Heritage Classic Announced
Wednesday · Aug 4 · 2010 | 4:26 PM PDT
Canadiens and Flames unveil retro Heritage Classic jerseys
This afternoon, the NHL officially revealed the details of the 2011 Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, including the new logos and jerseys.
The Calgary Flames will host the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 20, 2011 in the NHL's sixth-ever regular season outdoor game on the campus of the University of Calgary, home of McMahon Stadium.
The Heritage Classic logo features a prominent red maple leaf, the ultimate symbol of Canada, emblazoned with vintage style text and a stylized skyline of the city of Calgary. What more could you ask for in a logo?
The previous Heritage Classic, held in 2003, saw the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium in sub-zero temperatures. It's expected to be between 22 and 30 degrees for the 2011 game in Calgary.
The Flames' Heritage Classic uniform pays tribute to Calgary's history
The Calgary Flames unveiled the specially designed uniform they will don at the Heritage Classic. It pays tribute to the Calgary Tigers, the first major professional team in the city. It existed from 1920 to 1927 and was the first team in Calgary to compete for the Stanley Cup.
A description was released on the Flames' website:
The uniform is a deeper red color with gold stripes and will include the 2011 Heritage Classic logo patch on the front. The Flames will also wear a beige hockey pant to complete this traditional look.
The Flames worked with the design team at Reebok to create the vintage look. The jersey features the same jersey striping pattern [as the Tigers'] with a beige Flames C logo in a vintage felt application.
The beige pants and canvas-colored gloves add to the vintage feel of the uniform.
The Canadiens also previewed their Heritage Classic sweater
The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, aren't looking quite so far into the past for their Heritage Classic threads. They "will sport the same jersey worn for home games between 1974-75 and 1995-96," according to the club's website. The only difference will be the patch on the front.
So what do you think of the 2011 Heritage Classic? Excited to see an all-Canadian outdoor game again? Thrilled/disappointed by the sweater designs? Sound off in the comments.
Reader Comments (66)
King's teasing a piece of Calgary hockey heritage from well before the Flames arrived in town. My guess is either the Hockey Stampeders (1938-63, 1968-71) or the Tigers (1921-27, 1932-36), and I'm leaning towards the latter, since they played in Calgary's first-ever Stanley Cup Final in 1924 against...the Montreal Canadiens.
If it is the Tigers, I half-expect the Habs to wear their 1924-25 duds with the globe logo in front and the CH on the arms, like so.
tigers jersey with the flames symbol on it. i like it.
Just saw the Flames' jersey. What an ugly piece of crap. Lacks any imagination and takes the worst elements from the Tigers and mashes them with the worst elements of the Flames' identity.
Seriously now: that is just the complete opposite of classy.
Love the look of the Flames jerseys. Pretty typical of Montreal to go with the standard white duds though.
reminds me of a fireman's jacket
Since when did griffindor start playing hockey XD
Montreal's numbers are different (two colors instead of three)
Horrible jerseys, the flames one is just ugly and weird and the habs one is unorignal, it looks exactly like the ones they wear all the time. with a team with that much history and so many jerseys, they picked the worst ones.
these 2 outdoor games this year are gonna suck real bad.
why the flames? why not vancouver, the rangers, the leafs. maybe ottawa, hell I'd even be happy with nashville.
I cant see the pens and caps jerseys being any better, caps havent been around long enough to call them classic, and the pens, its been done before, no reason for them to be in it twice.
I am not surprised the Habs went with pretty much their standard jersey but I wish they went with something else...perhaps their 35-36 complete with beige pants
I was really hoping the habs would wear the white with blue strip jersey.Only difference from what they regularly wear on the road to this jersey is the style of the font.
Great looking heritage classic logo. Defiantly stoked for the game, got to get tickets
Habs had all of those 100 anniversary unis and they go with the most boring jersey of the bunch.... great call Montreal
The first time I saw that Flames jersey I immediately thought McDonalds. More specifically, Ronald McDonald. It's a vintage look I suppose, but I think the designers could have done better.
Well I for one absolutely love the Calgary sweater. The only minor change I would make would be the beige breezers, but other than that I think they look killer. Can't wait to see them on the ice.
I knew as soon as they showed the Flames sweater that everyone would hate it, but I absolutely love it. It's classic, it's different from the norm and it's striped, everything that I love. I'll probably end up picking it and the third up this season just because they are both classics and I enjoy em both, great job Calgary!
Flames uni looks like Ronald McDonald's outfit.
As much as I am stoked for an outdoor game in Calgary, I wish Bettman would one day receive a message through his iron cast skull that novelties need to remain novelties. WHY TWO OUTDOOR GAMES IN ONE YEAR!? and two of the four teams have been in one before! Did this seriously not come up in any discussion during the planning process!?
That being said, Montreal could have done better with their choice. It looks the same. And so what if the Flames' sweaters look a little out there......It's something I'd say the majority of Calgarians have never seen before, and I bet most have not even heard of the Calgary Tigers for that matter.
The Flames jersey looks a lot better in the pictures than the mock-ups made them look. Light colored pants look weird, but at least its different. On the other hand, way to be boring, Habs.
Fkames jersey is awful should have looked back to Atlanta Days. Montreal always wears the same old jersey to bad they couldn't dig back to a newer look .
I was kind of hoping the Habs would go with the CAC Leaf jerseys, but they've obviously had the best history with the CH ones, so I guess it makes sense. Also, I kind of like those Flames jerseys. I mean, nobody would be complaining if the Sens wore the barber shop jerseys, so why complain about some arm stripes?
The Flames players on ice will look like 5 Ronald McDonalds chasing the puck. The Habs players, though, while suiting up, they'll probably be saying, "Yep, just another usual regular season game, eh? The only differences are that there is no roof, the opposing team is dressed like a fast-food joint's mascot, and Bob sewed this maple leaf on our right chests. If only we could fast-forward time to June and win a damn Cup."
terrible. absolutly terrible. way to completely ruin the point of the winter classic calgary. fauxbacks = fail. they should have gone full force and wear an edgified version of the old calgary tigers jerseys. montreal should have gone with the globe jersey.
I actually like the Flames sweater (though the khakis bottoms look ridiculous), but I think that the Habs sweater is just lazy. They should've either reached really far back for a different looking design or just said "screw it" and tried to design a new one.
Think outside the box, Montreal.
I'm a fan of team's sticking with their iconic looks and feels, so I'm a fan of the Canadiens uniform selection. There is something to be said about entrenchment in tradition and
"Chicagolander" — think outside the box? I'm thinking about the iconic looks many Chicago-based franchises have and I love that about them. The Bears, Blackhawks and Cubs have kept their same great look for generations.
Good thing I like the Calgary set (well, except for the beige pants. Why not go canvas like the gloves?) and love Heritage Classic logo, cause I already know I'll be severely disappointed in the Winter Classic sets (being tired of the penguin in a circle, and not liking anything about the Caps original logo or jerseys)
I do not like the flames' jersey at all. They look like ronald mcdonald
I'm a Flames fan and I'm really nto digging the outfits. Well, the colour scheme is great, 9and deserves points for originality), but I think it's just entirely ruined by the Flamine 'C' logo. While the logo is one of my favourite in the league it feels completely awkward and out of place with the rest of Jersey.
Man I was expesting a much better looking jersey from from the Flames, and I agree with what the other guys said above, it sooo does remind me of Ronald McDonald's outfit and IMO this Flames jersey is ugly, oh well I hate the Flames anyway. I really can't wait to see my Canucks wear their new vintage unis during this upcoming season.
I'm almost relieved the Habs went conservative. There's a reason those stripey monstrosities live in the past: they didn't have space-age materials, vibrant dyes, TV lights, and white ice 85 years ago.
Two words to Mr.Ken King on behalf of my Calgarian brethren,
"Focus Group."
The old brown pants are ruined by the brand logos, what's the point of going traditional if you ruin it with modern branding?
I like the unis though, they are interesting and look a lot more like "hockey" than the nascar things they were every game.
I'm really impressed with that Flames sweater. Not at all what I was expecting.
I really like those jerseys. It's sure that it seems lazy from the Montreal Canadiens to wear a jersey with minor differences but there's a lot of history behind that jersey : about twenty Stanley cups! That's the uniforme that Maurice Richard wore, and it's certainly an idol for the majority of french canadian.
And for those who say that the Habs should look further in the past, they did it last year, you remember?
Calgary's jerseys are okay, but look more like rugby jerseys than hockey sweaters.
Montreal's is just boring. :(
I think the Flames jerseys look fantastic in pictures ive seen. Would have been nice to see the Habs wear the jerseys they wore when they met up with the Tigers in that Stanley Cup final they played. All and all, should be a great game to watch. Looking forward to it.
The Flames are the ones who screwed up here. The vintage jersey they wore for the regular season? THAT should have been the heritage classic jersey. The flames are an 80's team. Dress like the 80's, not some weird parallel universe were the Flames existed in 1926 in Ronald McDonald outfits.
Montreal is wearing the right jersey, they're honoring Calgary by wearing the same jersey Flames' fans first saw Montreal wear.
I kinda like the Flames uniform, though I wish the pants and gloves matched better. Couldn't have been too hard to darken the pants or lighten the gloves. After seeing all the jersey's from Montreal's 100th year celebration, I'm kinda happy that they are sticking to the classic white uni's. I think the Flames jersey will grow on people, the more they see it.
I understand paying tribute to Calgary's hockey history, but it has nothing to do with the Flames' identity... I think this one is just a classic example of "trying too hard". Thumbs down on the Flames jersey.
I don't know how I feel about the Flames' sweaters yet. I wasn't blown away. I don't feel the need to buy one yet. I might have to see them on the ice.
As for Montreal...how boring!!! We've seen this before. Actually, now we've seen all of their sweaters previously. At the very least they could have also added laces on the collar. Maybe change the font to something like they had in the 50's?
Not really what I was expecting. I like Calgary's look, but think it would have been better with the Tigers logo up front, with the Flames logo used as a shoulder patch. Colors look good, though.
Habs = meh.
Way to pull out all the stops there MTL, keep us guessing, I haven't seen that jersey since the conference finals.
I feel like Montreal didn't put enough effort into it. The Flames dug up a piece of history and made it look good in my mind. Montreal should have that ability. They have so much work to chose from over the years. I just feel they dropped the ball on this one. It isn't a bad jersey, they just didn't put in as much as I was hoping.
Flames jersey: I love it. Very similar to a Fireman-themed one I keep designing over the years. I will probably grab it ASAP.
And usually I'm not a fan of the Winter Classic patches - they've kept me from buying the Bruins and Blackhawks WC editions...but the Heritage Classic patch is a thing of beauty.
I hope the Flames wear the jersey often - just with their black pants and helmet, thanks!
Montreal: Meh, but it's a classic regardless.
Wow, this Heritage Classic is looking kind of bland when it come to ideas. Will it even be worth watching I wonder? Maybe the thrill of an outdoor game has just overstayed its welcome for this year? Or maybe it's the fact that two of the four teams in it have played outdoors already.
I wouldn't say Calgary's jersey is terrible, it just looks a bit uninspired, like they took Chicago's WC/Third Jersey and put it in Flames Colours. I realize it's a tribute to the Calgary Tigers of old, but it's like the Canucks Wearing Vancouver Millionaires jerseys in Blue Green and White. IMO, you either have to be faithful to the original jersey or go with something from the team's actual past. As a uniform it's alright, but the beige pants, yuck, they have to go. I seriously hope this stays as a HC Jersey and they don't make it their third jersey after adopting last season's 1980s throwback for this season. (they have to look good somehow)
Overall, 3.5 Out of 5
As for the Habs, what else can I say, their home and away jerseys are always 5 Out of 5, but compared to other special events, they aren't even trying this time. (can you blame them though?)
0 Out of 5. (<--Again, This Rating Has Nothing to Do With the Jersey)
Hopefully the Outdoor Matchup(s) for 2012 are more interesting.
I almost half-expect yellow ice in February with those jerseys. I'm sorry, I don't see it as "classic", I see it as ugly. And it's not just the color clash, although that's a big part of it - the striping on the shoulders looks horrible because of that top stripe - trying to force it to stay at the shoulder makes it look awkward. And the beige? Sorry, fail.
It might have been better if they kept the Tigers' original colors of black and gold, instead of trying to force the Flames' scheme onto it. Bad, bad, bad, BAD idea.
Personally, I'd have preferred the mid-40s throwback for the Habs, but personally, I prefer the two-color numbers on the white jerseys over the current three-color design.
I've heard a lot of people saying the Flames jerseys look very McDonald's-esque, but the shade of red is deeper. The colors are great. I just wish they'd use the old Tigers logo instead of the modern Flaming C. As far as the Habs are concerned, they don't really have much room to innovate with their near static uniforms.
People are actually complaining about the Habs jersey? Saying unoriginal and lazy? Were any of you watching the past two seasons? Those Centennial jerseys were worn to honor their past. This jersey selection honors their 86 & 89 Finals versus the Flames. The Flames, the host city, are wearing jerseys to honor their citys hockey heritage. Both teams should be commended for their designs and reasoning.
Montreals marketing team should never be called lazy, if there is a dollar to be made, they will put a logo on it. Plus there can only be one team in colour, someone has to wear white. It's not like the Habs could also wear a Red. They wore the Red in Edmonton and the Megastars wore the '45 White with Blue stripe.
A solid white will come across the television screen better than the '45 White with Blue stripe, mixed with the Flames.
I actually love the Flames jersey and the decision to go with the beige. The jersey design looks a little weird on the modern cut though. i wish they had gone with something a bit slimmer.
Also, Habs: Really?
The Flames white pants look really out of place against the red & yellow jerseys. Other than that they look good.
I'm not getting the criticism here for the Canadiens uniform choice. They can't wear their 1924 uniforms as they were only red that season
Their first white uniform didn't appear until 1935 which doesn't fit with either the Calgary Tigers (whose 1930s incarnation were a minor-pro team in a different league) or the Calgary Flames (for obvious reasons). That really leaves either the current white uniform or the mid-40s style white uniform (with the blue stripe through the middle) which the Canadiens have seemingly retired. Their centennial is over so don't expect to see those uniforms back; and again, none of those fit this occasion anyway.
The Canadiens simply don't do uniform redesigns for whims or one-off occasions like so many other teams are prone to do, and that is part of the Canadiens tradition and lasting appeal.
GRYFFINDOR
This just in from Eklund: UFA Goaltender Ron Weasley to the Flames (E4).