Regarding NHL 09

I've been receiving a lot of emails regarding the release of EA Sports' NHL 09 video game. The questions are about whether the game, which was released yesterday in North America, features the new third jerseys.

Last year, when the new Rbk EDGE jerseys were released, NHL 08 featured a special code to unlock the jerseys since the game was going to be out before all the teams had unveiled them. That didn't work out so well since the code was "accidentally" leaked before it was supposed be.

Regarding NHL 09: It is my understanding this game also features an area where a code is to be entered to unlock 19 "alternate jerseys" for 18 teams. It actually features two for the Sabres. My guess is that one is the third jersey, which is blue, and the other is possibly the Winter Classic sweater, which was white.

I do not own a copy of the game so I'm only going on what I've been told by others.

Now for the important part. No, I do not have the code. No, I do not know when it will be released. I'm sure that if it does leak, someone will send in screenshots of the jerseys included in the game — just like last year — and I will post them.

That is the extent to which I'm going to talk about the game on Icethetics since that is the extent to which the game is relevant to hockey jerseys or logos.

I hope that clears up some things. This is all I know so any more emails on the subject will be disregarded.

No Third For Wild — This Year

Michael Russo, beat writer for the Star-Tribune, says the Minnesota Wild will not have a third jersey this season. In his blog Russo's Rants he wrote the following about two weeks ago.

I’ve gotten a number of emails this summer regarding when the Wild will unveil its third jersey. The Wild is not having a third jersey this season but is exploring one for 2009-10.

That came just two days after team owner Craig Leipold pretty much said the same thing. So for anyone still wondering, there's no way to make it clearer than this — the Minnesota Wild will NOT have a third jersey this season.

I, for one, hope to see a return to the green jerseys if they move forward with this next year. What better way to celebrate an anniversary than to use a throwback jersey — yes, going back all of three years. Still, the Wild have never disappointed me with a jersey design.

Bruins LEAK Third Jersey!

UPDATE (10/28 11:05 AM): Some of the information in this post has changed. This "unveiling" was technically a leak by the team. The official release date for the Bruins' third jersey is November 24. Click here for more info...

According to HubHockey.com, the Boston Bruins unveiled their new third jersey tonight at the State of the Bruins event.

The jerseys are basically what was expected — black with the secondary logo on the front and the primary logo on the shoulders. Sound familiar? It's exactly what we saw in the preview back in February.

Here are some pictures from Chris at HubHockey.com of Milan Lucic in the new sweater.

credit: Chris @ HubHockey.com

I find it a little strange that this news comes without any big fanfare. I guess the Bruins wanted to treat their season ticket holders to something special before taking it to the rest of the world.

My thanks to Chris at HubHockey.com for the heads up on this news and for posting the great pictures.

When the Bruins post something official on their web site, I'll be sure to let you know.

UPDATE (9/11 9:48 AM): Still no official pictures of the jersey from the Bruins, but they do have a quick little bit on their web site. In an article discussing the State of the Bruins event was the following.

A very special surprise came at the end of the festivities when Milan Lucic walked onto the ice to unveil the Bruins new third jersey. ... A touched Lucic said, “I love you, too” after being lauded by the crowd when he entered the rink.

And despite having a photo gallery from the event online, there are no pictures of Lucic in the third jersey. Still waiting...

UPDATE (9/12 10:20 AM): I've added a photo gallery for the Bruins' new third jersey. Because the Bruins have yet to post anything official, the gallery is currently made up only of photos from Chris at HubHockey.com.

I'll post more as I find them.

Hurricanes Unveil Third Jersey!

The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team to unveil their new third jersey. They did so at a new conference this afternoon which was streamed live via their official web site.

We even did a live blog today here at Icethetics.

As you can see from the picture, the new sweater is black with the team's secondary logo with the storm flag on the front. It features thick red and silver stripes around the arms and a red stripe around the waist. Above that red stripe is a stripe of storm flags similar to the ones on the regular home and road sweaters. The difference being the flags are black with silver outlining and a silver square in the middle. On the shoulders is the primary logo in black and grey.

These images are from the live video stream of the event.

The team made the following image available on their site so you can see the complete look.

It was announced that the jerseys would go on sale to the public at the Caniac Carnival next weekend. And on their official web site, there's a fact sheet outlining some interesting information.

The team began development on this jersey in October 2003. The release states, "With the popularity of the secondary logo and the way in which the Triangle is represented in that symbol, it made sense for it to serve as the focal point. Since our primary team colors are red, black and white, and our other sweaters are red and white, it made sense to choose black as the main color of this new look."

The release also confirms the new sweater will make its on-ice debut on October 13 when the 'Canes play the Red Wings. They also list the dates of 14 other home games when the jersey will be worn. Check out their official site for more information.

By the way, a reader who attended the event sent in some pictures from his cell phone.

All in all it was a short event but to the point. They brought out the players, talked a little bit about the design and development and said goodbye.

The jerseys look great and it's nice to finally see them. Up next: the Buffalo Sabres on September 20!

UPDATE (9/11 12:10 AM): Just like I did last year with the Rbk EDGE jerseys, I'm keeping galleries for each new third jersey that gets released.

You can now find photos of the Hurricanes' alternate sweater by clicking here. Check out the slideshow on the right.

But wait, there's more. In case you missed it, the Hurricanes posted the video from the unveiling on their web site. You can watch it there or on YouTube.

I think that about does it for the coverage of Carolina. Moving on to Boston next.

'Canes To Stream Unveiling Event

Great news for those of you interested in seeing the Carolina Hurricanes unveil their new third jersey today but can't make it to the event. According to an email to fans, you'll be able to watch the unveiling live on the team's official web site.

The news conference will take place today at 12:30 PM EDT and I'll be doing a Live Chat/Live Blog here at Icethetics starting at about 11:30 AM EDT. The live chat will probably run until about 1 PM but I definitely plan to cover the big unveiling.

So I highly recommend you have two browser windows open this afternoon. One with Icethetics for the live chat, and the other with the streaming video of the Hurricanes' news conference. If that doesn't sound like fun, I don't know what does.

But seriously, back to work for me. I'm reorganizing the third jersey section of the sidebar. Just trying to clean things up around here.

Sabres New Third Leaked?

Apparently, the Buffalo Sabres' new third jersey has been leaked! Or so it would seem. I first revealed the image in today's Live Chat which went exceptionally well.

But I thought you guys might like it in blog form for anyone who was unable to participate live.

The image was sent to me anonymously. I don't know if it's appeared anywhere else.

Interesting striping along the sides and arms. I like the addition of silver. It looks classy but not dated. What do you guys think? Comment away!

Hurricanes Put Flag On Ice

Seems like the Carolina Hurricanes have been dominating the news coverage here lately. Anyway, it looks like RBC Center crews are in the process of painting the ice with a new logo.

Check this out.

An image grabbed from the arena's webcam shows that the secondary logo will now be front and center. The logo — which depicts a tropical storm flag tied to a hockey stick and waving in the wind — has long been rumored to be on the front of the team's new third jersey which will be unveiled on Wednesday at this very arena.

For the record, last year the Hurricanes' 10th anniversary logo donned center ice. Before that it was the standard primary logo.

Thanks to Scott for the tip and link.

Hurricanes Tease Alternate Sweater

There's a new image on the front page of the Carolina Hurricanes' official web site teasing the unveiling event for their new third jersey next week.

The image and story link to the same article I wrote about yesterday. The only thing I found interesting was this new image.

What I'm interested in is whether they're actually going to use a black and white version of their primary logo as a shoulder patch on the new sweater or this is just a stylized/greyscaled photo. The white circle in the center of the logo makes me think the logo will be black and white.

Personally, I'd be a big fan of a clean, black and white logo. I'm not sure any other team has actually changed the colors of their logo for a third jersey. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

For reference, the Hurricanes will unveil their new third jersey to media and fans at a news conference on Wednesday, September 10. I'll post photos here as soon as they're available.

'Canes To Unveil Third Next Week

According to their official web site, the Carolina Hurricanes will become the first team to unveil their new third jersey for the upcoming season.

We previously believed the new sweaters would be shown first at the Caniac Carnival on September 21. Turns out that date is still significant since it's when the jerseys will initially go on sale. Here's the story from the team's web site.

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team will reveal its new alternate uniform at a news conference on Sept. 10, at the RBC Center at 12:30 p.m. Media and fans are invited to attend the event and be the first to see the Hurricanes’ new look, which the team will wear for 15 home games this season.

Hurricanes center Eric Staal, defenseman Tim Gleason and goaltender Cam Ward will model the uniform at the press conference, skating out onto their home ice in the jerseys for the first time. Television and still cameras will be permitted to shoot the event from ice level. In addition, Rutherford will be available to comment on the sweaters and the process of developing the new look.

The alternate jerseys will go on sale to the general public for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Caniac Carnival, the team’s annual season kick-off event. The Hurricanes will debut the sweaters in a game on Oct. 13, when they host the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings at the RBC Center.

So the excitement begins. We'll have photos of the new Hurricanes' third jerseys in less than a week!

I'll post photos here on the blog as soon as they are available. If any of you attend and want to send me pictures to post, I'd be more than happy to oblige.

Sabres Tease Third

The splash page for the Buffalo Sabres' official web site has what appears to be a new third jersey teaser on an ad promoting the sale of preseason tickets.

It's a close-up of a blue jersey with a yellow collar. There are laces and a silver section at the neck with the NHL shield. Here's the image appearing on the web site.

Remember, they will officially unveil the new third jersey two weeks from Saturday.

Thanks to everybody who sent in this info. And seriously, there were a lot of you. I appreciate that.