While the Windsor Spitfires usually don the colours of red, white and blue, Thursday's game saw the squad wearing St. Clair's green and gold - and the fans followed suit.
Saints Nation helped pack the WFCU Centre Thursday, Nov. 7 in an Ontario Hockey League tilt against the North Bay Battalion to celebrate the second annual 'St. Clair Night.'
The game saw nine goals scored in total, with the Spits coming up just short in the dying seconds, losing 5-4.
But despite the loss, those in attendance were treated to an action-packed game, rich with school spirit.
"The increasingly common appearance of school colours - especially in the form of College "swag" clothing - at this event and others throughout the year encourages me in two ways," said St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi. "First, I assume that many of the people wearing such items are our students and alumni. So, it reinforces the fact that those students and graduates are proud of the educational choice they made in coming to St. Clair."
"And second, if the people wearing the swag are not students or alumni, that indicates to me that they have been impressed by the school in some manner, such as by our extensive involvement with a number of community projects and programs - so they've attached themselves to the college's reputation like a fan wearing a sports team's jersey," he said.
Before the game, President Silvaggi stood alongside newly appointed OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford for the ceremonial puck drop, sporting the official game jersey and his number '7,' as he's the seventh president to serve during the College's nearly 60-year history.
Wearing the special-edition jersey was a point of pride for the president, as it was designed by a member of the College family.
"I think it looks awesome," exclaimed Silvaggi. "Whenever a partnered sponsorship event provides us with the opportunity to show off the creativity of our staff and students to tangibly demonstrate what a hands-on St. Clair education is all about, we're thrilled to feature their ingenuity."
The jersey was designed by St. Clair College Web Developer Anthony Loncaric, who said the inspiration for the design was to blend a classic style with modern touches.
"I aimed for clean lines using the College's green and gold then added a subtle griffin pattern over the white portion to give it some depth and character," said Loncaric.
The jersey features the standard Spits' logo on the front, with green and gold stripes wrapping the wrists and waist of the sweater. A gold ring around the neckline was offset by green shoulders, and a stark griffin emblem tucked neatly in the middle. More subtly, white griffin logos were faintly visible all over the white sweater.
"Seeing a design brought to life is always rewarding, but seeing it showcased by our local OHL team, especially one I follow and attend games for, is truly exceptional," said Loncaric, who noted seeing the design go from computer screen one day to a fully finished jersey the next day is truly rewarding.
"Knowing that thousands of fans got to see and connect with something I created really brings a sense of pride and accomplishment. It's just a remarkable feeling to look at, and think, 'Hey, I did that,'" he said.
Even though the top-ranked Spitfires lost the game, the show of school spirit and camaraderie carried on the tradition of St. Clair Night, exemplifying the soul of Saints Nation.
"St. Clair, historically, was a dominant, championship-winning school in collegiate hockey in Ontario and Canada, both in the 1970s and the 2000s when the varsity sport was briefly revived," recalled President Silvaggi. "We are extremely grateful to the Windsor Spitfires for allowing us to retain our hockey heritage in this fashion, to have the green and gold flying around the ice at least once a year."
