0671: Minors That Might Have Been

Teams come and go so often in the minors, so today's theme within Minor League Week has to do clubs that no longer exist. Like yesterday, Bastian Schmülling kicks things off. The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights exist today as the AHL's Abbotsford Heat. But perhaps they could've donned red and grey if they stayed put.

The AHL's old Buffalo Bisons club hasn't been around for 43 years, but Dylan Wonka imagines a comeback, complete with that classic bottle cap crest.

Technically, the Peoria Rivermen still exist, but now as a member of the SPHL. The AHL club was relocated and became the Utica Comets this past summer. Maybe they'd have had more luck as less a riverboat captain and more a canoeist. (Is that a word?) You can tell Antonio Calisto had some fun with this one!

We'll wrap up on a team that's soon to be relocated. The AHL's Adirondack Phantoms will become the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season. So while this jersey set is cool, the "A" wouldn't work anymore.

Check back tomorrow for some big time minor league Freak Outs!

0670: Around the Juniors

Minor League Week takes us around the Canadian Hockey League today. Junior teams are rarely featured here so this is a treat. The prolific and talented Bastian Schmülling gets us started with a pair. First, the QMJHL are represented by the Quebec Remparts. The Remparts have a history of great jersey designs. This one would not be a departure from that.

Moving to the OHL, Bastian tackles the Peterborough Petes. This team also lends itself well to great uniform designs. No surprise Bastian knocked this one out of the park too.

Another regular, Ryan Haslett, takes us to the WHL. He's created a new sweater for the Lethbridge Hurricanes which features a Hurricane (the plane) in the shape of a hurricane (the storm). Pretty clever.

Finally, Kurt Pittman brings us his rebranding of the Moose Jaw Warriors. He introduces some great new logos to go with his uniforms. I'm really impressed with this set!

0669: ECHL All-Stars in 2015

This epic Minor League Week continues with some of the submissions to the ECHL's 2015 All-Star Game jersey design contest. The submission period ended last Friday and voting begins tomorrow. Maybe we'll see some of these included in the mix.

We start with a wealth of design ideas from John Elbertson. First is a design that's more in tune with the Orlando Solar Bears' branding. As the host of next season's event, there's little doubt the All-Star jersey will bear(!) their colors.

Then John also submitted a couple of more traditional-style designs in those eye-catching colors. The ECHL will only need one All-Star jersey because the All-Star team will face the Solar Bears in the game. But they've definitely got plenty of options from John alone.

David Kerr went a different route with this sunrise design. Or is a sunset? I could see the All-Stars rocking one of those.

Chad Jeske would have the team in white with a big star across the chest. Another solid design here.

Teal seems to be the most popular color among these designers. Brian Kolis added a twist to his jersey, though, with some sunny sleeve numbers. Lots of creativity in these designs!

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BONUS CONCEPT

Why should the ECHL get to have all the All-Star fun? Scott Markiewicz design a couple of jerseys for a future AHL All-Star Classic. It might look like he was inspired by the NHL's Stadium Series jerseys, but no! In fact, Scott submitted this back in September before there was even any hint of those Stadium sweaters.

It helps that Matt McElroy foresaw Reebok's new jersey cut with his IceBorn template months before it was unveiled. Psychic! You can download IceBorn from the Icethetics Concept Templates page.

0668: Around the AHL

Welcome to Minor League Week on the Concepts page! And just to get really crazy, we're doing individual theme days within this theme week. As you can see, today is about the American Hockey League. Thomas Hopkins gets us started with this clever use of the old Atlanta Flames logo for the Abbotsford Heat. I think a grey and red team would look fantastic!

Ryan Haslett decided to get a little creative with his hometown Toronto Marlies, creating a new crest to go with his two-tone blue sweater. Another solid one there!

A newcomer to the Concepts page, Cody Smith reimagined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a little with this wordmark-centric uniform set. The throwback to the Pittsburgh jersey from the '90s saves it.

And we'll wrap up with Avi Stein's idea for a Binghamton Senators third jersey. The "B" works just as well as the "O" there — if not better!

Tomorrow we'll see some of the entries to the ECHL's 2015 All-Star Game jersey design contest.

0257: Greetings from Nova Scotia

All last week we covered the AHL. Monday the OHL, Tuesday the WHL, yesterday the ECHL, and today, we wrap up another Minor League Week with the QMJHL. Ben MacDonald sent in this Halifax Mooseheads option some time ago. It's a very simplified look for the team from Nova Scotia — even if it is a little Christmas-y. What do you think of it?

0256: Happy Halloween from Vegas

We're celebrating Halloween and Minor League Week all at the same time with a complete Las Vegas Wranglers uniform set created by Jared Pozzobon. This one was actually submitted before the Wranglers did their logo and uniform overhaul over the summer. But I kind of like the look. And if the IceHL jersey voting contest was any indication, I'm betting most of you will too. (I'm referring to all the chest striping.)

0255: Oil Kings Simplified

Minor League Week picks up with the WHL today. Christopher Houghton offers a simplified color scheme and uniform design for the Edmonton Oil Kings. What do you think of them without the red?