Was This Planned For Halloween?

With the introduction of the Kraken into the NHL, they seem to have opened the sea folklore to the hockey world. While Jerry Bruckheimer's influence on the hockey world comes with ownership of the Kraken, there are other instances of sea creatures and sea folks such as the New York Islanders, the Portland Pirates, the Maine Mariners, and the San Jose Sharks. The folklore part hasn't really been explored, though, as the Kraken is thought to be more legend than reality, but Friday's announcement combines the sea folklore with a touch of Halloween.

The ECHL will expand into Savannah, Georgia next year, and, while this isn't new news, the name of the team revealed today is as the Savannah Ghost Pirates will take to the ice next season! I chuckled at the name first because of how minor-league it sounds, but the more I thought about the name and the potential it has for fun promotions, the more I warmed to the name.

"It was important that the name reflect the culture of our team's City. Savannah is steeped in history and folklore, and we feel this name embodies that spirit," explained Ghost Pirates President Bob Ohrablo. "It was also important to us that we wait to announce the name when we could be here with our partners at the City, Enmarket Arena, and most importantly our fans."

It should be noted that Savannah, Georgia boasts The Pirate's House, a former inn that became a place for sailors of all varieties to gather for food and drink. Built in 1734, The Pirate's House was mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson's book Treasure Island as Captain Flint brings his crew to the city, and the historic building stands as Georgia's oldest structure. There are likely all sorts of ghost stories that haunt this old place.

There is a walking tour in Savannah that deals entirely with the history of pirates in the Georgia city. From the early instances of pirates landing in Savannah to "river pirates" to Blackbeard Island, the walking tour goes through the decades of parate activity in and around Savannah and its coastal region. Needless to say, Savannah history is rich with stories of pirates, so the hockey team may have selected a great name to represent the city and region.

Regarding the logo above that the team will wear, the Savannah ECHL group contacted Dan Simon and his team at Studio Simon in Louisville, Kentucky to develop the brand. It's a fun take on a hockey-playing pirate ghost that should appeal to all ages, and I like the use of the green colour in the colour scheme as that's a colour that I feel is sorely underused in hockey. If the Ghost Pirates opt for a green jersey, it might be an addition to my jersey collection.

As announced yesterday, the Ghost Pirates will introduce the usual expansion team fodder in the coming months as a mascot, team jerseys, pro hockey affiliations, the naming of a coach, the signing the first player, and a pile more news awaits hockey fans. One of the cooler things the team is doing to generate a little interest in the squad is introduction of a street hockey program throughout Southeastern Georgia that will start in the spring. There's no better way to make fans than inviting them to come and play, and it appears the Ghost Pirates are on the right track when it comes to being added to the pirate folklore in the city and region.

It appears the Ghost Pirates are writing a good start to their tale in Savannah with a fun name that incorporates a lot of Savannah's culture. Teams should be tied to their cities in some way to appeal to the citizens who live there and are immersed in the culture as well some of the tourism ideas while still be catchy and modern enough to appeal to people who may not be immediate fans of the sport or team. It appears that the Savannah Ghost Pirates have checked all those boxes, and I'm excited to see the next chapter in this ghost story!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!