also do a USA (1980) olympic jersey in feb.
They will be the same as the 1980 team but have our logo smaller on the front chest under USA.
oh by the way I am the Equipment Manager for the Ice Flyers so that is why I know these things