Thursday, 15 October 2009

Your ECHL Promotional Jersey Schedule

With the 2009-10 season getting underway for the twenty ECHL teams tonight, I thought it might be a good idea to post the schedules for the promotional nights that each team is having, focusing specifically on the promotional hockey jersey nights. The ECHL prides itself on being affordable, family-oriented hockey action, and there have been a number of excellent players who have graduated to higher levels of hockey from this league. What makes this league special, however, are the promotional jerseys. All sorts of causes and charities are highlighted throughout the hockey season with a special jersey, and we'll look at these below.

Alaska Aces

After emailing the Alaska Aces today, they responded by saying that they had not yet finalized the promotion schedule. With it being opening night tonight, that strikes me as slightly odd. They can't even confirm the promotions they are holding in the month of October?

Bakersfield Condors

The Condors have their entire promotional schedule online. I think the toilet plunger giveaway on February 20 is entirely interesting. Hopefully, the Condors won't be close to missing the playoffs on that night. Otherwise, someone may get the wrong idea about that promotion.
Charlotte Checkers

The Checkers have their promotional schedule online. There are a number of zoo-sponsored and Coke-sponsored nights throughout the year. Lots of promotions going on, and I have to commend Charlotte for holding Family Day every Sunday where they play a game. Bringing in the younger fans will only lead them to becoming adult fans.
  • November 13: "Friday the 13th" game. I'm not sure what this entails, but they may be planning something similar to what Las Vegas did a few seasons ago.
  • November 21: Junior Achievement night featuring special blue jerseys to be auctioned off.
  • December 18: "Cheesy Christmas Sweater" night. Hopefully, this includes the team.
  • January 22: "Race Night" featuring racing-themed jerseys to be auctioned off.
  • February 7: "Wear Your Favorite Team's Jersey" night. Should be interesting.
  • March 13: "Pink in the Rink" featuring pink jerseys to be auctioned off.
Cincinnati Cyclones

The Cyclones have their promotional schedule online, but it is far less descriptive than what I would have imagined. Either way, though, there are few promotions that would be worth the ticket price, including two Bobblehead Nights, Kids Jersey T-shirt Night, and Fan Appreciation Night.
  • November 6: throwback night. I assume that Cincy will be wearing some sort of throwback to the earlier days of Cincinnati hockey.
  • January 16: "Camo Night" featuring military-themed jerseys.
  • February 20: "Pink in the Rink". Hopefully, the Cyclones will take to the ice in pink jerseys. Again, the lack of detail makes it hard to know what the actual plan is.
  • March 17: "St. Patrick's Day". Green-themed jerseys?
Elmira Jackals

The Elmira Jackals have their promotion... no, they don't. So I can't give you any updates as to the important games that may be coming up, especially those that involve new jerseys.

Florida Everblades

The Florida Everblades have their promotional schedule up, and it is little more detailed than some of the others. I appreciate that. However, the views are by month only, and you have to click on a specific day to get more information. At least it is detailed, though. The also have season-long promotional information. Good stuff from the 'Blades. The one thing I did notice is that they aren't using many promotional jerseys. There are a couple, however.
  • November 13: Military Night featuring the Everblades in camouflage jerseys that will be auctioned off.
  • February 20: Pink in the Rink featuring pink jerseys on the players.
Gwinnett Gladiators

The Gwinnett Gladiators have their promo schedule up on their site, and it has excellent details on it. There are a lot of promotional days on the schedule, but none of them speak of any sort of promotional jerseys. I'll take a shot in the dark at one of these days since the Gladiators have worn specific promo jerseys before.
  • February 12-14: Pink in the Rink weekend. I'm almost certain the Gladiators will be wearing pink jerseys at some point on this weekend.
Idaho Steelheads

The Steelheads have a unique promotional schedule on their website. It lists the promotions based upon how you buy your tickets. If you choose a Wednesday night game, you can see what promotions are being offered exclusively on Wednesdays. They also have ticket promotions and the promotions that are offered at every home game regardless of what day you go. What they seem to be missing, however, is the season's giveaway schedule. They only have three promotional giveaways planned thus far, so I recommend checking back if you're interested in seeing the Steelheads live.

Johnstown Chiefs

The Chiefs have their promotional schedule posted on their site. It seems a little barren. There are only a few promotions that they seem to be having this season. Fortunately for us, there is a mention of one promotional jersey.
  • November 11: Camouflage jersey and auction for Veteran's Day.
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings have their promotional schedule up, but there's little in the way of promotional jersey nights. They do have specific nights for coloured ice, though, so that should be interesting. From the schedule, orange, pink, and green ice will all make an appearance this season in Kalamazoo.

Las Vegas Wranglers

The Las Vegas Wranglers are one of the most active teams when it comes to promotional nights. They have their schedule online, and it is packed with info. They are giving away photo frames, reusable shopping bags, and what sounds like a cooler bag amongst other promotions all season long. If you've followed this blog for long enough, you know the Wranglers love breaking out the promotional jerseys as well. As of right now, however, there are only two jerseys mentioned.
Ontario Reign

The Ontario Reign have their promo schedule online. The Reign appear to be giving some of the more established promotional jersey-wearing teams a run for their money. Rather than just talking about the jersey they plan on wearing, they actually include the picture! Let's take a look at these promo jerseys.
  • October 31: "Go Green for Halloween" featuring the Reign in green-themed jerseys that will be available for auction.
  • November 21: "Humane Society Night" featuring jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game with funds going to support the San Bernardino Valley Humane Society.
  • December 18: "Kings Affiliate Night" featuring jerseys that will reflect the Reign's association with the NHL L.A. Kings. The auction goes to support Jr. Reign Youth Hockey.
  • January 30: "Red Cross Night" featuring Red Cross-themed jerseys. Auction funds go to support the American Red Cross Inland Empire Chapter.
  • February 20: "Pink in the Rink" featuring pink Reign jerseys. All proceeds will help benefit the Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer.
  • March 20: Post-game jersey auction to benefit the University of La Verne.
Reading Royals

The Reading Royals have their giveaway schedule online, but I couldn't find anything in their promotional section about promotional jerseys they may be wearing. I assume that the Royals will break out one or two promo jerseys this season to correspond with holidays and/or giveaways, but nothing on their site seems to indicate that they have plans for something like that.

South Carolina Stingrays

The Stingrays have a similar promotional webpage to that of the Florida Everblades. The difference? The Stingrays don't have any promotional jersey info on their schedule. There are games where they possibly could break out a promotional jersey, but it doesn't say if they will. Hopefully, they do because it would be a shame if the ECHL defending champs decided to forgo any sort of fun this season.

Stockton Thunder

The Thunder have their promotional schedule up, and it looks a heckuva lot like South Carolina's webpage. There are a pile of promotions that are happening in Thunder Country this season, and a few of them include new promotional jerseys.
Toledo Walleye

The Walleye have their promo schedule online, and there are some interesting promotions going on in Toledo, Ohio. "Cowbells n' Country" night sees fans receive a cowbell as the giveaway. Let's hope that Bruce Dickinson isn't near Toledo that night. There are a couple of promotional jerseys that the Walleye will break out this season, though.
  • January 23: Tuxedo Jersey Night features the Walleye in tuxedo-style jerseys. There will be an auction after the game for these jerseys!
  • March 5: Pink in the Rink night will feature pink Walleye jerseys that will go up for auction after the game.
Trenton Devils

The Trenton Devils have their promotion schedule posted, but it seems they have no desire to attract fans to games with anything but hot dogs, autograph sessions, and magnetic schedules. I get that Lou Lamoriello runs a tight ship up in New Jersey, but the Devils could at least try to have a little fun during the season. The Devils seem to be the opposite of minor-pro hockey based upon their promo schedule.

Utah Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are using the same promotion schedule template as some of the other ECHL teams. There are a number of promotions that the Grizzlies are running this season, and a few of them involve a promotional jersey.
  • October 24: Pink in the Rink night with pink jerseys to bring awareness for the battle against breast cancer. Pink jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.
  • December 4: Third Jersey Night where the Grizzlies will unveil their new alternate jersey based on the style of their NHL affiliate, the New York Islanders.
  • December 5: "Angel's Hands" night. The Grizzlies will be wearing special jerseys that night, and the proceeds from the jersey auction after the game will benefit the Angel's Hands Foundation.
  • January 23: "Guns N' Hoses" night. No word on whether a special jersey will be worn to honour the men and women of the fire and police departments, but other teams have done it. Here's hoping Utah does the same.
  • March 12: Third jersey auction. The Islanders-inspired alternate jerseys go up for auction with the proceeds going to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Victoria Salmon Kings

The Salmon Kings posted their sche... yeah, that didn't happen. You would think that with the season upon these teams, they would have their promotions and gameday events planned and confirmed, right? I get that there might be the occasional "TBA" or "TBD" game in there, but to not have anything? How does this happen?

Wheeling Nailers

The Wheeling Nailers have their promotion schedule posted, but it says nothing of any new threads. I'll go ahead and assume that the team is wearing pink for Pink in the Rink on November 28. I'll assume that Organ Donation Awareness Night on March 6, 2010 and Red Cross Night on March 20, 2010 will have special jerseys made up for those events. However, I simply cannot confirm based upon that schedule.

So there are all the major ECHL promotions that involve some sort of new jersey that I could find. Again, if you live near an ECHL franchise, most teams have a deal on family packs of tickets, and many are on nights where the kids take home something cool like a bobblehead or a poster or a magnet. Head on down to your local ECHL rink, and take in some hockey!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Posted by Teebz at 09:18

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