Road Warriors' New Third Mimics Rangers

Photo from Greenville Road Warriors (Facebook page)

The ECHL's Greenville Road Warriors unveiled their new third jersey earlier this month and it's practically identical to that of their NHL affiliate, the New York Rangers. The sweater debuted Sun., Nov. 4 to a 4-3 Warriors win over the Florida Everblades.

Here's what the team is saying about its new threads:

“We wanted these jerseys to reflect the strong partnership we’ve built with our NHL affiliate the New York Rangers. We’d like to thank the Rangers organization for their help and support in the development of these new jerseys,” said Chris Lewis, Road Warriors Executive Vice President and General Manager.

“The Rangers’ jersey has become iconic in the hockey world. It evokes a rich history of one of the NHL’s storied franchises and we are proud to celebrate our affiliation by wearing these jerseys this season.”

The alternate uniform will be used for each of Greenville's Sunday home games this season.

The Rangers and Road Warriors have had an affiliation agreement since the club's relocation to Greenville in 2010. (Until then, they had been the Johnstown Chiefs, a founding member of the ECHL in 1988.)

What do you think? Do you like when minor league teams emulate their NHL partners? Or is it like giving the players the chance to wear the big league's uniforms before they've earned it?

Have You Seen Los IceHogs?

Images from Rockford IceHogs (official website)

Novelty promotions are commonplace in the minor leagues. But sometimes you just have to shake your head. And the AHL's Rockford IceHogs are really standing out right now.

Over the weekend, the team gave away bobbleheads bearing that looked like to the two dudes at the center of last night's onslaught of news coverage. (Was there an election or something?) Then later this month, the one and only IceHogs will transform into Los IceHogs. (The same, right, but more... Mexican-ish.)

These were two things that deserved some blog time. I couldn't resist. Especially the specialty jersey, which will be worn next Friday, Nov. 16. And get this, the first 2,500 fans are getting free maracas. How much do you not want to be at that game? Ah, but you might change your mind when you learn who's making a special visit.

Dora the Explorer. The celebrity from whom every hockey fan dreams of getting a visit.

Anyway, this gave me a good laugh and I hope it'll do the same for you. Tell me. What do you think of Los IceHogs? And what other cultural stereotypes could these guys use to mask their big pig of a mascot?

Update on Thursday · Nov 8 · 2012 | 11:47 PM PST by Chris

Photos from Rockford IceHogs (Facebook page)

This morning the IceHogs revealed some actual photos of this unbelievable jersey. Words just escape me. (The photo from the back I came across on Puck Daddy.)

Blazers Aim for Modern-Retro Mix

Photos from Kamloops Blazers (via Facebook)

The string of great new WHL third jerseys continues with the Kamloops Blazers. The club debuted these new blue sweaters on Sept. 21 (and yes, I'm just now getting to them). And while they may look rather familiar, there's nothing wrong with that.

The looks is based on the fantastic green third jersey of the Minnesota Wild. From the script crest to the simple striping, it's hard to go wrong with a classic feel such as this. But that's not the only reason for the new alternate uniform.

Blazers director of sales and marketing, Dave Chyzowski, tells me that part of the reason for the new sweater was to give a little love to the city of Kamloops. And while that required a move away from the traditional Blazer "B," the new crest does include a variation of the primary logo to "give it that subtle flavour of the Blazers."

Photos from Kamloops Blazers (via official website and Facebook page)

Chyzowski says the blue of this jersey is darker than the normal Blazers blue to help the new logo stand out. Basically, the team was looking to keep it simple and clean with a design that mixes retro and modern design elements. I'd say they succeeded.

Do you think the Blazers hit the mark with their new third jersey?

St. Charles Chill Joining CHL in 2013

The Central Hockey League is expanding next season. Well, re-expanding.

After the Laredo Bucks were sold this summer, the new ownership decided to the suspend the franchise for a season while it relocates to St. Charles, Missouri. The team will pick up in the 2013-14 season as the St. Charles Chill.

This, of course, means we'll be anticipating a new logo unveiling at some point within the next year. And the Chill are actually looking to fans for a little help in that regard. Last week, the team posted the following message on its Facebook page:

We have been working on getting the perfect logo for your new team. Anyone out there who would like to submit a logo can send it to nicole@stcharleschill.com.

Their colors are black, white, silver and "ice blue as an accent color," as they put it. So if you have a logo idea for the Chill, your email goes straight to the team's GM, Nicole Kupaks. By the way, if you do submit a design, feel free to send it my way too and I'll be happy to post it on the Icethetics Concepts page.

St. Charles Chill's official website (10/23/12)

Gladiators Add 10th Anniversary Jersey

Photo from Gwinnett Gladiators official website

The ECHL's Gwinnett Gladiators will be sporting a special edition 10th anniversary sweater this season and fans can get their hands on one for the first time tonight when the club opens its home schedule.

The Gladiators are looking to their NHL affiliate, the Phoenix Coyotes, for inspiration, quite clearly. It's essentially the Coyotes' home sweater with some text on the front. That's right, text. My favorite. (Sorry, hope I didn't drip any of that sarcasm on you.)

It sounds like this won't be an alternate jersey so much as the Glads' go-to dark jersey this season. ECHL teams wear white and home and colors on the road until the midpoint of the season when they all do a big switch-a-roo. (It gives teams a chance to showcase both of their uniforms to fans in an effort to sell more of each.)

Here's what else the team had to say about it a couple weeks ago.

In honor of their 10th year in Gwinnett, the Gladiators have decided to commemorate the anniversary by introducing a new maroon jersey for the 2012-2013 season. Fans in attendance at this past Sunday’s pre-season game were privy to a special sneak peek at the new sweaters.

The Gladiators will wear them for Opening Weekend before their designation on road games as the "dark" sweater option per ECHL mandate. At the midway point of the season, member teams will switch their jerseys, and the Gladiators will finish the 2nd half of the year wearing their maroon sweaters at home.

In homage to the history of hockey, the jerseys have a decidedly vintage feel complete with lace-up neck and "Gwinnett" across the chest.

The right shoulder will bear the ECHL's 25th anniversary patch while the left will have the team's 10th anniversary patch. But whatever floats their boat, I suppose.

I have to say, the design is quite plain and really does nothing for me, but I'd rather hear what Gladiators fans think of it. Would you buy one? It turns out they'll actually be kind of a "limited edition" type deal since the team's contract with SP Apparel is ending and they don't want to be left with stuff they can't sell. (Does this also mean we'll see more new Gladiators jerseys in 2013?)