They were lined around and into the main foyer as fans waited patiently outside the Battalion souvenir shop to get their hands on the new Centurion Battalion jerseys that the team wore for the first time this season Thursday night when the Kingston Frontenacs came to town.
A security guard was on hand for when the clock struck 6 p.m. and the store opened to the excited public.
It was the first time fans could purchase the new third Battalion jersey.
"I love them and I cannot wait to get a number 26 Oulahen one," said Ryan Oulahen, Battalion head coach, noting he likes both the white and black version.
"They are pretty nice, they got a bit of history behind them. I know it is a new logo. I think they are nice and clean," said Owen van Steensel after Thursday's game.
The Troops debuted a brand new third jersey emblazoned in black and gold with a tank logo adorning the chest last December.
The jersey also features shoulder crests stylized in the way of formation signs for Canadian armoured brigades in the Second World War and the letters ‘NB’ for North Bay. According to the team, the formation signs consisted of three bars in various colours and a gold maple leaf. The bars on the Battalion’s patches are in black and white.
The new tank logo is on a similar jersey that the North Bay Centennials wore but the Centennials wheels logo is replaced by a Centurion golden tank.
See related: New jersey may make a lot of 'Cents' to the Battalion
While the team had never issued a regular third jersey, the concept had been around for some time, according to owner Scott Abbott.
“While the military green sweaters are iconic, I had a discussion with the league even before we started play in 1998 about a secondary design that included a tank sweater,” he explained. “We’re pleased to introduce them in this, our 25th, season. We hope fans like the look and want to see more of it.
“To be frank, we almost unveiled it in 2021-22, but delayed it for reasons that had to do with geopolitics.”