If you haven’t been keeping up with the Federal Prospects Hockey League, it’s probably because you don’t live near any of their affiliated teams. There was a completely idiotic signing today by the Baton Rouge Zydeco involving a player who should never play professional hockey again, but we’re going to focus on a better story from the FPHL that doesn’t involve convicted criminals. Instead, the image on the left is probably what you’ll see on the shoulders of the jerseys of the FPHL’s newest expansion team, which I saw play at the other Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. That team now officially has a name!
This announcement was made last Friday, January 16th, so it pretty much corresponds with what time I posted the information about the FPHL expanding to Thief River Falls. Aside from my tardiness in keeping up with both stories, this new team will officially be the Northern Lights of Minnesota! As you can see on the right, the team will wear “vibrant purple and sharp green,” while the main logo will be “a scruffy moose in a hockey uniform surrounded by the Northern Lights.” According to the release linked above: “[o]”Over 1,000 votes came in” when it came to naming the team, with votes coming in from “as far away as Florida and Indiana”! I can assure everyone that I did not vote.For those who don’t know: the science of “The Northern Lights are located in the Earth’s magnetosphereprotection against the charged particles of the solar wind. Interaction at the poles creates a colorful display, as electrons from the solar wind excite oxygen and nitrogen atoms, releasing vibrant photons. The colors vary with height, forming pink, purple and white lights. The Northern Lights are most visible during solar storms and are overshadowed by sunlight during the day.” For the record, Minnesota is one of the best states in the continental US to see the northern lights phenomenon during the winter!
The team confirmed there will be a moose mascot at home games, but that mascot remains unnamed at time of publication. I can assure you that Mick E. Moose probably won’t be used thanks to the mascot for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, but there are probably all kinds of names that could be used. The team will host a name suggestion contest, and the mascot will be ready for the first puck drop in October 2026! if the team uses white and black backgrounds for their jerseys, the purple and green can really pop, like the northern lights against the night sky. I’ll reserve judgment on the colors until we see the jersey design, but it looks like the Minnesota Northern Lights will be pretty well dressed when they hit the ice!On the hunt for ticket prices to see the Northern Lights play, their Facebook page indicated that there are four ticket levels they offer, with season tickets costing $406, $464, $522 and $604 for their scheduled 56 games. That means on a 28-game hockey schedule, tickets cost $14.50 for the $406 package, while the best seats will set fans back $21.57 per game for the 28 games. According to the team, single-game tickets will cost $14, $16, $18 and $20, meaning season tickets actually cost more per game than single-game tickets. Somehow that doesn’t seem right unless the total number of games increases.
Economics aside, it appears the Minnesota FPHL expansion team has a clear identity. They have yet to sign a player when it comes to generating excitement on the ice, but Thief River Falls is officially on the FPHL map! I hope the jersey reveal is just as good!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
#Ralph #Aurora