Meet Kayo Martinez, Designer of Saturday's Artist Hat Giveaway
March 6, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
The Rockford IceHogs and Rockford Area Arts Council are proud to bring back the Local Artists Hat Series, presented by BMO, for an encore after a very successful debut last season.
The second hat in this year's series, designed by Rockford native Mario Kayo Martinez, will be handed out to the first 1,500 fans to the BMO Center Saturday Night for the IceHogs 7 p.m. game against the Texas Stars!
Kayo Martinez is a self-taught artist who grew up in Rockford. Starting from childhood, he began drawing by copying illustrations from comic books, cartoon shows and skate magazines. In his twenties he began dabbling with acrylic paints on canvas as well as other mediums like spray paint and mural work. He went on to get his degree in Graphic Design and has more recently started dabbling in the world of 3D sculpting with most of his artistic time dedicated to creating his own designer toys. Professionally, he works as a freelancer, relying on social media and word-of-mouth to land freelance jobs.
For his hat design, Kayo decided to deconstruct Hammy into a typography font style by taking elements from the current IceHogs logo and Hammy to spell out IceHogs. As fans look deeper at the design, they should be able to start picking out familiar pieces in each letter to see various parts of Hammy and the IceHogs logo hidden in plain sight.
"What an amazing feeling to be able to say I got to design a piece for Rockford IceHogs fans to wear", said Kayo. "I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity, and I appreciate everyone involved."
Kayo will be set up on the concourse Saturday night prior to the game to visit with fans and sign hats. You can also visit the Rockford Area Arts Council table as we pay tribute to Rockford's robust art scene on "Salute to the Arts Night."
The Local Artists Hat Series is presented by BMO with media partners WTVO/WQRF and B103.
American Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2025
- Wranglers Fall 8-2 to Firebirds - Calgary Wranglers
- Meet Kayo Martinez, Designer of Saturday's Artist Hat Giveaway - Rockford IceHogs
- San Diego Gulls Recall Vyachelsav Buteyets from Tulsa (ECHL) - San Diego Gulls
- Henderson Silver Knights Foundation to Accept Grant Applications - Henderson Silver Knights
- Rangers Recall D Chad Ruhwedel from Hartford Wolf Pack, Assign D Matthew Robertson - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Roadrunners Forward Cameron Hebig Signs One-Year, Two-Way Contract with Utah - Tucson Roadrunners
- Blackhawks Assign Athanasiou to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Blue Jackets Assign Forward Mikael Pyyhtia to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Panthers Acquire Kaapo Kahkonen in Exchange for Chris Driedger - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolf Pack Weekend Preview: March 6th, 2025 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Blues Sign G Colten Ellis to Two-Year, Two-Way Extension - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Carson Bantle Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Neuchev Undergoes Successful Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery - Rochester Americans
- Bears Recall Jayden Lee from South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Griffins Prepare for Annual Purple Community Game - Grand Rapids Griffins
- 'Red & White Game' Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rock Entertainment Group Celebrates Women's History Month - Cleveland Monsters
- Bears Recall Hudson Thornton from Orlando - Hershey Bears
- Providence Bruins Sign Tristan Ashbrook to Professional Tryout - Providence Bruins
- Carter Mazur Recalled by Detroit - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Barracuda Edged by Gulls 5-4 in OT - San Jose Barracuda
- Gulls Keep Coming Back, Win in OT - San Diego Gulls
- Tucson Holds off Late Surge - Ontario Reign
- Griffins Get by Moose in Shootout - Manitoba Moose
- Roadrunners Surge Past Reign 4-1 to Open Road Trip with Statement Win - Tucson Roadrunners
- Seven Goal Second Period Propels Firebirds to Another Win over Wranglers - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Delia Shuts Door as Condors Win 4-3 in Shootout - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Storm Back for 4-3 Shootout Win over Colorado - Colorado Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
