Third Jerseys Get Three Wins
Saturday · Nov 15 · 2008 | 8:30 PM PSTFour teams wore alternate sweaters tonight but only three won.
We'll start with the most interesting find of the night. Spencer points out that the Vancouver Canucks are wearing a special logo on their helmets to go with their new third jersey — going all the way back to the team's pre-NHL days.
;)
;)
Look closely. Compare that with the classic Johnny Canuck logo you see here. On the helmet he appears to be wearing a green shirt with blue pants.
I'm impressed if a little surprised the team would do this. Obviously they're hearing the very vocal fans desperate for a return to the classic look.
For the record, the Canucks won their first game with the new alternate sweater, 4-2 over the Maple Leafs.
Anyway, that's not all. The New York Islanders again wore their third jersey, pulling out the 3-2 victory over the Senators. And the Pittsburgh Penguins debuted their alternates with a come-from-behind 5-2 slaughtering of the Sabres.
;)
;)
Isles captain Billy Guerin and ex-Bolt Ruslan Fedotenko are seen in action above.
Unfortunately it was the Montreal Canadiens, who, while wearing their 1945 era sweaters on Centennial Jersey Night, lost 2-1 to the Flyers. The jerseys are white with a heavy blue, red-trimmed stripe around the belly. The numbers and text are red.
;)
Here you can see Saku Koivu in the conspicuously non-EDGE style sweater. It's got a rounded collar and the "CH" logo is located very low on the front so as to be centered on the blue stripe.
I'll keep an eye on the Canucks thing and if any better pictures of the helmets turn up, I'll add them to this post.
Reader Comments (38)
Vancouver - Make it your primary.
Islanders - Is it just me or is this slowly becoming their primary?
Penguins - Beautiful
Montreal - Fantastic, much better than their usual home/away jersey.
love all the thirds what do they have in common
oh yeah there not black
Unfortunately, the best game of the night did not involve a third jersey, RANGERS 3, Bruins 2 (SO), hell yea!
On that note, i want the liberty logo back for the Rangers
on vancouver:
I never noticed the Johnny Canuck on the helmet. Those are beautiful jerseys if I might add!
Here you can see Saku Koivu in the conspicuously non-EDGE style sweater
If they were the only team not wearing a Rbk-Edge jersey that lost, then maybe the Rbk-Edge jerseys really are better to wear than the previous.
Whether you love or hate any of these jerseys, it's fantastic to see these things move in action. I was ont he fence about Vancouver, thinking it was too blase'. Consider me sold. The helmet stickers are quirky, and the Canucks seem to be set on cementing these logos into their franchise's lore. Bravo, Vancouver.
Pittsburgh - I think they're interesting, but the coveralls over the pants slipping up seems so anti-what-reebok-was-trying-to-do-anyways. Still though, fantastic to see them on the ice, whether anyone likes them or not.
Islanders - Old look, new twist. I absolutely geek out for these. Yes, I dunno about the blank space on the socks. But the cursive helmet stickers, IMO, are so basic that they seem genius.
Montreal - The jersey train keeps rolling in Montreal. Keep 'em comin', Frogs. I like these jerseys second most of their throwbacks. Honestly though, I'm just just waiting for the 'Where's Waldo' jerseys. Those are going to be either fantastic, or a total abomination.. I pray for the first.
I was at today's Canucks-Leafs game and I will tell you that the Canucks' third sweater is BEAUTIFUL! At the game, I bought a blue T-shirt with the full-body version of Johnny Canuck, but I was not aware that it was on the helmets! What a touch of brilliance by the Canucks. As much as I love the Johnny Canuck V logo, I would love it if the club were to someday put the full-body version on a future third green sweater instead.
The only critique I have is that the sweaters should have the traditional block-style numerals with an added green border. Every Canuck sweater, the original Stick, Double V, Skate, and Orca sweaters have all had block numerals. Hopefully this will be corrected when the Canucks make their thirds their full-time look.
Overall, GREAT JOB CANUCKS!!
the montreal jersey isnt a RBK EDGE jersey...if you see pics from the game...notice the straight cut of the bottoms, the baggyness, and the NHL logo being on the bottom right of the back...
Hockey jerseys that actually gasp look like hockey jerseys! And no black! Beautiful, every single one.
Andre, they are updated from the old ones, not straight throwbacks. I doubt they'll change it.
And I don't see why those Montreal Uniforms wern't edge. I like the edge simply because of the fit, that loose mess in the picture doesn't give you the slightest idea of the jersey.
But they do the same stripe thing for the home jerseys just in different colors. Perhaps they decided it wasn't worth the added cost of doing that for a one time thing while still having to make them and sell them to fans?
The Isles have worn this an awful lot since they unveiled it. I believe 3 times already. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that this will be their primary jersey next season. Frankly, it's what they should have gone with in the first place after RBK took over.
Pittsburgh's throwbacks are beautiful. I love the use of light and dark blue. I know it doesn't fit with the city's sports colours, but who cares? The Pirates barely exist anyway. Have them get a makeover and let the Steelers keep their current look and have the Pens use these full time, I say!
Strange how it's only been a little over a year but seeing a pre-Edge jersey without the NHL logo at the neck feels really weird. In a good way, mind you, but still.
These are all beauties ! Love 'em. More COLOR in the game never hurt anyone. I like how teams are going back to their roots and bringing some greens, powder blues and oranges back to a sport that can appear drab at teams with either too much black or a steady stream of red and blue.
Side note: Can someone HELP ME on this...Where is the Maple Leafs 3rd? Where has it gone? Has anyone noticed that it has NOT BEEN USED recently...even aginst Original 6's and Canadian clubs...or even on a Saturday night against an Original 6 in their home barn. What gives? Did the team rush those jerseys in without a league approval?
it was cool watchin those montreal sweaters they were cool it was a good game too glad to see the flyers win that one now hopefully they win tonight when i go but those 1945 era jersey look like something they wore more recently but idk
"And the Pittsburgh Penguins debuted their alternates with a come-from-behind 5-2 slaughtering of the Sabres."
Um, Chris, the Sabres led the game for more than 2 periods before a third period collapse and 2 quick ones put the Pens up 4-2. The 5th was an empty netter.
Had it been 5-0 before they gave the Sabres 2 feel-good goals, then I'd say yeah, that's a slaughter.
In any case, nice uniforms on the winners of all games.
What's with Fedetanko's pants? It's hard to see, but if you zoom in, you can see at the bottom of his pants the design of the pants that the pens usually wear (black, gold and white)
Jeff P,
the fit of the Edge jerseys are second worse only to some of the terrible designs. I announce college hockey, and there is something poetic about that loose sweater flowing behind a player charging down ice. it is one of those moments that remind me of why i'm a hockey fan. The edge jerseys lose that. their diaper hemlines try to replicate that, but it simply isn't the same.
BUT does this mean that RBK is slipping? does this mean that the Edge jerseys won't be around permanently? i sure hope so. I just wish that the other throwbacks were non-edge (i'm still hoping, i'd buy them if they aren't, even breaking my RBK boycott for it). Is this a sign of things to come? i sure hope so.
Jason,
as a displaced pittsburgh fan, living out college in the buffalo/cleveland/canadian/pittsburgh mix of Erie, PA, it is a sense of pride that i'm a fan of the "black and gold" and not "the blue and gold and red and blue" or "brown and orange and red, gold, and blue." also, the white version of that 1968-72 jersey hasn't been used because it looks odd. Idk why, but the blue shoulders are...goofy. Personally, keeping in mind the unique city unity, i hope the pens adopt this as a permanent 3rd jersey, like the San Diego Chargers do with their powder blues, if for nothing else that the novelty doesn't wear off. then again, i'm still hoping to see the 1991-92 jerseys return to the ice with the 1967 jerseys as a third...but that might be a pipe dream.
I don't think the jersey had anything to do with the Habs losing. They're slumping right now (sigh). If it wasn't for that jersey (my favorite ever BTW) I would have been mighty depressed last night.
This jersey was meant to be a throwback to celebrate the team's 100th anniversary so maybe that's why it wasn't RBK. They wanted it as authentic as possible. If this jersey returns as the third jersey in the future (Like it was prior to the RBK era) then it will probably be updated.
The more I think about it, the more I'd like to see Johnny Canuck on the front of Vancouver's sweater. Ah well, these thirds are still without a doubt the best jersey Vancouver has ever had in it's 38 year history.
Yea the Islanders have worn their alternates 3 times already, but thats because since the unvieling, they have had 3 Saturday home games in a row. They will wear these for every Saturday home game, which they have 10 left, and 2 other times for a total of 15 games. And as for this becoming their primary, rumors here on the Island say that it is a very huge possibilaty that it will become the primary along with a white version of the uniform for the road. This has been a hugely popular uniform since they wore it on 70's night back in January of '07 against the Sabres.
"Slaughtered" the Sabres?...I don't kick you when your down after they fired the mullet?!?!
HockeyWeek, I have to disagree. Loose and flowing is fine, but those jerseys look like the gangstas who wear everything 3 sizes too large for them. It looks sloppy and like you don't care how you look. Flowing is fine, but looking like a complete slob is not.
Oh, and to the guy wondering about the Pittsburgh pants, The Third jersey pants are done with a shell. There's a colored shell that goes on on top of their normal pants to make it look right. They did the same thing for the winter classic, they're actually probably the same shells.
Omg, this IS hockey. PHENOMENAL jerseys! All of them are absolutely in the top 10 jerseys right now. (Especially love the Montreal one, but IMO the logo should be higher up.
Why different shades of blue in the Isles pants and jerseys?
You're all way off on the Habs non-edge thing.
Its because of sales. They aren't selling this style in EDGE to the masses due to there not being a point, being as they're the same as the ones they released under "NHL Vintage" a few years back, with a patch on the shoulders. They can use overstock, stitch the patch on, and sell them. Having the players wear those Vintage ones makes it so the retail jerseys don't have a difference to them that will make people go "meh, its too different".
Simple as.
it should be mentionned the pens have a new homepage in line with their powder blue 3rd. a sign that the current first will be dropped ?
i think once teams can change their uniform style per the NHL mandated rules, i think much more teams will do so. i feel most teams were pressured into these "futuristic, new style, vertical not horizontal stripes" type jerseys pushed upon them by Reebok and the way these new kind of retro jerseys look and how everybody is raving about them without all the piping and hoopla that most of the edge jerseys have. hockey is about prestige and heritage and embracing it so hopefully the rest of the unveilings and in the future we can see more of it.
I didn't notice the "old style" Johnny Canuck on the helmets, either. In my opinion, is it that logo that should be used as the shoulder patch, not that lame "Vashon Cakes" design. Overall, I prefer the regular jersey to the third.
I totally agree with Howsmikesdriving. It is great to see colour returning to our beautiful game. Every third uniform that has been worn, including my Canucks, is colourful, but simple and original. Pittsburgh's sky blue is beautiful. (Quebec Nordiques had more of a powder blue). I just hope that the LA Kings can correct their blunder by bringing back their vintage royal purple uniforms with the classic crown from the 70s. Purple and gold have such a natural contrast and it says royalty. Almost any team can wear black, but NOT every team can wear purple.
Jeff, I know that the Canucks' thirds are updated. And that is what is so great about them. The Canucks have reached into their past, modified it a bit, but keeping the whole thing basic and simple. I bet that by the 2010-11 season, the Canucks' new thirds will be their primary look and Johnny Canuck will be on the front of a new third green sweater.
Chris, notice that the Pens are using white chin straps instead of the blue ones that they used during the Winter Classic? It distracts me big time. The blue strap looked better.
Abdul - the obsessively lovely and dedicated equipment manager of the Pens, Dana Heinze, said that they changed the chinstraps for a more 'vintage' look. They also changed the nameplates in the lockers to match.
s. - It's not a sign of anything - it was changed to a blue scheme for the Winter Classic as well, and is only staying up at the moment because the Pens are also wearing the 3rds in their next game against Minn. on Tues. (which, Chris, is not on the calendar!). The website guy may be related to Heinze, who knows. Expect it to change back after that, and possibly to repeat when they wear them in the future.
Silver, There is nothing wrong with Fedotenko's pants, it is a pant shell, which means its the same material as the pants but without all of the padding in it. That way you can just slip it over the pants you are already comfortable wearing (rather than having two pairs of pants) , or some plays (like myself) wear a girdle, which is all of the padding inside a spandex type material and then you simply wear the shell over it and it looks like normal pants. It's up to the player which one he would rather wear, but if you look closely you will notice many other players wear a shell. Tom Poti, for example, wore his Rangers pants when he was on the Islanders, and just wore and Islanders shell over them, and I believe he still does that now as a member of the Caps.
those canuck sweaters are perfect. nothing i dont like about them.
I have to agree with a lot of the sentiment here. It's awesome to see color and traditional jerseys, rather than all this "futuristic" nonsense that's been crammed down our throats the last few years. It's even better to see them so well-received by fans. Very encouraging.
Now we just need more green jerseys in the league!
nu - dang, that sucks. Sounds like they changed it so that people couldn't say its the exact same uniform that was worn during the Winter Classic. I hope they switch back to blue next year.
I think the canucks jerseys look great, but they're just too similar to what they're currently wearing as a home jersey. The base jersey is EXACTLY the same, only logos differ. If this jersey had only been green...
isls is classic
I LOVE the Vancouver third jersey. The center logo is one of my favorites all-time of any team. I hope they make more use of this.
The Habs probably just recycled the vintage jerseys from when they used them pre-RBK. Might as well, eh?