Reader Submission - 2002-03 Miami Manatees Jersey

Our eighth reader submitted jersey comes from Lady Byng's Love Child, who writes the blog Swamp Hockey about the ECHL's Florida Everblades and the Florida Jr. Blades of the EJHL.

When I saw your post requesting jerseys this jersey immediately sprang to mind. It's my favorite jersey in my (pretty eclectic) collection. It's from the very short lived WHA2 Miami Manatees. It's really hard to name just one thing I love about this jersey, but one of my favorites my favorite has to be the tough manatee. The stitches and snarl are absolutely hilarious on an animal well know for being slow and docile.

This jersey has been worn at two professional hockey games, and oddly enough, has brought some really weird luck for the teams playing. The first game it went to, an ECHL game between my local team, the Everblades and their divisional rivals, a huge line brawl broke out right in front of me and a friend. Eventually, it devolved into the goalie fight that was up on Puck Daddy in December.

The second game it was worn to, a game between the Penguins and Lightning. I wore my customized Kennedy Pens jersey and my friend opted to represent tough manatees everywhere. During the game Tyler Kennedy tried to fight Victor Hedman right in front of us. I really can't wait to wear it next season to see what kind of chaos it instigates next season.

Chaos in the ECHL? Oh, no we just couldn't imagine that happening...

Thanks to Lady Byng's Love Child for taking the time to take the photos and send in their story about their jersey. We agree that whomever designed an angry looking manatee, complete with stitch marks, was a bold and genius designer. It's certainly not an easy task to make perhaps the most docile creature on Earth look at all intimidating.

However, we must take umbrage at the suggestion that Evelyn Byng, Viscountess Byng of Vimy, was anything less than a lady of the highest moral convictions and fidelity. To propose otherwise is as abhorrent a suggestion which has ever been put forth. She in fact, had no children, even by her husband Lord Byng.

If you have a jersey in your collection that you'd like to share with us and your fellow readers, please submit your pictures and a story to go with it, no matter how brief or detailed, to spyboy1@gmail.com and we look forward to seeing your favorites, even if you are the bastard love child of a revered member of the Canadian aristocracy.