Danbury to pay tribute to Trashers on Alumni Night

The Danbury Hat Tricks will be paying homage to the team that started it all, the Danbury Trashers, on Danbury Hockey Alumni Night. A Trashers banner commemorating their 2005-06 UHL Eastern Division Championship will be hoisted to the Danbury Arena rafters Saturday, March 7th prior to the Hat Tricks game against the Danville Dashers. 

The Danbury Trashers revolutionized professional hockey in the city of Danbury, joining the United Hockey League in 2004 and operating for two seasons. Owner James Galante and general manager A.J. Galante built one of the toughest teams in the league, renowned for their bruising style of play and ferocious fanbase- emblematic of the Galante's favorite football team, Lyle Alzado and the Oakland Raiders.

"It's going to be great to be back, but more importantly, I'm excited for my son [A.J.]," said James Galante. "He's the one that built the roster and put that team together."

"It was all about starting a culture here," A.J. Galante explained. "Without the fans, we wouldn't have been what we were. Everything from the Trashers to right now, it's based on the loyalty of the fans. Without their passion, we would have been just another team. That's what sets Danbury apart from other minor league cities."

Several reputable players donned a Trashers uniform, including NHLers Mike Rupp and Brent Gretzky. The 2005-06 Trashers reached the UHL Championship, falling to the Kalamazoo Wings.

The Galantes also invested an approximated $1.5 million into renovating Danbury Arena from a 750-seat venue to one that holds over 3,000. The Arena was consistently packed to capacity for the Trashers' two seasons, from their raucous opening night against Adirondack to Game 7 of the 2006 Eastern Division Final against Quad City.

"I'm excited to be back and watch the Hat Tricks," said A.J. "This will be my first Hat Tricks game, I'm looking forward to seeing the fans and everybody."

"I like the direction that the Hat Tricks are going in," James Galante added. "I like the way they play. Any team that has heart, that's a winner."

Tickets for Danbury Hockey Alumni Night can be purchased by clicking here. Any former Trasher players or staff members interested in participating in the evening's festivities are encouraged to sign up by clicking here.