It’s been a long time since the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate was even in the same country as the NHL club. This season, the newly named Calgary Wranglers will share not just the same city, but will play out of the same arena. The latest news front for the Wranglers includes their new and unique threads to mark their new home.
Inspiration for the Calgary Wranglers
The Wranglers name is historic in Calgary hockey as the former WHL team coined the name from 1977-1978. The team included Flames legend Mike Vernon on its roster from 1980–83. Inspiration for both the logo, and new jerseys is evidently drawn from the old WHL club.
The same blocked W is seen as the base for the Wranglers AHL logo, while also drawing from the Flames’ time in Atlanta with the rising flames burning up the letter. This is a great homage to both the Flames franchise, and the history of hockey in Calgary.
Original Calgary Wrangers logo
Atlanta Flames logo
2022–23 Calgary Wranglers logo
The new Wranglers jerseys
Both home and away jerseys feature the same blocked shoulders and arms as the WHL inspiration while taking on the Flames new colours.
Beyond the updated colours, the jerseys reintroduces a fan favourite by putting a newly designed profile of Blasty onto the shoulder patch. The opposite shoulder features the flaming C. This finally puts an end to the state and country flags that were featured on the shoulders previously.
Finally out with the old!
I think it’s safe to say that Flames fans were ecstatic when the team and Adidas decided to leave the red and black “piping” style jerseys behind in 2017 and go back to the full retro style look. You would think the AHL affiliate would have followed suit.
Unfortunately, those hopes were crushed with a resounding nope! Four more years of ugly outdated jerseys from two completely different eras were instead what the Stockton Heat had to work with.
Needless to say, personally I’m very happy that the old jerseys are out the door and this team will start a completely fresh chapter in their new home in the Dome.
A new era for the entire Flames organization
The Flames are officially a new team with a new identity after this offseason. It’s nice to see the Wranglers do the same in their new home. Ushering in a new season with a cohesive look with their NHL team brings brand synergy on a fantastic kit. Hopefully, it will help the team carry on from where they left off last season and draw even closer to the AHL championship.
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