Jersey Brief: AHL Classic Edition

Late January was a busy time for some "classic" American Hockey League uniforms. We'll start with the 2013 AHL Outdoor Classic which took place on Sun., Jan. 20 at HersheyPark in Hershey, Penn. between the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. (Does anyone else have a sudden urge for chocolate?)

Photos by Matthew O'Haren / The Sentinel

By the way, it turns out that jersey the Pens photographed for Instagram last October was the one they'd be wearing to the big outdoor game a few months later. Now we know. It's surprisingly lackluster for the Penguins, but it works for an outdoor hockey game, which sort of demands that old-timey look and feel.

Photos by Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth

The Penguins ended up winning the game in an OT thriller on a goal from Paul Thompson.

By the way, for more fantastic photos of the Bears' uniforms from the game, head on over to Sweetest Hockey on Earth. Lots of great shots by Kyle Mace. I particularly like the felt appliqué crests on these. Adds even more to the throwback feel of an event like this. Penn Live has more game photos.

Speaking of throwbacks, before the Outdoor Classic, a bunch of alumni from the Bears and Penguins got together for a game of their own — wearing, of course, sweaters of olde.

Photos by JustSports Photography

JustSports Photography has posted shots from the game on their Facebook page. (Note there were three separate links there as they posted their many photos in three separate albums.)

That wasn't the only classic AHL game in the month of January.

Just over a week later, on Mon., Jan. 28, the best players still left in the AHL (after the NHL nabbed a bunch of them) descended on Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. for the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic. After 15 years of pitting an all-Canadian AHL team against players born in other parts of the world, the league switched up their All-Star format in 2010 — to east versus west.

Photos from AHL via Facebook

Since it's not obvious from the sweaters, I'll tell you that the team wearing blue was the Western Conference All-Stars. The Eastern Conference wore white. And both teams feel like a bizarre mix between the old Montreal Canadiens' and Washington Capitals' uniforms for some reason.

For those of you that can't get enough of these "fauxback" jerseys, the AHL is the league to watch right now. And if you want one of your very own, they're up for auction on ebay.

Photo from AHL via Facebook

The West ended up winning the game 7-6. (Maybe because East players started shooting on their own goalie?) But what's interesting about the teams' jerseys is that they were worn during warms-up prior to last year's All-Star Classic. Why is that interesting? Check out this year's warm-up jerseys.

Photos from AHL via Facebook

I'm not saying they AHL All-Stars will wear black and gold in 2014, but these are unique. I doubt the league would stray from their red, white and blue. I'm also not sure I like how the Boston Bruins' primary and secondary logos have been redesigned for the purpose of this event. Seems like they could've been a little more original.

In case you're interested, the Journal Star reported last month that the AHL is considering Peoria to host the 2014 All-Star Classic. (Concept logos, anyone?)

And finally, this...

On first glance, from above, it looks like this could be the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators — or the Boston Bruins in their 2009 Winter Classic threads. But no, it's Providence and Worcester both wearing colored sweaters! Proof that you don't need a white jersey to have a hockey game.

Get with it, NHL. If they can do it, certainly you can too.

The Jersey Brief: ECHL Edition

Ever since the return of the NHL, I've been back to ignoring the minor leagues. Sorry about that. Hopefully I can make up for some of what I've missed with this post and others to come.

Solar Bears disappoint with third jersey

I've had this one in the chamber for a little while now. But I can't ignore it anymore. The Orlando Solar Bears — of the ECHL's current top-selling jerseys — debuted their third jersey on Dec. 28 against the Florida Everblades. And it was extremely disappointing.

Photos: ©2012 Gary Bassing/OSB via Solar Bears official Facebook page

The Joe Bosack Graphic Design Co. created a wide and varied set of phenomenal logos for this team last year. And despite that, the Bears managed to create a rather boring jersey. So they play in the Sunshine State, you say? I'm all for simplicity, but it just feels like there's a big hole in the middle of this sweater. If you're interested, you can find more photos on the Solar Bears' Facebook page.

Solar Bears go pink for one night in January

While we're talking Orlando, might as well mention the Solar Bears' Pink in the Rink jerseys. That fad isn't going anywhere. The team's cancer awareness night was Jan. 19 and they were fully clad in hot pink and their familiar purple in front a crowd of 9,000-plus.

Photos: ©2013 Fernando Medina/OSB via Solar Bears official Facebook page

Those are certainly bright. But as pink jerseys go, they aren't the worst we've ever seen. Of course that contrasting nameplate thing won't die. Don't think the Bears have worn a single jersey yet that didn't have it. (Way to go, Flyers.) Of course you can find more photos on the team's Facebook page.

Wranglers to go "topless" on Over 18 Night, Feb. 4

Fresh off their Indoor Winter Classic victory, the Las Vegas Wranglers are going "topless" next week. The club known for weird and wacky theme nights will be wearing these jerseys on Monday.

Photo by IIA Photography

Since there's nothing I can think to say, I'll give you an excerpt from the press release:

“Going bottomless was simply out of the question,” said Wranglers President and Chief Operating Officer Billy Johnson. “Yuck.”

The specialty Wranglers jersey, featuring a bare chest and sculpted abs, has a Wranglers crest tattooed over the right pectoral. Adorning the shoulders are a “topless hockey” and Wranglers word mark, with light arm hair filling out the details.

“The guys have never looked to be in better shape,” said Johnson. “Nor have they appeared to be as identical.”

The Wranglers host the Colorado Eagles for "Over 18 Night" on Feb. 4. "In addition to topless hockey," the team says, "fans can enjoy mild adult humor throughout the game, including uncensored clips from well-known movies applied to game situations."

Also the numbers look absolutely illegible. Can't wait to see pictures from the game.

Stingrays set to sport pink-infused jersey on Feb. 23

Rounding out our ECHL coverage tonight are the South Carolina Stingrays, who yesterday unveiled their Pink in the Rink Night jersey. As pink jerseys go, it's surprisingly decent. Icethetics reader Sean M., who let me know about the unveiling, even called it "tasteful."

Again, as pink jerseys go, I can't say I disagree. The pink-infused sweaters will be worn by the Stingrays on Sat., Feb. 23 when the host the Greenville Road Warriors.

I understand this doesn't completely make up for my lack of minor league posts recently, so there are more to come. For one thing, the AHL's Outdoor and All-Star Classics were this month, complete with lots of neat jerseys. Stay tuned for more.

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.

Update on Thursday · Jan 3 · 2013 | 1:39 AM PST by 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?

Sound Tigers Honor Sandy Hook

Bridgeport, Conn. AHL club holds touching tribute

The AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers had the youngest victims of last week's school shooting on their mind when they hit the ice yesterday against the Adirondack Phantoms. Twenty children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 14.

There's no one who doesn't already know the story. But what you may not know is the Sound Tigers' close connection to the school.

“Sandy Hook Elementary School has been a part of our family, supporting the Sound Tigers at games and community events since the team began calling Bridgeport home, 12 years ago,” Sound Tigers president Howard Saffan said. “We are honored to recognize the victims of the heartbreaking events that happened less than 20 miles up the road.”

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images via Sound Tigers (official Facebook)

Players wearing names of young victims in place of their own

From Thursday's Sound Tigers press release:

In place of each player’s last name, every jersey worn at home beginning on Sat., Dec. 22 when the Sound Tigers take on the Adirondack Phantoms, will have the name of one of the 20 students whose life was lost on Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn. The names of the six adult victims will appear on the center hung digital scoreboard throughout the entire game.

The Sound Tigers will wear their black alternate jerseys for these games. The month-long tribute concludes on Jan. 20 when the team hosts the Springfield Falcons.

During that game, the Sound Tigers will honor the Newtown community, as members or representatives from each family will be invited to take home their jerseys off the players’ backs at the conclusion of the contest.

The Sound Tigers will hold a number of promotions and auctions over the next few weeks, the proceeds of which will go to Sandy Hook Elementary.

Sound Tigers tribute will continue through rest of season

The tribute to the Sandy Hook victims doesn't end on Jan. 20.

Earlier this week, the team announced that they will wear commemorative ribbon patches on the jerseys and stickers on their helmets for the remainder of the 2012-13 American Hockey League season, and a graphic with the initials “S.H.E.S.” and the date “12.14.12” will be painted into the ice behind each net at Webster Bank Arena.

For more pictures of the black jerseys worn during last night's game, The AHL's Official Facebook page has a great photo album you can check out.

Portland Pirates Celebrate 20 Years

Over the weekend, I wrote up a post outlining the variety of theme jerseys the AHL will see this season. During my research, I discovered the that Portland Pirates have already worn their share of creative sweaters for this season.

Pirates mark 20th anniversary with special logo and jersey

The Pirates were actually founded in Pennsylvania in 1975 as the Erie Blades. In 1982, they moved to Maryland and became the Baltimore Skipjacks. Then in 1993, the club arrived in Portland, Maine. That's the anniversary the Pirates are celebrating this season.

So they needed a logo. But the final version you see above didn't just happen. As with any logo, a lot of options were created and considered. In fact, a member of the team that designed the mark has given us a peek inside the process. Scott Lyle posted these photos on his blog.

Photos by Scott Lyle

Lyle also lists these other members of the design team: Adriana Warner, Alyssa Harvey, Christopher Moore, Kelsey Raymond, Lucy Henson, Paige Wojcukiewicz, Rachel Carter, and Sheyenne Rivers.

That project also included designing this colorless 20th anniversary sweater.

Rendering from Portland Pirates (official Facebook)

I'm not sure why they decided to drop the red — a key part of the Pirates' color palette for all of its 20 years. Might've made this jersey stand out a little bit more.

Throwback and Pink in the Rink theme night jerseys

Earlier this season, the Pirates held a couple of theme nights that saw them wearing special uniforms.

On Sat., Oct. 27, it was Pink in the Rink, their sixth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night. Naturally, the players had their pink-infused jerseys on. What's funny is it also happened to be Boy Scout Night.

Photo credits: AHL official Facebook page (left); Pirates official Facebook page (right)

Then a week later, on Fri., Nov. 2, it was Throwback Jersey Night. The Pirates brought back the 20-year-old sweaters from their inaugural season in Portland. I kind of miss the simplicity of old logos like that.

Happy Holidays from the Pirates

That about wraps up today's coverage of the Pirates. Now I'd just like to leave you with this.