Loose Threads: News & Notes
Friday · Aug 27 · 2010 | 12:00 PM PDTWhen jersey news accumulates, I find the blog in need of an outlet with some kind of generic title. This is first of likely many editions of Loose Threads. Just a quick rundown of anything the blog may have skipped over earlier in the week.
Flyers to "unveil" new road sweater
Claude Giroux #28They're not making a big deal about it, but the Philadelphia Flyers will "unveil" their new road jersey when training camp opens on Sept. 17.
I use the "sarcastic quotes" because it's no secret that the Flyers will be promoting last year's Winter Classic sweater to full time road jersey — as first reported by Icethetics back in January.
The Flyers confirmed the date with the following posting on their website:
On Friday, September 17 at 3:00 p.m. the Flyers will officially open training camp and unveil the new 2010 road jersey.
They don't specifically say that it will be the Winter Classic jersey — maybe in order to be mysterious to folks unlike ourselves who do not follow this aspect of the sport so closely — but I'd be shocked if they actually designed something new. Plus, readers say it's already been seen in EA Sports' NHL 11 video game as the road uniform.
Presumably, the old white jersey will disappear while the black one will continue serving as the alternate sweater next season.
Baby Penguins try on another new third jersey
WBS Penguins unveil new thirdThe AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are redesigning their third jersey for the new season.
The new sweater was unveiled last week and the Penguins tweeted a link to this photo. Didn't realize blue was one of their colors.
Despite the color mismatch, it's not a terrible sweater overall. I like the idea of breaking the penguin out of the stripe-y circle, though the stick sticks out awkwardly.
But it does make me wonder if it might have a link to what the Pittsburgh Penguins will wear in January at the 2011 Winter Classic. Are the Baby Pens giving us a preview here? Something to think about.
By the way, earlier this month, the AHL Pens posted images of past third jerseys to their website. You can check out the 2006-07 design as well as the more recently 2008-09 alternate. See a pattern developing? Next new Baby Pens third coming in 2012.
Falcons reveal Indian throwbacks
Falcons throw back to IndiansAlso in the AHL this week, the Springfield Falcons unveiled a special throwback jersey, paying tribute to the Springfield Indians of 1936.
Here are a few details from the announcement on the team's website:
As part of their annual summer barbeque exclusively for ticket package holders and corporate partners, the Springfield Falcons unveiled the special throwback jersey they will be wearing for their first two regular season games on Friday, October 8 at Providence and Saturday, October 9 at home against Providence.
The special jersey unveiled pays homage to the 1936 Springfield Indians and will be highlighted during the American Hockey League’s 75th Anniversary weekend.
As mentioned there, this jersey will be one of a handful of throwback sweaters being worn by AHL teams to mark the 75th anniversary of the league. Also being included in the opening weekend celebration are the other five oldest AHL cities, which are Providence, Syracuse, Cleveland (Lake Erie), Hershey and Rochester.
This probably means we'll see the following throwback transformations:
- Lake Erie Monsters → Cleveland Falcons/Barons
- Providence Bruins → Providence Reds
- Syracuse Crunch → Syracuse Stars/Warriors
- and of course, Springfield Falcons → Springfield Indians
The Hershey Bears and Rochester Americans have never had any other names — nor have the cities — but they certainly have vintage jerseys I'm sure we'll see.
And finally, in case you don't follow the Facebook page, Eric B. posted a link to photos of Marty Turco's new Blackhawks masks — seeing Turco leave the Stars is a lot like seeing Modano leave.
If I missed anything else, drop me an email and I'll update this post.
Reader Comments (24)
The NHL11 demo features the Winter Classic jersey as Philly's full time road whites.
Love that Falcons jersey! Something different with a great retro tribute!
Man that Springfield sweater is a thing of beauty eh?
The WBS Penguin alt has nice colors and striping, but could does the crest have to be so huge?
I wonder if the WBS Pens will wear those jerseys during their game at the Consol Energy Center on Dec 30th. They're playing the Hershey Bears.
The Hershey Bears can wear the old Hershey B'ars sweaters. They have old team pictures at the Sports Bar in the Hershey Lodge.
I've heard some discussion over whether or not the black nameplate will be kept on the "new" Flyers away jersey. Was there a black nameplate in the NHL11 demo?
I dont think WBS is previewing the Pittsburgh WC jersey. That jersey is too similar in design to what the pens wore the first time in the WC and are using as their third.
@Sal
Yeah, it was there.
For the record, the WBS Penguins change their third jersey every year, and have been doing so for quite some time. There will be a new one again next season, and the year after that, etc.
Also, I'm fairly sure I know what Rochester will be using as their throwback, I sent Chris my reasons for speculation, but nothing official to report back. Signs point to the 1960's jerseys, which the club won 3 cups in. Picture
On the plus side, the Indians throwback appears to be a traditional-cut jersey. The seams show no signs of an Edge pattern, and even the tail looks to be hemmed about 2" up. For that, it gets a bonus right there.
But... did they really wear that shade of brown... tan... dingy-looking whatever... in 1936?
The WB/S jersey looks okay, I suppose. I've never been a big fan of the muscle penguin to begin with, though.
The Springfield Indians jersey is so much better then the Falcons jersey, which is one of the ugliest in the AHL.
The Baby Pens jersey is the best they have had in their franchise history.
Any word on weather or not the AHL throwbacks will have replicas available to the general population? There's no way I'll be able to afford one if they auction them off, Springfield collectors are nuts!
That Baby Penguins jersey is one of the nicest jerseys I have ever seen. This is comnig from a Penguins hater too. Good job WB!
The Springfield jersey is also a thing of beauty. A couple great jerseys! I just hope my Lake Erie Monsters can throw something together that cool.
the baby pens jersey bothers me so much. why is the black on the sleeves so thin compared to the black on the bottom?
Ahh, once again I look at these great new jersey designs and I sit here and wondering when the heck my Edmonton Oilers will finally ditch the disastrous pajama-looking thing they call a hockey jersey and go back to the vintage look, both home blue and road white, full time. Hmmm, I can dream.
Any word on whether the Nucks will be forced to wear name plates on their throwbacks?
for puckhead, i think its better if they come up with a new design than those overused retros. god i hate those things.
Damn the contrast nameplate. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The reason for the contrast on the oranges was that for televised road games, they would sew on on the same nameplates as the whites. They were ordered to match the whites properly. The black ones on the white have no historical precedent and look awful. It's stupid, stupid, stupid.
The Penguins logo needs to be.....bigger
Jesse - the retros are a classic look that harken back to a golden age in Oiler hockey and they are a symbol of the team's history and heritage. Plus, the blue, orange and white are great colors and look great on TV especially in this day and age of high def TV. That's an issue the NHL's marketing wiz's haven't figured out yet. Bright uniform colors are great for generating interest on television. Bright colors attract attention while the boring dark blues, blacks, greys, etc do nothing to draw attention. And isn't that what the NHL needs, to draw more attention to itself?
Absolutely correct, Puckhead.
this isnt the 80s anymore though. things dont need to be bright... can people watch hockey without bright uniforms.. i think they can.
I get to see those Flyers jerseys in action at the Blues first game on October 9th
@ jeff. yes the nucks will have to wear nameplates its a league mandate.