Alleged Avalanche Leak
Monday · Aug 17 · 2009 | 8:22 PM PDT
There's a story that's been making its way around the web today regarding an alleged leak of the Colorado Avalanche's third jersey.
It started with a post this morning at Mile High Hockey — an Avs blog — and continued on to Denver Post beat writer Adrian Dater's blog All Things Avs. Here at Icethetics, I see this sort of concept art all the time. Rarely have I seen it picked up by so many other blogs before my own (that should tell you something).
For reference, this is the design in question, which originated at the SportsLogos.net message boards.
Avalanche third jersey concept
It's a new take on the burgundy alternate sweaters from several years ago. David at Mile High Hockey is not taking a hard line on the legitimacy of this rumor, but he does sound confident in its source.
Being a bit of a jersey geek, I am familiar with the, uh, "fluorescent" poster who made the mock up from a camera phone pic he says he took of the jersey. I spoke to him a little yesterday and while I haven't seen firsthand evidence of the jerseys, I'm pretty confident this individual has seen the above jersey in person.
If it is the 3rd, I have to admit it's not that bad. I was fearful the fine folks at RBK would find a way to come up with something even more ridiculous than the horrible uniprons they've foisted on us. The above mock up may not be the best looking jersey in the world, but it's a vast improvement over what the team is wearing now. I assume that blue is Nordique blue, a nice nod that many have been suggesting.
I think the Quebec connection is a bit of a stretch, but he may be right in assuming that, if true, these would probably be nice-looking sweaters. The burgundy ones sure were sharp.
I've done some research and asked around among my usual sources and, basically, I can't confirm or deny it. That being said, my gut reaction, based on over two years of tracking this type of news, tells me something is fishy. But when isn't it, right?
Anyway, it all remains to be seen but I thought I'd at least mention it here because of the coverage its getting. Share your thoughts below on this latest rumor.
Reader Comments (25)
If in fact this concept does make its way into true form, in no way can I see RBK no the Avalanche going with the four tri-color striped arm bands. If so, why throw black into the equation? The Nordiques never had black instilled with their uniforms, and other than outlining names or #'s, neither have the Avs... If it smells fishy, then it stinks.
You know, that's perfect from a Canucks perspective.
Replace the "COLORADO" text with the crest logo and I would say they are in business! Not sure if those shoulder panels will work, it doesn't look consistent with the new RBK design.
This is brutal. Please god no.
Pretty sure this is it. Chris Creamer has said the jersey will be "light blue with burgundy shoulders and a NYR script" on the sportslogos boards. (where this jersey first surfaced).
I like it. The diagonal word is a nice reflection of the team's nickname. Imagine if they just used AVS? haha
The blue is better than the burgundy one, as it is a more 'wearable' colour, IMHO. Would prefer to see a more square shoulder yoke though. Overall very nice and a great departure-- worthy of being an alternate jersey.
I don't really like it... but hell it's 3X's better than their current sweaters.. Why can't they just go back to their originals?
I'm thinking that an alternate like this is really what's going to happen, and this is just a bad mock-up of the one he's seen. Like the supposed black stripe may actually be dark blue, or something like that and other bits are actually a bit different, so it may actually look a lot better in reality.
Sounds like someone is a little miffed about not getting the scoop.
Needs a stripe along the bottom, but otherwise looks great.
Good lord that is hideous. But what was that about the Flames cancelling their 3rd jersey (in the first link)
I don't like it. Now if they used the secondary foot logo I would be on board 100%
I don't understand using the locator on the jerseys that are meant to be worn at home. At least the Rangers have their nickname on their home uniform. It's like how in baseball, most teams wear the nickname at home, but the road jerseys have the city (New York, Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, Los Angeles). I know baseball and hockey are different, but it doesn't make sense to me in hockey. You're gonna wear the jersey at home games, mostly. They already know you're in Colorado. I think I said the same thing about the Stars wearing "Dallas" on their home uniforms.
As for the jersey itself... okay, I guess. When they had their last third jersey, I questioned why it was burgundy. I don't understand teams wearing two jerseys of the same color, since the reason of having an alternate jersey (if not just for jersey sales) is to try something different with the look of your team. They can't do that if it's the same color.
That being said, I've tried an Avs jersey on NHL 09 Create-a-team with the blue color, and it just looked awkward because we know them as having always worn burgundy since moving from Quebec. But the Nordiques made this color look brilliant on a jersey without a lot of striping and design, and I'm really hoping that's the basis behind this, if it is true.
I'll have to wait until I can see a 3-D "photograph" (as opposed to a computer rendering) to have a final opinion, but it's a good start. Their current home and away set is too "busy" with all the colors, and the captaincy letters overlapping the stripe.
Well, it is atrocious, sticking with the Rbk guidelines. I'm all for a nod to the 'diques, but with a black helmet/pants combo on a jersey like that? Stevie Wonder coulda put something better together.
Speaking as a life-long Avs fan (since they showed up in Denver, at least), I don't like it. While I liked the original burgundy third, the blue just looks weird. I like the premise, but as that rendering goes, I'm not a fan. Make the 5-stripes into 3 stripes, and add a singular bottom stripe or the mountain again, and it's cool, but as it stands now, no bueno.
But I do like the idea of "a nod to the 'diques". The new concept (on the concepts page!) for the Avs works for me, if you lose the C and the vertical striping. It's definitely a stronger concept than the blue diagonal "Avalanche".
I would just like to point out you have posted smthg like this before.
A concept. Back on the old blog and that you banished to the now Not-Touched Concept Gallery.
The only glaring difference is the Mountainous 'A' still in the middle.
But apparently it has been floating around for a while?
Pretty nice, but would look better in burgundy. Needs a horizontal bottom stripe.
Thanks for the linkage to the greater-jersey-loving world. I'm not a fan of the concept due to the resemblance to the Rangers, and like another poster mentioned, I associate the Avalanche with the burgundy color before I do the blue.
As for the inclusion of a black stripe, I think that's a low-effort (read: lazy) way of trying to tie into the black helmets and pants the team sports.
this is nice, it has the diagonal ranger jersey thing going on, these are pretty good i have to admit
I saw this on the Canucks forums and I have to say it fairly mediocre-looking. It still is pretty nice, but I still hope this is a fake rumour.
My opinion of the jersey summarized in one word....FUGLY.
I am not a big fan of diagonal lettering (and was not a big fan of it in old third jerseys either), but in general I think that this design is promising. If instead of the lettering on the front they had a logo (the main logo, the foot logo, or I'd rather opt for a some cool new third logo), it would be great. Of course, we all have to see the real thing first, but I always thought that the Avs should have a blue third. Lighter shade of blue is a very under-used and underrated color in NHL. As an Avs fan, I am probably one of those in the minority who thought that the old all-burgundy third jersey was hideous.
Nice. These look good. but not as good as burgendy did.
Looks like the Rangers jersey but a with bib (the half circle around the neck). Not a fan but the simple, small striping looks good (very nordic).