OHL's Niagara IceDogs rock tuxedo-themed jersey on opening night at new arena

The Niagara IceDogs wanted to be formal, but they're there to play hockey.

The IceDogs are on of several major junior teams that have a warm-up jersey, for no other reason than they can find a company to buy the sponsorship. For the much anticipated opening game at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., however, the team needed something much more spiffy. Enter the 'tuxedo jersey' that the team wore before Thursday's game vs. the Belleville Bulls, complete with artistically rendered red vests and red bow ties.

Wearing red in front of the Bulls? That's bold and fashion-forward.

Ironically, the special occasion meant the IceDogs didn't wear the blue-and-gold warmup jerseys that represent the credit union which has the naming rights for the new arena. Niagara was 0-6-0-0 wearing those, however. The special jersey might have been lucky, since the IceDogs won 7-4 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,300.

Belleville made a comeback in the third period before IceDogs wing Cody Payne tucked in the backbreaking goal with 10:20 left in the game. Or tuxed it in, if you will.

(Yes, I know that actual bulls are colour-blind and bullfighters' capes are only red for show.)

(Stick taps: Scott Wheeler, The Score.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.