Erie Otters to wear special jerseys for Martin Luther King Day game

For their Martin Luther King Day game, the Erie Otters will be dressed for the occasion.

For pregame warmups, the Ontario Hockey League team will be wearing special, custom-designed jerseys inspired by Black history, culture and excellence.

The unique jerseys and logo were designed by artist Jordan Dabney, whose "Black Rosie" logo was proudly worn by the Metropolitan Riveters women's team from the Premier Hockey Federation last season.

Dabney's design was selected unanimously over a host of others submitted to a council for vote. The design displays "iconography that celebrates the Black community as well as the city of Erie and the Otters organization."

"I chose the patterns and colors to represent a balance between celebration of the history of a culture, but soft, rounded designs to represent the hopefulness of a community's future," Dabney told the Otters website.

The jerseys will be worn for warmup Monday and be auctioned off to benefit Erie's Black Wall Street, a non-profit organization that promotes Black entrepreneurship and aims "to serve as a vehicle for change and empowerment of Erie's Black Community." Merchandise featuring the special logo also will be part of a limited-run series.

Photos: James 'Jeep' DiCioccio/Erie Otters