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![\"BROOK](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4444725_web1_BJ-20260731WPGGoldeyesMANMosquitoesMerchandise13.jpg\")
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BROOK JONES \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
The Winnipeg Goldeyes take on a pesky and all-too-familiar alternate identity, the Manitoba Mosquitoes, for the team\u2019s home game against the visiting Lincoln Saltdogs on Friday. Kataali Stoller (right) shows off the special edition merchandise to Cory Ruppanthal and his children, Ava and Owen.<\/p>\n
Other honourable mentions are the Chicago Dogs, who switched over to the Chicago Wieners, the Sioux Fall Canaries transformed into the Minnehaha Martians, Milwaukee Milkmen became the Franklin Benjamins, and the Lake Country Dockhounds swapped to the Wisconsin Dive Bars.<\/p>\n
General manager Andrew Collier is excited for this one-night-only modification, a chance for both the fans and players to enjoy a humorous change.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ve noticed in the industry over the last couple of years, teams just having some fun with a re-brand that has something to do with your city\u2026 something unique to the area,\u201d Collier said.<\/p>\n
Although they had a couple of ideas flying around, the Manitoba Mosquitoes stuck out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think it\u2019s going to be fun for the fans to see us re-branded as something other than Goldeyes for one night,\u201d Collier added.<\/p>\n
And while the pesky blood-suckers are not welcome in most environments, the diehard Goldeyes fans extend open arms to the switch in predator.<\/p>\n
Longtime fan Lynn Chartrand, put his order in for the new gear weeks ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun because I\u2019m hoping it attracts more people to the games,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Artrand has been a mini pack holder for a decade and doesn\u2019t mind a night attributed to the insect.<\/p>\n
Out-of-towners Sarah Twomey and her son Ben, attended their first Goldeyes game.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son loves playing softball, he plays back home (in B.C.) and I\u2019m like, \u2018I need to get you to a baseball game,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
And with her husband being a Winnipegger, she knew that her son should experience a professional baseball game here in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s amazing. It was an April\u2019s Fool joke and I don\u2019t know if they stuck with it because it was popular or if that was their plan all along \u2014 either way it\u2019s awesome,\u201d Seth Sousa said, who came for his fifth game of the summer.<\/p>\n
Sousa\u2019s vote on the name change? He believes the Manitoba Mosquitoes should become an annual experience.<\/p>\n
Whether the fans came in with pre-ordered merchandise or bought it straight from the stand, they all buzzed in excitement in the name that is very fitting for the province.<\/p>\n
Even the players \u2014 who are often agitated when mosquitoes swarm the field \u2014 enjoyed the one-night change up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m from Florida and our mosquitoes are bad but your mosquitoes are really bad. They bite through my pants in the outfield sometimes,\u201d infielder Keshawn Lynch joked. \u201cI like it though, good colour, good jersey \u2014 hopefully we can win in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n