Presenting the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights

[VodkaFish]

Calgary, AB – Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation Vice-Chairman Dave Parker and Calgary Flames General Manager & Head Coach Darryl Sutter introduced today the name and word-mark logo for the American Hockey League’s newest franchise, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.

“We are very proud of the connection between Omaha’s team name and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation,” said Parker. “The name and logo recognize the Knights commitment to professional hockey in Omaha, the Foundation’s mission of building a more prosperous heartland and our strong partnership with the Calgary Flames organization.”

The logo depicts a knight’s head in steel armor with flames flowing from the back of his helmet. The head and flames are a derivation of Calgary’s flaming “C’, the primary logo of the NHL hockey club. Below the knight is the official name of the hockey club with a medieval sword forming the T in the word Knights. At the bottom of the logo is the 1939 original symbol of Omaha’s first professional hockey team also named the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. The colors are red, dark red, gold, grey and black. The logo is considered a word-mark and will appear on most of the organization’s printed material, memorabilia and advertising. An unveiling of the team’s jersey logo and complete game uniform is scheduled for later this summer.

“It’s an exciting day when your team begins to create an identity,” said Sutter. “Our players will be very proud to carry the name and insignia of the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. This will form a foundation for building a hockey club in Omaha that represents the same high standards of this community and the qualities required for success both in Omaha and Calgary.”

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League clubs, and has been home to more than 100 members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2003-04, more than 80 percent of all NHL players had come through the AHL, including more than 400 who appeared in both leagues during that season alone. The AHL has established a new all-time attendance record in 2004-05 with nearly 7 million fans attending games across North America. The 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs are currently in the second round with Calgary’s current affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters, still competing.

The Calgary Flames have been a member of the National Hockey League since 1980 and will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary in their western Canadian city with the 2005-2006 season. During that time, the Flames have played in the Stanley Cup Finals on three occasions, winning the championship in 1989. Most recently, the Flames competed for the Cup but fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling seven game series in 2004. Twenty three members of the 2004 Western Conference champion Flames were AHL alumni, including Miikka Kiprusoff, Mike Commodore, Robyn Regehr and 2005 AHL All-Star Chuck Kobasew.

The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation is a 110 year-old philanthropic organization with programs that focus on celebrating our heritage, recognizing and fostering voluntarism, and developing new projects that benefit the community, state and region.

[hbjerant32]

What the hell is Ak sar Ben, is sounds like one of the people from Al Qeda.

[Baronking]

Thats what I was thinking to. Its actually Nebraska spelled backwards and thats how they got it, but it sounds ridiculous to use in their name.

[Brash_Fan]

Logo is pretty fly, the name...too long and weird, they should have settled with Knights.

[devils29]

Should've called em the "Omaha Icebreakers"

[Hardy]

Yeah a real crappy name, ak sar ben nights, sounds like hell. Icebreakers sounds better but didnt they have it in Slapshot 2.

[devils29]

Originally Posted by Hardy

Icebreakers sounds better but didnt they have it in Slapshot 2.

That's why I posted it. As a p!ss take.
If they got rid of that Ak-crap Omaha Knights is a decent name. And the logo is pretty decent.

[bustoff]

I guess they are going to try and build on the tradition of the name. My girlfriend used to go to their games back in the day and that was the name of their arena. I asked her if some Arabic guy owned the team and she said it was Nebraska spelled backwards.

[Spooks]

I suppose that Omaha just wanted to actually be creative and do something different for a change. You don't see many teams like that anymore and I will say that the name is a little weird.

Because of the fact that it sounds like bin Laden owns it, but I guess if they win games, they got nothing to worry about.

Calling them the Icebreakers would have been a good choice. They could have made them wear those horrible jerserys also.

[North man]

It really is a freaky name, ak sar ben nights. I think it would be enough with Omaha Knights, but they have a really nice logo bye the way.

[Polish Hammer]

Ich ben ein berliner? What?

[North man]

Whats wrong?

[Spooks]

I never did get a chance to check the logo out and I must say that it is pretty nice.