Danbury Hat Tricks Pro Hockey Team Unveiled, Coach Announced

A star-studded cast of local dignitaries, influencers, community leaders and very excited fans gathered as Danbury Ice Arena's new ownership, Diamond Properties, joined their partner and local sports executive Herm Sorcher to unveil what might actually have been Danbury's worst kept secret: The new professional hockey team in town, the Danbury Hat Tricks.

The rabbit has been out of the hat, so to speak, for a few weeks now, with the internet and around-the-town chatter buzzing about the Federal Hockey League's new team that will make Danbury its home. Herm even alluded to the fact that the team name and initial logo had been leaked to the public as he addressed the energetic crowd inside Two Steps Downtown Grille. Watch:

If you know anything at all about Danbury, you know that the name "Hat Tricks" is the perfect fit for a local hockey team, as it works on two levels. On one hand, the hockey term "hat trick" is used when one player scores three goals within a single game. On the other hand, both the name and logos play to the fact that Danbury is known as the Hat City -- a nod to city's past as "the hat capitol of the world." 

As for the slick new logo designs, a tough-looking, stick-wielding rabbit with a chipped tooth certainly does its job to personify what the Hat Tricks hockey team is looking to accomplish. The design even adds a third level to the team's name, as many magicians are known for their own version of a "hat trick," which often involves pulling a rabbit out of a top hat.

P.J. Prunty, the President/CEO of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce was on hand at the unveiling ceremony, noting that "This is exciting news for Downtown Danbury and Greater Danbury as a whole. I applaud Mayor Mark Boughton and his team for their support in this endeavor," Prunty said at the podium. "From the Chamber's perspective, bringing professional hockey back here in Danbury will be a tremendous catalyst for our continued economic development. I'd like to recognize Herm and Chris who have done a tremendous effort already in building their brand."

After announcing that there will be many renovations to the Danbury Ice Arena itself, upgrades to the concessions and family-friendly features, and a few business partnerships with local vendors, Herm Sorcher and his partners at Diamond Properties  providing a pledge to fans that they referred to as their community contract. "Affordable fun, high energy entertainment, mutual lines of communication for the fans and management, ticket plans for every fan, one free event every year," Sorcher promised. "Charitable programs to help the underprivileged and needy, positive fan and player interaction at every game and the highest levels of customer service -- hold us to that every day. Every day..."

From there, Herm rounded out the ceremony with a jovial announcement introducing the former FHL player who will serve as the head coach of the Hat Tricks, Bill McCreary:

As a long time supporter of professional hockey in Danbury, I can tell you that I am incredibly excited that the Hat Tricks are here and seemingly here to stay. The plans that Diamond Properties, Herm Sorcher and the rest of their team have laid out are very impressive, including the fact that the team is under the same ownership as the Danbury Ice Arena itself. It is sure to be a great addition to our community and a ton of fun to watch.