SEATTLE — As a part of the Seattle Kraken's continued "Common Thread" mission - Hispanic Heritage Night is set for Oct. 19 with a specially designed sweater for players that night.
When the Kraken takes the ice against the Calgary Flames inside Climate Pledge Arena - they will wear jerseys designed by Víctor Melendez - a Seattle-based artist originally from Mexico City.
Melendez's design was inspired by Quetzalcoatl (“Feathered Serpent” in Nahuatl), the God of life, light and wisdom, also related to arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning.
The ancient patterns and colors found in architecture, textiles and art from all over Latin America, were also part of the design.
To watch his full interview - click the video player above.
T-shirts with the design will be available for purchase in the Kraken team store.
The Hispanic Heritage Night jerseys will be worn by players for the Oct. 19 game. The players will sign their jerseys and they will be auctioned off with proceeds benefitting Green Latinos. The group's community of Latinx leaders work to "demand equity and dismantle racism," according to its website.
Melendez recently completed a mural in downtown Seattle that showcases the theme design he created for the 2024 MEXAM Northwest Festival. You can view that mural below or head out to 1st Avenue and Post Alley (facing the Seattle Waterfront) to check it out in person.
As an art director, graphic designer and illustrator, Melendez said it's important to him to share his heritage through art.
Melendez shares his culture in several locations through murals, a variety of art projects and designs that even became U.S. Postal Service stamps to celebrate Hispanic culture. The piñata designs may look familiar to you and could be stamps you have purchased in the past few years.
Melendez is currently working on multiple projects. You can learn more about the artist on his website.
The NHL team launched Common Thread to commit to inclusivity and unity within the Kraken community. The mission is to recognize the diverse backgrounds and unique experiences of all fans and celebrate the same "passion and devotion" for the team.
To learn more about other artists contributing to this year's Common Thread efforts - click here.
You can watch the Kraken in action on Oct. 19 versus the Calgary Flames on KONG. The pregame starts at 6:30 p.m. and the puck drops at 7 p.m. For a full list of games airing on KONG - click here.