AHL’s Calgary Wranglers Roll Out Jerseys for Indigenous Celebration Game

Ahead of their their Indigenous Celebration Game this weekend, the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers have launched special edition jerseys to honor the people of the Treaty 7 region of southern Alberta.

The Wranglers will wear the jerseys against the Ontario Reign on Sunday, March 10. They were designed by local Indigenous artist Jacob Alexis, one of the artists also involved in the creation of an Indigenous logo for the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders ahead of last year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Courtesy Calgary Wranglers

The base of the jersey is black, and the front features the Wrangler’s sideways-facing Blasty logo, but with a few changes:

The mane consists of seven eagle feathers, which Indigenous communities often use to honor achievements or milestones.
A circle around the eye symbolizes keen vision.
A bolt of lightning down the neck symbolizes speed and agility on the battlefield.
Stripes across the nose symbolize great achievements and acts of valor.

The front of the jersey also contains the phrase “EVERY CHILD MATTERS” to “provide recognition and commitment to action to ensure that all children know their importance, and to honour those who attended Residential Schools in Canada, their families, and communities.”

Across the midsection, just above the waist stripes on both the front and back of the jersey, are seven tonal symbols representing the people of the Treaty 7 region of southern Alberta. The striping on the arms and waist of the jersey includes images of mountains and teepees “representing the Indigenous communities within the Treaty 7 regions and landscape.”

Much of the Indigenous imagery on the jersey is also found in the numbers on the back and sleeves, though an infinity symbol is added to represent the Métis people of the area. The colors in the outlines of the numbers reflect those found in a traditional medicine wheel symbol.

Courtesy Calgary Wranglers

On the shoulders, the Wranglers’ logo and the logo of their parent club, the Calgary Flames, appear inside medicine wheels with eagle feathers underneath.

Game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off online, with proceeds benefitting Indigenous youth programs in Treaty 7. The auction ends on March 13 at 8 p.m. MT.

Replica jerseys and other merchandise items with the Indigenous Celebration logo are available through the Flames’ online store.