Sneak Peek at New Pats Jersey?
If you haven't heard, Wednesday is the big day for all three Canadian Hockey Leagues. The OHL, QMJHL and WHL teams that have yet to unveil their new Reebok Edge jerseys will do so on 9/9/09. It's going to be a busy day here at Icethetics.
However, it seems Regina Pats fans may not have to wait that long for a sneak peek. The WHL team's new sweater may have been inadvertently leaked by their own play-by-play announcer today.
On his blog, Rod Pederson posted what I would imagine is some kind of marketing photo. It depicts a wild, screaming Pats fan decked out in red face paint and, interestingly, a red Reebok Edge jersey with the Pats' secondary logo on the front. Take a look.
Pederson writes:
I love this photo. Get used to it because I'm going to be using it LOTS this fall/winter whenever discussing the Regina Pats.
You can't see much, but it's definitely red and it definitely lacks the "Pats" wordmark fans have become accustomed to seeing on the front. Instead, it looks like the secondary mark has taken its place.
;)
You can see in this picture to the right — taken last season — it does appear to be the same logo (facing in the opposite direction of course).
I'm not much of a WHL fan but I've always thought of the Pats in blue so it's a little strange to see the jersey in red. However, I can't really say for certain that this is the new dark jersey. Perhaps it's a third? Maybe nothing more than a marketing thing?
Icethetics reader Curtis wrote in with the link to Pederson's blog and even himself questioned the validity of the photo. Obviously we'll know for sure one way or the other on Wednesday. But I at least wanted to share the picture in the meantime.
What do you guys think? I'd especially like to hear from Pats fans. I know you're out there. Are you happy with a change to red in the Age of Reebok and all the piping that goes along with it? Or are you distraught by the hostile corporate takeover of the last remaining bastion of decent hockey sweater design?
(Were those questions a little too leading?)
Chris
Brett LefflerI've warned you guys I'm horrible when it comes to minor leagues — even worse for juniors. As Dustin and Jorden point out in the comments, it seems this jersey was introduced on a promotional night late last season.
As you can see in the picture at right, taken from the Regina Pats' official web site, there's nothing new about this jersey. However, it's still a Reebok Edge jersey worn during the season prior to the WHL's Age of Reebok.
Therefore, who's to say this isn't going to be introduced as the Pats' new Edge jersey? Perhaps even just something similar.
Still, the red makes better sense in context for that one event — having to do with Canadian soldiers. Here's the description from the web site:
The Regina Pats are proud to put on special red jerseys Friday night [March 6, 2009] against the Medicine Hat Tigers, all in support of the Canadian Forces Soldier On Fund (CFSOF). The jerseys have the Pats bulldog on the front with the Pat logo within the Canadian flag on one shoulder and the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry patch on the other.
So maybe it is more likely that a blue Edge jersey is in the cards for the Pats and this was nothing more than me not knowing my CHL facts.
But I do appreciate the corrections in the comments. You guys always manage to set me straight to make sure Icethetics isn't doling out inaccurate information. So thanks for that.
Meantime, as I said, Wednesday is the big day for the entire CHL. We'll see over 100 new Edge jerseys and I'm sure most of us will be disappointed by the vast majority.
Reader Comments (13)
The red face guy seems what looks like a practice jersey. The piping makes me think of the NHL practice jerseys. Then again, it has a couple of misc. patches, so maybe it's just a boring jersey with extra patches?
I think that jersey was used last year, for a soldier on promo night.
There's no thirds in the CHL (well WHL at least) this season so if that's official it's the new dark jersey.
I did a quick search for an alternate logo I remember and found THE FULL JERSEY!
lol looks like I was beat by a minute!
Those jerseys are brutal compared to the classic pats look. Regina, Medicine Hat, Seattle, and Brandon were my favourite WHL jerseys. Here's to hoping the rest stay the same
There's alot of really cool classic looks with some real old teams in the CHL like the Pats, Oshawa Generals, London Knights, Kitchener Rangers, Ottawa 67s, Moncton Wildcats and, the Portland Winter Hawks.
On top of that newer looks like the Vancouver Giants, Brampton Battalion, Spokane Cheifs, Halifax Mooseheads...and alot more.
Not to mention the original looks of teams like the Erie Otters, Val D'ore Frontinacs, Owen Sound Attack and, Gatineau Olympics.
Im my opinion the CHL is the best looking pro (or semi pro/major junior) league in the world of sports period.
The reebok edge era is going to ruin this, I just know it.
My thoughts exactly Jer, every team in the CHL has a unique identity, not many leagues can say the same. I noticed that the rbk edge jersey all look the same with different colours.
From what the CHl teams themselves have said their will be third jerseys this season, but they won't be the Edge cut. Similar to what the AHL did in 2007-08. In 2010-11 RBK is adding third jerseys to the CHL.
The jersey pictured is not technically a RBK Edge jersey. It's designed to look like one, including the collar, but the straight hemline at the waist and some differences in stripe placement give it away. It's not the only instance of this; A lot of ECHLteams use Edge-type designs but the league hasn't technically switched over so the cut is still old-style.
as far as the uni, let's just say there's a reason Rochester wants to drop these jerseys, which are exactly the same as what's pctured minus the logo.
I am afraid of Wednesday. For the first time in 9 years since I moved to Swift Current there is a strong possiblitiy that I wont be buying a Jersey. You guys are right about the Edge designs are taking away teams identities. Right now they are all unique and I think that will be lost come Wed. I cant even stand to watch a full NHL game anymore. Who puts freakin tails on jersey anyways. This is hockey not a wedding. Tails are should only be allowed on suits. Garbage. The inventor of the Edge system should be kicked in the Junk multiple times. There my rant is over for now.
The Kingston Frontenacs Jerseys will be available to buy on the 8th
Having already been burned by the Oilers, I can only hope the Hitmen don't come out with something horrifying. I have their current black model, and it's quite sharp.
The Pats have had third Jerseys for at least ten years. I live in Regina and go to many Pats games. Typically their lights are white, darks blue and the thirds are red. This has been this way since the Parkers took over ownership in the mid 90's.
I suspect this is just a third jersey. Also Rod Pedersen has posted this pic before. I read his blog daily and this pic was posted in the spring as well so I doubt this is a "new" jersey.
After reading all these comments, and tons of conversation about the same topic over at CCSLC I've come to think one thing: how have the rbk people not heard the outcry from all the fans?!
I mean, come on, it's public knowledge that the edge uniforms are not well received. You'd think they would have gone out there by now and tried to help teams create unique identities again. Are they really so blind to this?
Not to mention, my rec league hockey team bought the edge cut jersey (with our logo on it) and I've noticed one HUGE problem: sizing.
I got a large, for me, with the old style jersey that would fit over my shoulder pads just fine, with a little extra length. About enough to cover the waist portion of my pants, and cover my arms just enough (i'm a little taller). Now I've got this jersey where the bottom is about the same length as the old cut but the arms down't come down far enough and there is a gap between my gloves and the start of my jersey! It looks stupid, and is very tight in the shoulders. I tried an XL one game, just to see for the next season, but it looks like i'm wearing a freaking night gown!
I don't understand the fit of these things. If I had a set of should pads from the 80s with next to no padding it might fit right, but nobody makes shoulder pads that thin anymore!
I just don't understand. I will say this though, the jersey is alot less heavy and breathes more. But who cares when it looks stupid and feels uncomfortable?