The Blue Jackets franchise has been in the NHL for more than a quarter of a century. That's hard to believe, especially considering the fact that it feels like they have not yet fully arrived. The only luck they have known is bad luck. Maybe the key to unlocking their fortune lies in paying greater homage to the Columbus Chill?
After all, there would be no Blue Jackets if not for the Chill. If you have been around since the beginning, maybe you are old enough to remember our once beloved ECHL franchise. The good news is, even if you aren't, you can learn all about it from David Paitson's first-hand recollection in his book "Chill Factor".
An entire generation of hockey fans was born from a marketing vision.
That book circles around what started as a wild marketing campaign to promote a new sport in a town (yes, it was a town then) driven by college football pride. The Chill had to compete with the Ohio State Buckeyes, which was no small feat. Remarkably, they carved out a foothold in the Columbus sports market, and laid the foundation for what would eventually become an NHL franchise.
Without the Chill, there would have been no hockey in Columbus. That's how I became hooked on the sport. My first visit to the Fairgrounds Coliseum was a thrilling 4-3 shootout game, where the Chill stormed back from an early deficit to claim victory.
I was hooked right away. Going to a Chill game was more than just another sporting event, it was an experience. Most nights, you were treated to absolute mayhem right from the opening faceoff. Whether it was a goal, a big hit, or a line brawl; it always felt like a powderkeg that was ready to explode.
That franchise dove headfirst into what minor league hockey was at the time. Their marketing matched it perfectly: tough, hard-hitting, take no prisoners hockey.
As a result, lots of people fell in love with the Chill, including one of their newest free agent signees:
I moved to a small town outside Columbus when I was 1 and left for Alaska at 7. Ohio is where I first fell in love with hockey, watching the Columbus Chill and seeing how much the game meant there.
— Pheonix (@PheonixCopley) July 7, 2026
Having the opportunity to sign with the Blue Jackets means a lot. I’m ready to… pic.twitter.com/W7yvN6Q6k5
Add to that the rumor that their next assistant coaching hire is going to be none other than the last head coach of the Chill, and it's becoming more and more clear: the Blue Jackets need to find a way to better honor the history of the former ECHL franchise.
It's not completely uncharted territory. The Chill have gotten sparse recognition from the Blue Jackets over the last couple of decades. But, it feels like it's time to take it one step further: how about a third jersey that runs in the styling of the Chill?
Hell, just wear those beautiful black, silver, and white jerseys as they were in their hey-day.
Even if it's only for one game. I know the NHL poo-poos this idea, but to heck with them. They don't respect the Blue Jackets anyway. That's what Chill marketing was all about: bending (or breaking) the rules and demanding respect. That is what made hockey in Columbus.
It's time for the Blue Jackets to give the 5th Line what we have always wanted. A hard working team that we can be proud of, whether they win or lose. What better way to do that, than to honor those Columbus Chill roots?
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