Tricks, Treats, Jerseys, and Beatdowns

This is more than just a You're Wearing That? article. This article will highlight some of the previously-seen Halloween-themed jerseys I've shown as well as some of the monster hits and scary fights seen in recent years. Halloween is a fun time of year, but hockey routinely finds itself on the outside looking in when it rolls around. There could be a number of reasons why the NHL doesn't embrace it, but they appear to be the only league that doesn't allow their players to "dress up" for Halloween. However, in searching through the old Halloween jersey photos, the San Jose Sharks have participated in dressing up on Halloween. Let's take a look at some of the Halloween jerseys that have been featured on this site before. After you get past the jerseys, you can check out some hockey-related costume ideas, and then move on to the frightening fights and hits that have occurred in the NHL. On to the jerseys!

• The ECHL's Alaska Aces "decided to celebrate Halloween in 2003 with this jersey. This one almost won my affection until I saw the back of the jersey".
• The Aces used to be called the Anchorage Aces when they played in the WCHL. "The Aces celebrated Halloween in 2001, which aren't great, but not bad".
• The ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers wore a Friday the 13th jersey. That's almost as bad as the Lightning goalies painting their masks with Saw imagery.
• The CHL's Odessa Jackalopes wore Halloween jerseys that made them look like pylons, but I really like that logo for a Halloween theme.
• The DEL's Augsburger Panthers celebrated Halloween with this jersey, and this jersey in 2003. Advertising, anyone? Celebrate the occasion, and unclutter the jerseys a little.
• The CHL's Laredo Bucks celebrated Halloween with this jersey in 2006. It's solid, and certainly looks intimidating. The Bucks also wore this jersey for Halloween. I like the graveyard look.
  
• The AHL's Grand Rapid Griffins also used that graveyard template in 2004, but went with orange over the darker red colour. Still a solid look.
• The UHL's Quad City Mallards wore this Halloween jersey in 2005-06. The logo is scary simply due to its very rudimentary design, but it would have been better had the Mallards matched the logo to the promotion.
• The WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds wore this Halloween jersey in 2002, and this Halloween jersey in 2005. The 2002 version is very un-Halloween, but the 2005 version is much better.
• The AHL's Hershey Bears took to the ice for Halloween 2004 in these jerseys. The shoulder patch looks like something from Hell's Kitchen.
• The ECHL's Jacksonville Lizard Kings wore a Halloween jersey in 1997. I'm not sure why they have the McDonald's Golden Arches on the hem, but the logo is decent.
• The CHL's Lubbock Cotton Kings also decided to use the graveyard background for their Halloween jerseys. The rear font is a great touch to these jerseys.
• The ECHL's Richmond Renegades went with a Halloween jersey in 1999-00. The back of the jersey adds to the promotion as much as the front does.
• The CHL's San Antonio Iguanas wore a Halloween-themed jersey in 1999. Despite the great skeleton idea, the rear of the jersey needed some help.
• The CHL's Topeka Scarecrows actually wore this jersey as their alternate jersey in 2000-01. I don't know if they wore it on Halloween, but the back of the jersey could use some improvement.
• The NHL's San Jose Sharks wore Halloween-themed practice jerseys for charity last season. All the jerseys were auctioned off after the practice, and the money went to local San Jose-based charities.
• The AHL's Portland Pirates went with Halloween jerseys in 1998-99. The logo is neat due to the pirate becoming a skeleton. Matching the logo to the promotion is always a plus.
• The ECHL's Utah Grizzlies wore Halloween jerseys in 2004-05. I like the spider web, and the logo, which is usually a grizzly bear, is very appropriate.

So there are the past Halloween-themed jerseys. Lots of different looks for Halloween, depending on which team you're looking at, but all are unique and fairly well-designed. The following are a few new Halloween hockey-themed costumes you may want to look into for next season.

• If you're into facial wounds, you should look at investing into the "puck stuck in the forehead" look. It gives that hockey fan who loves the game a great look and possible conversation piece.
• If you like to paint your face, maybe you can take that one step further. I present to you the "Jeff Carter full bodypaint kit". She's risking a lot if she plans on taking the ice like that. And no, I am not linking any frontal pictures, despite her wearing pasties. This is a PG-rated site, you know!
• Continuing on with my PG-rated look at hockey-fied Halloween costumes, this might not be the best idea for skating, but you'll get a ton of men talking to you at a Halloween party. I'm going to go with "Buyer Beware" on this costume.
• In what may amount to some hilarious and well-designed costumes, check out these guys in their Vancouver Canucks fan costumes. Pretty good considering the size of their heads. Well done to these two fans!
• Of course, you could head to your local thrift store to find some horrifying blazers and thick-collared shirts. Get a little white hair dye and a clashing tie, and you have yourself the perfect Don Cherry costume. If you can, get a buddy to go as Ron MacLean, and you can do an entire Coach's Corner on Halloween!

See? Hockey Blog In Canada can help you get ready for Halloween for next year already. Any of those costumes will set you back for less than $100. Guaranteed. However, the one thing I have avoided is blood and gore. These next videos should give you all the blood you need to see for a while, along with some bone-rattling hits. Click when you think you're ready!

Zdeno Chara spills a lot of David Koci's blood.


Nick Kypreos' career ended with Ryan Vandenbussche's left hand.


Sami Kapanen gets destroyed by Darcy Tucker.


RJ Umberger never saw Brian Campbell coming.


Apparently, Keith Jones was screaming "Get your head up" at Lindros.

Those are some scary incidents. Halloween is the scariest time of year, but some of those hits are absolutely frightening.

There's a quick Halloween-themed update for everyone. Happy trick-or-treating to the kids out there, and good luck on your candy hunt! If you're an adult going to a party, have fun, but please remember not to drink and drive. We want to be sure you can test out some of those costumes above next year.

Until next time, keep your scary sticks on the ice!