Flyers Unveil Winter Classic Jersey
Modeling the new sweater / Schuyler BaehmanAfter a long wait, the Philadelphia Flyers finally unveiled their 2012 Winter Classic sweater. And interestingly enough, it lived up to the leaks.
The new sweater has no place in Flyers history, but then neither did the Bruins' or Penguins' second outdoor game uniforms. Though unlike those teams, this one isn't even based on anything in the team's 44-year history.
And to explain a little about why that's the case and what inspired them, here's a what the team has to say:
Designed by Reebok, the jersey’s primary color is the team’s current recognizable orange with secondary colors black and a vintage off white.
The Flyers primary front crest and player numbers are executed in rich felt black and vintage white appliqué. The player name and number name bar is a contrasting off-white color on the core orange jersey body. This is a design element unique to the Flyers current and past uniforms.
The shape of the jersey consists of a new silhouette and striping pattern that has never been worn by the team in its history. The heritage striping is inspired from a sock design worn by the Flyers in the late 1980's. A very strong retro inspired neck lace closure will ground this jersey’s place in NHL Winter Classic uniform history.
So, striping from a sock design, eh? All right. Can't say that's not getting creative.
Flyers Winter Classic jersey unveiling — photo gallery
I like the black shoulders. It's an element that's never been part of a Flyers uniform and I've always thought it should be. It's a good look. Overall, I'm a fan of the design. You've heard me bemoan the "vintage white" to no end (and I still don't like it here) so there's no need to go on about that.
But that's just my take. What about yours?
Chris
Here's another, more complete look at the Flyers' full Winter Classic uniform.
The photo of the back comes from the Flyers' official website. The shot on the right of the full uniform on display at the arena comes from @kevind182 on Twitter.
Reader Comments (63)
THESE WOULD LOOK AWSOME WITH COOPER-ALLS!
I think it's strange that the striping on the arms and waist don't match. I'm not saying it looks bad at all, just... strange.
I figured this was just a boring cookie-cutter jersey in orange/black/and off-white. Realizing that they got the sleeve stripe design from the orange socks in the 80's is actually a nice touch that places the jersey (sort of) in Flyers history. The black yoke and numbers seem to be a shout out to fans who wanted more black in the uniform (or even a black jersey).
Overall I'm pleased.
I'm sorry, but these are boring. The Winter Classic should be a time for teams to showcase some really old throwback uniforms, or do something really unique and these look just like the Flyers normal jerseys, save for a stripe. Yawn
Big PASS in my opinion. I love the fact that much like Boston's WC sweater it looks like something they could have worn in their history even if they never did. Instead of going the Calgary route and picking something that was sort of vaguely tied to hockey in the city rather than the specific team.
The design looks like it could have existed in the 80's era flyers (although I guess the socks reference would explain that) instead of trying to force something from 100 years before.
Can't say I'm jumping up and down singing this is the greatest. It's plain, it's simple and that most of the time works best on hockey shirts. However this is just seems like a design that perhaps the Flyers threw out a few years back, to retain the traditional look they've had.
The problem with this jersey is that most people wouldn't even know that this is a Winter Classic jersey unless they were told. Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Washington all did it right by creating a jersey that is unique from their current threads. Flyers missed out on a great opportunity to showcase creativity. All Winter Classic jerseys should have a new unique crest. Philadelphia's creativity stems from sock stripes?! Come on. You could do better than that.
errrm, well it's not often i cant think of anything either positive or negative to say about a hockey jersey design, it's ok i guess......very......orange.
The Boston Jersey was something they wore in history, the only difference is the logo and they used brown instead of black. That is it.
http://nhluniforms.com/Bruins/Bruins16.html
Tell me that doesn't look like the winter classic jersey. The Flyers jersey is alright, its more unique then the previous one they used. I can't wait for the Rangers to release their jersey, but if they look like the ones that our hosts put out, i'd be disappointed since they are so bland and would hate to see a ranger white jersey without a shoulder yoke (I am a ranger and the only jersey I'm missing from their history is the White crested jersey from the 76-78 seasons) and they kinda need at the very least a shoulder yoke. Personally i'd like to see a White version of the Heritage Jersey where it says New York across the Chest, Use a dark blue shoulder yoke with the WC patch on the right shoulder and the Shield Crest on the Left shoulder as well as 3 equal thinner stripes instead of the thick one in the middle. I can dream but more likely they'll use the crest instead.
I agree that it is a bit cookie cutter, but considering it's the Flyers, this is the nicest jersey they will ever wear on the ice.
As for the real team playing in the Winter Classic, I am particularly frustrated with the Rangers. It is silly that they have not yet released their WC jersey and worse that they probably won't even comment on why. I just want to waste a rediculous amount of money on a uniform that they will only wear once ... is that so wrong!?
What's interesting is that the jersey doesn't have the Reebok rounded hem (i.e the diaper look). Is this foreshadowing what is happen next to the Reebok NHL jerseys? I sure hope so.
I'm not a Flyers Fan and I'm not really interested in the team but these jerseys sure kick ass. These are way better than the new Islanders Jerseys
Possible alternate? If it were to become an alternate, I would want the Flyers to replace vintage white with...well...white and I would want the orange to become black and vice versa (maybe even on the logo!)
I like it as an alternate jersey but not a Winter Classic jersey. I understand that they don't have much variation in their history but they could have done something more unique. Maybe I will like it when I see it in a game setting but as a stand alone jersey, I'm disappointed.
Seems like they just took the Bruins Winter Classic jersey, changed the colors, added that strange captains patch and moved a few horizontal lines around and said viola!
I guess that isn't a bad idea though since that Bruins one was the best one yet in these things.
Sock-inspired jersey ... "Designed by Reebok"
Terrible.
This league looks worse and worse every day.
Very underwhelming. The numbers look like that terrible 3rd we had in the mid-2000s. Black yoke just looks forced and out of place. I'll take the current home and aways any day of the week!
I'm with Matt H on the waist stripes; the fact that there's only a black stripe on top, and not on the bottom as well, really throws the balance off for me. That poor off-white stripe just looks naked on the bottom!
The Quakers-style fake leak that showed up forever ago still should've been the way to go, in my opinion, but for what they are, these are very good-looking jerseys aside from the waist issue. They look good, but not quite... "Classic" enough. If Detroit of all teams can do something other than their winged wheel, then Philadelphia can definitely get a little more creative than this.
Meh. Mediocre jersey at best. This is one of the many reasons why the NHL needs to stop having the same teams over and over and over in the Winter Classic.
As a die hard Flyer fan, I LOVE IT! These are awesome. I can only hope they make it into the rotation as a third jersey over the next few years. Sure it isn't based on anything they've worn per se, but let's be honest, like the Canadiens, there hasn't been much change to the Flyers jerseys. Given the fact the Winter Classic usually rehashes an old jersey, I think they did a great job coming up with this design. I will definitely buy one. And good call COLIN M...they should pull out the Cooperalls for this game! How sweet would that be?
While i agree with sentiments like what Bach said, it's hard for some teams to do that. The flyers have pretty much had the exact same identity their entire existence! No other logos from the past save for slight modifications in the shape of the wings i think, not really any other jersey designs that would be different enough from what they're currently wearing. "Throwing back" to the 80's/90's isn't saying a whole lot.
It's a nice jersey and something different for that team, really the first different thing other than that orange 3rd with the beveled logo. That striping patern on the socks never really matched the jerseys before, now it has something to go with!
überPass. will look even nicer when they are sold next year withouth the ugly shoulder patch.
Bach, the problem with that is that the current flyers uniforms are retro. Those teams easily pulled off retro jerseys becasue they currently where modern jerseys, the flyers threw out those modern jerseys for the retro jerseys. Anyway, I like the jersey but whoever decided to put the patch on one shoulder should be fired. On both shoulders, mabye, but on one? It leaves the front of the jerseys very empty and boring. But that can easily be fixed with the application of another winter classic patch available online. Im planning on buying one.
Brad: I totally agree with you. What a great opportunity each year to introduce new teams and markets.
How great would it be to see the a Winter Classic on the West Coast. The reason? They want the "larger markets" to have priority. Clearly, most of the NHL doesn't now how huge hockey is in a devoted city like San Jose.
They should have one team from each conference in the Winter Classic. West Coast vs. East Coast. That would gather a country-wide interest in the outdoor game. Instead, it's been stuck on the East Coast each year with Pittsburgh and now Philadelphia in it twice. No love for the West-Coasters.
In any case, I look forward to another HBO 24/7 special on the Winter Classic. That thing was a work of art.
i really like them alot, i mean im prob biased as a flyers fan, but im glad were introducing something totally different, however i agree with many others, the off white trend is just monotonous and an overdone theme. i like the yokes alot and the tie down, the black numbers are different, and the sock pattern for the stripes is a kinda weird way to design lol. I wish the sleeve/waist stripe would match but im def buying it. if and when we make this our 3rd's next yr (and will prob wear em a game or 2 this season) I hope we add a basic liberty bell patch on both shoulders. or a circular patch with our name going around it and the bell in the center.
These jerseys are awesome. I'm a Flyers fan and have been one sine I was very little. I'd love to see these become the third jersey for the team next year. I'm definitely putting this on my Christmas list.
The orange jersey with the vintage white and black striping looks amazing. I also love what they did with the captain's C.
I agree with Brad as in they need different teams so there can be different throwback looks, but this is hands-down the best Flyers jersey I have ever seen
What else could the Flyers possibly do to come up with a jersey for the Winter Classic? They have nothing historical to draw from and did not want to put out a uniform that was already being produced by Chinese pirates. This is a decent jersey.
That said the event is getting pretty stale.
It looks like these aren't Edge templates. Is this the first non-Edge jersey since Calgary's throwback?
Not bad, but I think the main issue is the Flyers have not had a different look over their history. All their jersey's going back to their original year are variants on the same style, not much classic to draw on.
Flyers had a chance to go with something different. Instead they took the safe route....same old jerseys with vintage "Reebok" white as the main difference. They are fine, but could have been great. The factories in China have only slight adjustments to make before these flood the US mainland!
@ AP, I hope you are right!! The stupid DIAPER HEM / stupid PIPING is the big reason I HATE the RBK uniforms
Not bad, but not great, either. If ever there was a chance for the Flyers to reinvent the wheel on designs, this would have been it.
where's the quakers? these r hideous.
LOVE the jersey. HATE the fact that no authentics are available. Just spoke with marketing department at Wells Fargo Center (mgmt of pro shop) and they told me that NO AUTHENTICS were produced by Reebok for retail. Only for players. As an authentic jersey "snob," this drives me bat-guano crazy!!! I got shafted for the 2010 WC (although i can simply buy a current road jersey and slap a WC patch on it), i got shafted for the 2010 olympics (they only produced authentic Canadian jerseys, and now the 2012 WC. Yet there are hundreds of damn PENGUINS WC authentics from last year all over eBay, and they sure as heck dont look like Chinese crap-knockoffs. What the heck? I know the economy is in the crapper, but jersey collectors still exist. I'm really starting to hate Reebok and their short-sightedness.
Looks nice to me. Good catch on the lack of a diaper hem, AP. I hope so too.
Good jersey, one of the better ones the flyers have ever had IMO. I think it would look better though if the striping on the waist and arms matched, but it still looks good. I can definitely see this becoming their third jersey for a while.
The overall design is a bit disappointing IMO, not bad but also not great.
NOTE: the jersey features straight cut tail and cuff hems.
I don't like the lacing, it looks off. Otherwise a good looking jersey. But designed by Reebok?? They couldn't find a Philly designer? Or anyone in house?
The vitage white is an interesting colour. It gives off a feeling that you're looking at something aged and classic. The Coyotes actually have "vintage" white in their logo. What is is really, is a khaki colour. So stop complaining about the use of an off white. It's not becoming. You want to complain about an overused colour? How about we start with black?
I don't love it, and I don't hate it (even as a Hawks fan). But like AP said above, the first thing I noticed is the cut of the jersey- it looks like a thick, straight hem at the bottom, and at the end of the sleeves. I've never seen Reebok do something like this in the Edge era. I think it makes sense for the Winter Classic jerseys, as they're supposed to be throwbacks, but I really hope they don't move this to the everyday jerseys.
It's way too similar to the Flyers' standard jerseys. Yes, there's more black, and I know it will look different on the ice, but I really wanted to see the Flyers pull out some kind of fauxback in black so they could complete their jersey set with a black alternate. Not a bad jersey by any means, it's just too similar to the one they already use.
"All right. Can't say that's not getting creative."
Oh yes you can, it's straight out of my playbook in architecture school. As long as you can provide a good reason or story you can BS your way for designing anything.
@ Jesse: Red is the most over-used colour, the official name of the off white colour in the Coyotes colour palette is called 'sand'.
Has a team (in the modern era) used the athletic felt for numbers and crests before? I don't think I have seen the stuff used on jersey before. It is always tackle twill.
I'm boycotting the Winter Classic. When it always involves the same teams from the northeast, I will continue not to care. I also only watch national broadcasts only when both teams are from the West. I'm sick and tired ofthe east coast bias.
Anyways this Philly sweater sucks. It's unoriginal, not to creative, and it looks more like a minor league Halloween jersey. They should have just used a black jersey and created a fun faux back.
On another note, since this blog is biased only toward the pros and the premadonas who play play juniors in Canada, everyone should check out the University of Wisconsin's new alternate sweater. It's amazing. This past weekend, Wisco played Colorado College in a color-on- color game and it looked awesome.
love 'em... simple and classic. I actually like the antique white against the orange. I also like the unique Captain's "C". Only a jersey this nice could inspire a Hawks fan to buy one (if they sell the authentic; that i).
It just and orange bruins jersey....
the pants appear to be a nod to the cooperalls - orange stripe down the side. they should have done black socks with a diagonal orange stripe, ensuring the players lined these up with the stripe on the pants, in order to give it the cooperall effect.