The New Jersey Devils, as they always do, are making sure they connect with the communities they serve when they host Hispanic Heritage Night on Wednesday at the Prudential Center.
The event, presented by Hijole! Tequila, will feature a logo designed by Rorshach, a two-person group comprised of Andre Leon and Robert Ramone, both of whom were born and raised in Newark in Hispanic immigrant households.
The logo and background incorporate ancient symbolism spanning from the Taino, Inca and Aztec civilizations, with each symbol holding significance as descendants of immigrant families. The hand-drawn blue graffiti characters showcase sentimental elements like food, musical instruments and ancient symbols, while the red Devils logo includes a pattern of stone from the ancient Ecuadorian ruins of Ingapirca that fade and blend into a modern brick pattern representing Brick City. The golden border also incorporates an Incan textile pattern, connecting all aspects of the logo and symbolizing diversity, unity and mutual appreciation of cultures.
Leon and Ramone said they draw their inspiration from the raw beauty of graffiti and combine it with realism and Afrofuturism.
“As two men who were raised in Hispanic immigrant households, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase both our family roots and cultural diversity through art,” they said in a statement. “As Latinos, it’s great to feel supported and represented by an organization like the New Jersey Devils. We’re honored to have been chosen to serve as representatives for this theme night.”
The game is the first of the Devils’ “Hockey is for Everyone” series. It will feature concourse performances, activations, in-game features and more. Additionally, the Devils are partnering with the NHL Espanol account on X (formerly Twitter) for the third year in a row for some fun social media coverage of the night.
The national anthem will be sung by Anna Negrón, and Judah Ortiz from Hockey in New Jersey will serve as junior captain and take the ice for the national anthem. The Devils will honor Celiann Santiago of the Army National Guard as Hero of the Game. There will be multiple concourse performances throughout the night, including salsa group Salsa at the Shore and DJ Adiel, who will perform during both intermissions. In addition, Hijole! will be offering samples of its specialty cocktail, “The Heater,” along with branded giveaways at the Hijole! bar on the main concourse.
Hijole! CEO Luis Ortiz said he is thrilled to be a part of the event.
“As Tequila Hijole’s CEO, I’m proud of our Hispanic heritage,” he said. “Our partnership with the New Jersey Devils blends tradition and passion, uniting hearts and spirits. It’s a toast to Hispanic pride and the magic of partnership, on and off the ice.”
Additionally, the Devils Youth Foundation will host organizations La Casa de Don Pedro and FOCUS411 for a pre-game Youth Engagement Speaker Series where they will discuss the business of sports. Both grant partners of the Devils Youth Foundation will be given tickets to the game after the panel.
