ECHL All-Star Logo Unveiled

ECHL 2010 All-Star Game logoToday, the ECHL unveiled the logo for the 2010 All-Star Game which will be hosted by the Ontario Reign. It is the 18th ECHL All-Star Game and will take place on January 20 at the Citizens Business Bank in Ontario, California.

You can see it here to the right. It's your typical minor league all-star logo. You take the host team's logo, incorporate some host city elements and wrap it all up with a pretty star-themed bow.

It's just like all the others. But they're all rather well done, actually.

Here's the official description of the new logo:

The logo features a front view of ECHL and the Citizens Business Bank Arena and utilizes the Reign colors of navy, grey and burnt orange. The team’s familiar shield is in the background with 'Ontario, California' below Citizens Business Bank Arena while '2010 ECHL All-Star' and an artist's rendition of the San Bernardino Mountains are featured above it.

For the seventh year in a row the ECHL All-Star Game logo was designed by Joe Bosack, who is the president and founder of The Joe Bosack Graphic Design Company. Bosack also designed the ECHL logo, the Kelly Cup Playoffs logo, the ECHL 15th Anniversary logo, the ECHL 20th Anniversary logo and the ECHL Hall of Fame logo.

That last bit got me thinking about something. It's what I mentioned on Twitter tonight. Icethetics should give some recognition to the individuals and design firms charged with creating the logos we all tend to bash or praise at the drop of a hat.

So I'd like to start a small side-project here on Icethetics wherein we gather information about who's behind all the logos we discuss every day. I don't have a name for this project yet, so if you think of something let me know.

UPDATE: I like "Behind the Brand" for the name of this project. Thanks Bill!

If you'd like to help out with this project, start doing some research and email in or comment with any information you find. I'd prefer a URL for design firms/artists still in business, but a name will suffice at the very least. You will need to provide some sort of proof so we don't credit anyone incorrectly.

Does this sound like a project you guys are interested in? If not, I'll drop it. But if it is, I'd love to start getting it put together.

Canucks 3rd Jersey Sked

The Vancouver Canucks will wear their third jerseys 15 times in the 2009-10 campaign. Canucks Hockey Blog posted the schedule today but didn't cite a source so I'm not sure from where this information originates. Still, why would they make it up?

Canucks fans, mark your calendars. Here is this season's third jersey schedule:

• Wed., October 7 - vs Canadiens
• Sat., October 24 - vs Maple Leafs
• Tues., November 3 - vs Rangers
• Sun., November 22 - vs Blackhawks
• Sun., November 29 - vs Sharks
• Thurs., December 10 - vs Thrashers
• Wed., December 16 - vs Ducks
• Sat., December 26 - vs Oilers
• Sat., January 9 - vs Flames
• Sat., January 16 - vs Penguins
• Mon., January 25 - vs Sabres
• Sat., March 13 - vs Senators
• Sat., March 20 - vs Red Wings
• Tues., March 30 - vs Coyotes
• Tues., April 6 - vs Avalanche

Every night of the week but Friday gets its shot with the alternate. 

In case you missed it, the Thrashers also announced their third jersey schedule.

Hershey Gets New Jerseys

As I mentioned last night on Twitter, there is an awful lot going on in the minors these days. Time to get everyone caught up. We'll begin with the AHL and work our way down.

The Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears have unveiled brand new sweaters for the 2009-10 season. They did so yesterday on their official web site — while I was busy with the Wild third jersey leak.

The Bears made the switch to the Reebok Edge style uniforms two seasons ago and were one of the few teams that kept changes to a minimum — HERSHEY placed diagonally down the front of the chocolate jerseys and BEARS down the front of the white ones. Those designs are no more.

Hershey Bears' new jerseys for 2009-10

The home and road sweaters will now place the team's primary logo front and center, while reserving a new text-based design for the alternate jersey. The new third takes its inspiration from the Dallas Stars' with the city name arched above the player's number.

The Bears have also announced the launch of the new sweaters will take place during their season opener in October.

The make of the jersey has remained the same, but the appearance has changed. Anyone looking to purchase one of the new jerseys can do so on opening night, October 3. As always, fans can customize their jerseys to have specific names on the back.

Thanks to James for the tip.

Moving right along now to the ECHL. The Ontario Reign will play host to the league's 2010 All-Star Game. It was announced yesterday that the logo for the event will be unveiled this Friday at 1 PM EST.

The Citizens Business Bank Arena will play host to the 18th ECHL All-Star Game which takes place on January 20, 2010. The event is sponsored by Reebok. No word on whether the All-Star jerseys will be debuted on Friday as well.

We'll finish up our look at the minors with the QMJHL. As you know the league is switching over to the Reebok Edge uniforms this season. Scotty from Hockeybums tells me the plan is for the league and Reebok to unveil all of the remaining uniforms on September 9. Not a hard date to remember — 09/09/09.

One more item now regarding the London Knights.

London Knights in their Euro jerseys

The Knights will be hosting the Euro Can Cup in which they and other participating teams will don European-style jerseys — as seen above. It's a rather awful sight. Organizers are hoping for it to be a success. I'm hoping it's not if for no other reason than those terrible uniforms.

You can read more about the event at the London Free Press. If you'd like to punish yourself by looking at more pictures of these jerseys, click here.

Devils Going Green!

Green is slowly but surely sneaking back into the NHL in the Age of Reebok. The New Jersey Devils will join the throwback club this season as they don their original green-infused sweaters for one night only this season.

The report came earlier tonight on the team's official web site, saying the special sweaters would be worn on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, March 17, 2010 when the Devs host division rival Pittsburgh Penguins. President/CEO/GM Lou Lamoriello has long said his team would not wear a third jersey on his watch — which is why I think many of us are surprised by this announcement.

Brendan Shanahan"The original red, green, and white jerseys are a part of our history here in New Jersey," said Lamoriello. "We have always been an organization that takes great pride in its tradition. This is something we believe our fans will enjoy for that one special night."

The original red, green, and white jerseys were worn for 800 regular-season and 40 playoff contests from the team’s inception in 1982 through the 1992 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Jersey’s Team has worn red, black, and white since 1992-93, and both sweaters have featured a stylized “NJ” on the chest.

They're not kidding. The Devils had been the last remaining NHL franchise without any kind of alternate jersey — ever. The Red Wings were considered by many to be part of that group, but their throwbacks both in 1992 and at last year's Winter Classic kept New Jersey isolated in my book.

Everyone wants to make a buck — especially in economic times like these. While the article on the site doesn't address the sale of these "one-time-only" jerseys, I'm betting you'll be able to find them in stores in no time.

Switching gears now to the Nashville Predators. I've heard through multiple sources, including Icethetics readers Brandon and Ben that the Preds sent a note to season tickets holders about third jerseys.

The information is rather vague at this point, saying that the jerseys would be revealed in November. No word yet on whether that date refers to a public unveiling, on-ice debut, or both. I'll let you know if I hear anything else.

Preds owner David Freeman previously said the team's new third jersey will likely be revealed publicly in September. He described it as a very traditional-looking jersey, with a design that "came purely from some of the original six teams."

Just keep in mind that the original report out of Minnesota was that the Wild's new third jersey would be unveiled in mid-September. Now, not only has it leaked, but it's going to be officially made public two weeks earlier.

Wild 3rd Jersey Leaked!

We're getting our first look this morning at the Minnesota Wild's brand new third jersey — just five days before the official unveiling. The new sweaters are scheduled to make their public debut on Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair. Icethetics has a sneak peek right now.

Minnesota Wild new third jerseyI believe this is Brent Burns modeling the new sweater here to the right (correct me if I'm wrong). The photo is part of the background image on the Wild's forthcoming redesigned web site. Since the jersey won't be unveiled until Sunday, the new site will have to wait at least until then. 

Meantime, this is what we've been hearing about from the Wild and it's hard not to be impressed. As I said, Minnesota was the team I felt had the farthest to fall in terms of third jerseys for 2009. They have such a great (albeit short) history that it would've been very easy to ruin this one.

The minute amount of red works in its favor. We wanted a green sweater and we got a green sweater. The striping is dead-on, reminiscent of the 2004 All-Star jersey. And the only thing I might change is probably the thin piping around the shoulders.

Aside from that, I don't think there's anything else to improve. It's what most of us were hoping for. Easy on the red, heavy on the green.

By the way, so you have an idea where this came from, here is the full background image that will be featured on the new site — probably next week.

Wild's new web site background

Got an opinion on the Wild's new third? Share it in the comments. And check back on Sunday for more photos from the official unveiling.

Update on Tuesday · Aug 25 · 2009 | 9:52 PM PDT by Chris

While not mentioned by name, Icethetics was featured on Minneapolis TV tonight for the Wild third jersey leak.

Thanks to KSTP for the shoutout!

Update on Sunday · Aug 30 · 2009 | 12:43 PM PDT by Chris

This jersey has now been officially unveiled by the Wild. Click here for more photos and information.