The Atlanta Gladiators are paying tribute to the history of professional hockey in the city of Atlanta with the unveiling of the ECHL team’s new alternate uniform this morning.
With nods to the NHL’s Atlanta Flames and Thrashers as well as the Atlanta Knights of the old International Hockey League along with the current Gladiators, the uniform mixes together four different eras of hockey in Georgia’s capital.
“We hear from fans all the time suggesting we honour past Atlanta pro hockey teams, so we figured why not do it all at once and embrace the rich hockey history this area has in one jersey,” said Chris Treft, designer of the uniform as well as the team’s Director of Communications and Broadcasting. “Past Atlanta hockey teams have had some iconic jersey designs that still live on today. We just put those designs together as one to unite the city’s hockey tradition.”
The overall look of the jersey helps it slide right in with the existing Gladiators uniform set, the colours and the crest have both been used by the team for several seasons. On one sleeve we have a three-stripe design used by the Atlanta Flames during their tenure in Atlanta from 1972-1980, and subsequently carried over with the team upon their relocation to Calgary in the Summer of 1980; at the waist is the striping pattern used by the IHL’s Atlanta Knights during the 1990s until their move to Quebec City to make way for the NHL’s return in 1999; and the most distinctive addition is the asymmetrical sleeve pattern with “ATLANTA” down the arm used on the Atlanta Thrashers alternate uniform from 2003-2006 and then promoted to their full-time home jersey for their final five seasons from 2006-2011 before they also moved to Canada where they became the modern Winnipeg Jets.
“We feel this jersey incorporates various generations of Atlanta hockey fans,” Treft added. “Whether you’re an old school Flames fan, want to be reminded of the only pro hockey championship [an IHL Turner Cup in 1994] won in Atlanta while yelling ‘KNIGHTS’ during the national anthem, looking to bring back the memories of Blue Land or a current Glads fan who loves his team, this jersey will appeal to all Atlanta hockey fans.”
The Gladiators will wear the new uniform as part of their usual rotation throughout the remainder of the 2018-19 ECHL season, they will make their on-ice début tomorrow night, Friday, December 7th at home against the Orlando Solar Bears.
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