The design

Rockford has seen over a dozen beautifully colored large scale murals painted on the exterior of buildings and structures in the city in the last two years. It transformed, not just the physical walls of the city, but it has transformed people’s attitudes. This is where I would take my inspiration from.

The front of the hat features a composition of brushstrokes. I wanted to use the medium that artist were using for the murals but wanted the viewer to get the feeling of the unbelievable action of an IceHogs game. It is the team’s 25th year in Rockford so I added brush strokes that represent the XXV roman numeral. The metal associated with the 25th year anniversary so the IceHogs logo on the front of the hat is stitched with silver and black thread.

Interior

The interior of the hat features a few really rad details. There is an illustration of the word “Hogs” on the underbill, the phrase “IceHogs Goal, Woooooooo!” on the sweatband, and on the red contrasting ribbons the phrase “Go IceHogs.” I was so incredibly appreciative that the team even let me add “designed by Michael Laskonis” on the other red contrasting ribbon.

I was thrilled to be able to include the Chicago Blackhawks logo as part of the design of my hat. The Blackhawks logo is regarded as one of the very best in all of sports and the organization is one of the original six NHL teams.