Gotham City Crusaders Defend Tulsa

For tonight only, the Central Hockey League's Tulsa Oilers will be rebranded. The team will assume the role of the Dark Knight on Black Friday as they become the Gotham City Crusaders. And it actually goes beyond just dressing up like Batman.

From Tulsa Oilers (Facebook page)Of course any good theme night in the minor leagues will have a fun specialty jersey to accompany it. The Oilers certainly have that covered with these bad boys (right and above).

On Black Friday, November 23rd, the Tulsa Oilers will be transformed into the Gotham City Crusaders. Dressed as heroes, this band of Crusaders will extinguish the oncoming Bloomington Blaze and rescue Gotham from disaster.

The Crusaders are asking all Gotham citizens to wear black to the BOK Center. Fans dressed as Batman or other characters will be eligible for special prizes and all kids 12 and under are admitted free with a special voucher which can be printed off on www.tulsaoilers.com or the Tulsa Oilers facebook page.

But if seeing them isn't enough and you want one of these sweaters for yourself, there's good news. The team is auctioning off the game-worn threads following the game. You can place your bids on the team's website.

By the way, I might've had more to say on the subject, but Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski has us fully covered. No way I could beat his write-up. He suggests other ways the Oilers could expand on this particular theme night. Definitely worth a read!

By the way, thanks to everyone who sent emails and tweets about this jersey. Always helps!

The Anaheim Aprons

As you sit here on your computer/smartphone while your mother/wife/other relative cooks Thanksgiving Dinner, take a moment to note what they're wearing to keep from wearing the food. It's probably an apron. But probably not one like this.

Yes, to anyone who has ever referred to the Reebok Edge piping as apron strings... you are hereby forever vindicated. If this isn't the worst thing ever, it's at least in the Top 10.

The photo above and many more like it can be found in a photo gallery on the Ducks' official website. They're from an Anaheim Ducks Foundation event last year in which certain players made their mark in the kitchen by preparing sushi.

Lehigh Valley & The Mustachioed Phantom

The AHL's Adirondack Phantoms will have a new name and color palette when they move back to Pennsylvania in 2014. They will be relocate to Allentown, Penn. and be known as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. And their iconic purple will be replaced by electric blue.

All of this comes from a report in the Lehigh Valley newspaper, The Morning Call. But it's no surprise. It was always intended for the Phantoms to head back south after they left Philadelphia in 2009.

Photos from ShopPhantomsArena.com (official website)

The first move came when it was announced in 2008 that their arena would be demolished to make way for a new entertainment district. The Philadelphia Phantoms temporarily relocated to Glens Falls, New York and assumed the Adirondack moniker.

After a five-year stay in upstate New York, the team will move back to Pennsylvania to start the 2014-15 season and be named the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. See? It's not all that confusing.

But wait, there's more. If we leave the future and head back to the present, we find the Phantoms will be wearing a special Movember jersey next weekend. (You know, Movember, where you grow a mustache to remind everyone that dudes get cancer too.)

We actually get two mustachioed Phantoms logos with this event. The team will actually wear this jersey on Saturday, Nov. 24. They'll be auctioned off after the game with the proceeds going to medical causes.

So, what do you think? Both about the Phantoms coming name and color change as well as these Cancer Awareness Night jerseys? Is this the next pink-in-the-rink fad? Putting mustaches on your jersey? Can I fit in one more question mark?

Last Chance to Own a Lagers Jersey

Have you ordered your Milwaukee Lagers IceHL jersey from RinkGear yet?

If not, what in the world are you waiting for? The clock is ticking and pre-orders will only be taken until this Sunday, Nov. 18. (You get an extra week! The deadline has been extended to next Sunday, Nov. 25.) So this is your last chance to own an IceHL jersey!

If the $95 price tag has you a little hesitant, just know that it's only because RinkGear is providing a high quality product. The logos are fully embroidered and you can have it customized with a name and number at no extra cost.

Here are some examples of the detail work on other RinkGear jerseys.

If you'd like to see the higher-resolution photos, just shoot me an email and I'll be happy to pass them along.

Beer League Team Borrows Lagers Look

Sloppy Posse jerseyWhile we're on the subject of Lagers jerseys, I had to share this.

We see beer league teams borrow pro jerseys all the time. But check this out. One team will look a lot like one of our IceHL franchises this season.

The Sloppy Posse loved the look of the Milwaukee Lagers so I put them in touch with Josh Frederick, who designed the Lagers logos. Josh customized the logo for their team and this is the jersey they ended up with.

Based on this photo (right), it looks great! And I asked the team to send some game photos along so we can all see an IceHL logo in action.

For what it's worth, the Brossard, Quebec-based Sloppy Posse received their jerseys just before Halloween. And according to their schedule from the Adult Safe Hockey League website, the team won its first game in the new uniforms, 4-2. They won again this past weekend in overtime, too.

Kudos to them and to Josh Frederick on his design work. It sometimes amazes me to see what comes out of The IceHL Project.

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?