Minor league sports are, if I am being honest, my favorite. There is a certain amount of freedom there that is not allowed in the pros. No where is that more evident than in the uniform department. Risks taken in the minors would be scorned in the pros or shunned by all but the most open minded. Take these to SPHL specialty kit combos that have come up on our radar.
First is our favorite SPHL team the Fayetteville Marksmen. The Marksmen will roll out several specialty kits this season including this absolute beaut of a set for Pro Wrestling Night.
The night featured an appearance by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, and the Marksmen added his trademark HAVE A NICE DAY! to the back of their black and red flannel sweaters.
And that’s a…WIN *bang* *bang*
— Fayetteville Marksmen (@Marksmen_Hockey) November 5, 2023
🚨: Jerry, Goehring, Michaelian, Moncovich, Boyko#FearTheFox🦊 pic.twitter.com/4tUc1MYye1
Sure, we are a little biased but these are just too good to pass up.
Another is this set up from the Knoxville Ice Bears. It pays homage the the Knoxville Knights who hit the ice in K-vegas from 1961 to 1968. The Knights were a middling to poor team in the Eastern Hockey League and were replaced by the Knoxville Cherokees after hockey-less period in K-town.
This sweater features the distinctive K of the original sweater, but has shoulder pads of chainmail. It’s got a great nod to the past, with a certain flair you like to see in a specialty kit
GAMEDAY!!!
— Knoxville Ice Bears (@icebears) November 22, 2023
We debut our specialty Knoxville Knights jerseys tonight for the Dino "Knight" Races!
Reminder, tonight's game is at 6 o'clock! We'll see you at the Civic Coliseum! pic.twitter.com/np2a0zrgHv
Finally, I am giving well deserved stick-taps to the Evansville Thunderbirds for the “Hockey Fights Cancer” turnout. If for no other reason that the color combo of purple and black. I’ve made my feelings on purple in sports unis before, so this is a shoe in hit for me. I particularly like the purple ribbons along the bottom. Awesome little detail!
Get here early to purchase one of these Hockey Fights Cancer replica jerseys!
— Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey (@evvthunderbolts) November 18, 2023
IT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!
Buy tickets here: https://t.co/7cd41Ua7YY pic.twitter.com/ajkXD82UPz
SPHL teams can take risks many teams in the NHL can’t or won’t. Of course the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers have come up with some absolutely stunning specialty kits but those tend to be the exceptions that prove the rule. So, if you are looking for some top of the line risk taking with specialty uniform kits, look no further than the SPHL. You won’t be disappointed.