{"product_id":"clearance-kentucky-thoroughblades™-crewneck-sweatshirt-l","title":"CLEARANCE Kentucky Thoroughblades™ Crewneck Sweatshirt - L","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur clearance section houses discounted apparel items. These consist of overstock, test prints, returns, misprinted, or out of print items from our collections. The specific details on the condition or defects for each item are listed in the item's description (if any). Items that were returned damaged or in otherwise non-new condition will not be sold and instead are donated to charity. All sales from this section are final.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSporting one of the greatest logos in minor league hockey history, the Kentucky Thoroughblades first took the ice at Rupp Arena in Lexington for the 1996-97 season. The team's signature colors of teal, purple, and silver were unique in their own right but the angry, muscular horse on skates really made their uniforms one of the most unique in all of pro sports.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Thoroughblades were the first pro hockey team in Lexington and initially were very popular, attracting nearly 8,000 fans per game. Affiliated with San Jose and New York, the team saw a number of big leaguers come through their ranks including future hall of famer Zdeno Chara as well as Jonathan Cheechoo, Dan Boyle, and Evgeni Nabokov. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTheir first season, 1996-97 went well with a 36-35-9 record and the team qualified for the playoffs, something the Thoroughblades would achieve in each of their five seasons. By year three, the team had improved even further with a 44 win season and had two future big leaguers between the pipes in Nabokov and Miikka Kiprusoff. That stud goaltending tandem would become three when Johan Hedberg joined in the 1999-00 season, another with over 40 wins. Both years, they would make it to the second round of the playoffs before bowing out. In 1999, the 'Blades would beat Hershey in the first round before being downed by Philadelphia. In 2000, they knocked out their cross-state rivals, the Louisville Panthers, in four games before losing to Hershey in round two. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBy the 2000-01 season, the team was still successful on the ice and racked up 42 wins before another first round playoff exit. Off the ice, attendance was on a downward trend with an average of about 4,500 fans during the team's fifth campaign. At the end of that season, the team was sold to the Gunds, who moved them to Cleveland and changed the name to the Cleveland Barons. The franchise still exists today as the Barracuda and is still affiliated with San Jose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis would make a unique gift for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ehockey fan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e in your life or a neat find for yourself of a vintage hockey team from Kentucky\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFree standard shipping, no minimum. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e--\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAbout the shirt from the manufacturer:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis classic has stood the test of time. Always in fashion, this crewneck sweatshirt by Gildan is perfect as an outer, under or single layer. Soft and comfortable, this stand-by is a must.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"listMCE\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrand: Gildan  \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e50% preshrunk cotton\/50% polyester | Fabric Weight: 7.75 oz (midweight)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePill-resistant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1X1 Lycra® spandex ribbed collar, cuffs and waist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully double-stitched\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eImported; processed and printed in the U.S.A.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"listMCE\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Vintage Ice Hockey","offers":[{"title":"Grey \/ L","offer_id":54754244624659,"sku":"Box9-23","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0253\/6459\/4766\/files\/PhotoRoom_20220115_222800_a2c8178f-54b9-40dd-ac85-c56beded4715.jpg?v=1789875132","url":"https:\/\/vintageicehockey.com\/products\/clearance-kentucky-thoroughblades%e2%84%a2-crewneck-sweatshirt-l","provider":"Vintage Ice Hockey","version":"1.0","type":"link"}