ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators to use Thrashers name, jersey in game

The Atlanta Thrashers are back. Somewhat.

The ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators have announced that they will take on the persona of the former NHL team on Dec. 16 when they face off against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

For one night only, the Gladiators will play using the Thrashers’ name and wearing specialty Thrashers-themed jerseys. The club will also have special Thrashers merchandise and Atlanta’s original NHL mascot, among other nostalgia tidbits. The Gladiators have yet to release what the jersey will look like, but they haven’t been afraid to take nods from Thrashers’ designs in the past.

The Gladiators served as the ECHL affiliate of the Thrashers from 2003 until 2011 before the team was relocated to Winnipeg. The Gladiators currently serve as the affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, which, funny enough, also has ties to Winnipeg after the team was relocated in the 1990s.

The Gladiators began play in 2003-04, but have yet to win a championship in team history. They currently hold a 4-3-0 record in seven games this season. Last month, the team announced that former NHLer Anson Carter had joined the team as a minority owner.

Now we need an NHL team to do a proper Thrashers throwback. The team might have not achieved anything, but, gosh darn it, the branding was fantastic.