The American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild are hoping their new alternate jersey for 2024-25 really hits home with players and fans.
The team launched their new “Iowa Grown” alternate jerseys on their website and social media channels on Monday, October 7, and will wear them on the ice for the first time for their home opener on Saturday, October 12, against the Manitoba Moose.
“Designed by Iowans, for Iowans,” the new Wild jersey features their State Crest logo on the front of the white jersey, which was first introduced on a specialty jersey during the 2022-23 season. The logo is in the shape of the state of Iowa, and incorporates elements of the logo of their NHL parent club, the Minnesota Wild, along with the Des Moines skyline.
The shoulders of the jersey are dark green, while the collar is red with white laces. Broad green stripes with narrower green stripes overtop run around each sleeve and the waist.
“The Iowa Wild are invested in building a robust hockey community throughout the state,” said Allie Brown Korinek, the team’s vice president of business operations, on their website. “This jersey showcases what we are most proud of; our affiliation with the Minnesota Wild, our connection to Des Moines, and our role as Iowa’s team.”
The left shoulder has the Iowa Wild’s full secondary logo, with the Minnesota Wild’s bear head logo inside a roundel with “IOWA WILD” written out between two shooting stars. The right shoulder features a hockey-playing goldfinch logo that previously appeared on two special edition jerseys. The goldfinch is Iowa’s state bird.
“Previous limited-edition merchandise featuring the State Crest and goldfinch sold out quickly and left fans wanting more. We are excited to launch the Iowa Grown Collection, which features a broad array of eye-catching pieces that allow fans to represent their home state, city, and hockey team with pride.”
— Kelcee Kent, Iowa Wild director of merchandise operations
Other items in the Iowa Grown collection include caps, sweaters and collectibles with both the State Crest and the goldfinch logos.
Based on what’s available in the Wild’s online team shop, it appears the new alternate jersey will replace their previous white jersey, which had a “Wild” wordmark logo on the front. Their green jersey with the roundel logo on the front will remain, while their wheat jersey with “IOWA” written diagonally across the front in green is likely being promoted to their full-time light jersey.
AHL teams wear dark jerseys at home until the Christmas break, then switch to light jerseys at home until the end of the regular season. They then typically go back to dark jerseys at home for the playoffs.
One of the graphics posted to Twitter as part of Monday’s launch showed a red number with a green outline on the sleeve of the jersey. But none of the other materials accompanying the announcement definitively showed the equipment the jerseys would be worn with.
The Wild host the Moose for two back-to-back games on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 AHL season on October 12 and 13. They then travel to California for two games against the San Jose Barracuda before returning home to face the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday, October 23.