All In: Bears Wear Their Mindset On Their Chest
Following game one of the series against Lehigh Valley, Dylan McIlrath stopped by to talk to the media. After a quick round of hellos and handshakes (which are always appreciated), Mac took to the podium.
The captain answered a few hockey-related questions before he took on the really tough ones.
What are you wearing? A question more familiar among a red carpet event or the recent Met Gala, but Mac was sporting a new team shirt.
Blazoned across the chest above the Bears Calder Cup Playoffs the words “All In” stood out. Mac had no problem showing off the new threads with a quick spin any model would be jealous of, and then Mac got to his answer.
The words “All In” represent the motto of the postseason.
“We are going to need all our guys to be all in if we are going to make another run at a Calder Cup,” Mac told the room.
The phrase also extends to team bus rides. While on road trips, more than half the team has taken to playing cards. On more than one occasion it is safe to assume some form of poker took place. The phrase “all in” is a common tactic used by players when they need a big win in hand. For the Bears, there are no other hands to play for except a series win as they seek out a Cup.
On the back of the shirt is where the design and team features heavily. Here you find four playing cards in all black and white. The four cards are represented by the ace, king, queen, and jack of spades.
On each card is a word or phrase that the Bears have used throughout the season as motivation. The ace features the word attitude, while the king has “killer instinct” printed across its center. On the queen the phrase “no quit” is printed at the bottom and “do your job” is featured on the jack.
Why the spades?
You may be wondering why the Hershey Bears chose the spade to represent all four cards. While the reason wasn’t passed along to me, the choice of the spade over the clubs, diamonds, and hearts is actually quite clear.
The ace of spades symbolizes strength and authority and it is often decorated with elaborate designs and intricate patterns like we see on the back of the t-shirt. The spade can also represent transformation, success, good fortune, and good luck. I think many would agree these are all great qualities to have in the playoffs.
The ace of spades also represents power. In card games, it is the highest-ranking card and can often determine who emerges victorious.
Now, the ace of spades can also represent bad luck and be associated with negative outcomes in a few card games. While some superstitious fans may believe the spades bring along some bad karma or mojo, I do not believe that to be the case.
The use of the spade has a history in the United States military, sometimes as a psychological weapon to instill fear into enemies. Let’s be honest, the Bear logo on the sweater does that anyway to opponents.
There is also a well-known local connection to the area that used the ace of spades on their helmets: East Company of the 101st Airborne during World War II. That’s right, the famed “Band of Brothers” unit led by none other than Major Richard Winters, who resided outside of Hershey during the war, wore the spade on their helmets as part of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
I think it is safe to say that the use of the spade on the t-shirt design is no cause for concern if you are a member of Hershey Bears Nation. It is possible though that other teams may experience those psychological effects in the playoffs.
