Wranglers Share More Classic Details
Indoor Winter Classic "throwback" jersey unveiled
Earlier this month, we learned about the latest comical promotion coming from the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers. On New Year's Day (tomorrow), the club will host the Indoor Winter Classic — a theme night meant to mock the cancellations of the NHL schedule.
In the last few days, the Wranglers have offered up a few more details of what we can expect that night — not the least of which is the "throwback" jersey seen above. They're definitely having fun with this, as you can see from a recent press release.
“As one of the Original Four, we thought this would be another terrific way to celebrate our tenth season in Las Vegas,” said Wranglers President and Chief Operating Officer Billy Johnson. “The Indoor Winter Classic is quite a celebration of professional hockey for us and the three other originals, plus Ontario.”
The Wranglers — along with the Bakersfield Condors, Idaho Steelheads and Alaska Aces — were one of the original four western teams when the ECHL expanded in 2003.
Yes, they were. That's almost like the owner Dallas Stars calling his team one of the Original 12. Sure, you can make it true with the right spin, but that doesn't keep us from a little eye roll.
More fun from the release:
“We believe hockey fans will want to wear clothing that commemorates the first outdoor game ever played inside,” said Johnson. “There can be only so many firsts of anything, really, and this is one of those.”
T-shirts and hoodies are a dark ash color and feature the Indoor Winter Classic logo on the chest.
Advance weather forecasts for inside the arena call for intermittent snow for the Indoor Winter Classic, as well as unpredictable wind patterns caused by arena doors being left open.
The jersey announcement came on Friday. But there's more. The Wranglers made one more announcement on Sunday.
Wranglers reveal Indoor Winter Classic trophy
Indoor Winter Classic trophyThe Wranglers will host the Ontario Reign for the big event on Tuesday. And apparently the winner will walk away with this gem. (But then how can you really call yourself a "winner" carrying that thing around?)
“The trophy arrived early Sunday morning,” Wranglers President and Chief Operating Officer Billy Johnson said. “No one on our team went near it, which — if tradition is to be believed — tells me they really want to win it.”
The trophy features a base that displays an Indoor Winter Classic logo, and three columns support an upper shelf that features two U.S. dollar signs that flank a glittery-scarf-wearing bobble head doll of the team’s mascot, The Duke.
The entire award is wrapped in a chain that is padlocked in the front. A team representative said that the entire trophy came in at under $29.
Can't help but be entertained by the Wranglers. Guess that's what happens when you put hockey in the desert. Or maybe it's just Vegas.
I'll be curious to see how the Indoor Winter Classic turns out. But more than that, I imagine I'll be spending the next few days hoping for a press conference with the NHL and NHLPA to announce they're ready to stop being stupid. Fingers crossed.
Chris
I suppose I should update this post for posterity's sake. The Wranglers beat the Reign 3-2 and therefore won the first annual Indoor Winter Classic — and the trophy that went with it.
Photo courtesy Las Vegas Wranglers
It all comes together. By the way, Puck Daddy found video. It's "snowing" in Vegas.
This line from Greg Wyshynski made me laugh:
Hey, who needs 115,000 fans outside at the Big House when you can have 3,000 signing “Sweet Caroline” under a flurry of fake snow inside a Las Vegas rink?
Reader Comments (4)
Haha, looks like they're having alot of fun with it. The trophy is a little silly by half though.
I'm about this close to putting in some effort to actually acquire one of those. I've always loved the Wranglers' brand of minor-league crazy, and I kind of dig that jersey.
Still can't get over the "original 12" comment? Would you kindly take the stick out of your rear end?
Haha, you get a little eye roll too, Arthur.