Panthers, Ducks Plan Throwbacks
Sunday · Jul 21 · 2013 | 1:41 PM PDTThey're not even of legal drinking age and they're already getting nostalgic. Two teams will commemorate their 20th NHL seasons this fall. Let's talk about how.
When the NHL schedule was announced this past week, the Florida Panthers used the opportunity to announce their plans for the year as they mark their 20th anniversary. The Cats open their season on the road, but when they return home on Oct. 11, they'll have what they're calling a "Throwback Night" — though it's not entirely clear what that means.
Instantly, jersey geeks like us have been conditioned to immediately assume we're getting a throwback jersey. I could see that. Those triangular shoulder yokes don't get used anymore in the Age of Reebok, and that's sad. But the Panthers haven't said anything about a special jersey.
In fact, they haven't really said anything yet. From the press release:
The Cats took on the Penguins in their first regular season game in South Florida on Oct. 12, 1993, nearly 20-years to the date. The night will be a “throwback” night with details on all of the Opening Night festivities to be announced in the coming weeks.
So we'll keep an eye on things over the coming weeks.
Then there's the Anaheim Ducks. They also used the the schedule release to talk about their 20th anniversary plans. And it sounds like the old Disney Duck could be making an appearance.
Icethetics reader and Ducks season ticket holder Andrew Heidecker emailed me excitedly last week to share some details.
I am a season ticket holder for the Anaheim Ducks. During their select-a-seat promotion, they had all the high-ups of the Ducks organization there. I spoke with one of them and he informed me that the Ducks will become Mighty once more during a game in October.
They will revive the 1993 [inaugural] jersey (he was not sure if it would be eggplant or white since home was light colors back then) but he did say that it will be set to the new Reebok Edge jersey and will be available for sale all season long in the Ducks team store.
Currently, the jersey is set to be worn for only one game early in October, but that can be altered to more than one game. Not to sound antsy, but the way he said it, it sounded like there may be more than one "MIGHTY" jersey being produced for wear this season.
If I find anything else out, I'll let you know!
If true, that's exciting news for fans of the old Mighty Ducks brand. We'll keep our fingers crossed.
It's worth noting that the Ducks' own press release fits in line with this report.
As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, the 2013-14 regular season will include a number of special events at Honda Center. Planned occasions will include look backs at great moments in Ducks history and retro merchandise available for purchase.
In addition, the club will host a “Throwback Night” near the start of the 2013-14 regular season, paying homage to the inaugural 1993-94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season. The club will have further announcements surrounding the festivities at a later date.
That "further announcements at a later date" line again. Heard it before.
Anyway, it sounds promising. And for what it's worth, the Ducks could get double-use out of such a throwback jersey. Don't forget that they play the Kings outdoors on Jan. 25, 2014. That'll probably involve a throwback jersey of some kind just as every other outdoor NHL game has in the past six years.
So what do you guys think? Is 20 too soon for throwbacks? Or are you nostalgic enough to take a throwback in any form at any time? Hockey does love its traditions after all.
Reader Comments (25)
It might be a little soon, but I'm actually really looking forward to see some throwbacks from these two. Though I am a Sharks fan, the old Mighty Ducks brand was one of my favorites in the league. And the Panthers had a neat set before Edge came in, so I'm excited for both of these.
I wonder if they'll let Selanne just bring an old Ducks jersey from home instead for throwback night. I kid I kid. I really do hope they use the "Anaheim" script 3rd jersey for the stadium series but in updated colors.
Sounds like I need to get my old eggplant Mighty Ducks Starter Jacket out of storage! If Anaheim does a Flying V to start the game they immediately become everyone's second favorite team.
I want an old school Mighty Ducks jersey BUT with the current colours of Orange, Bronze and Black instead of Purple, Teal and White, just like their current shoulder patch that has the old Mighty Duck logo in the current colour scheme.
This post made my day.
As a 90's kid who grew up playing hockey in Southern California I can saw without a doubt I will with out a doubt be buying myself a eggplant ducks throwback and hang it right next to my Vancouver Millionaires jersey, those go together time wise right?
"I want an old school Mighty Ducks jersey BUT with the current colours of Orange, Bronze and Black instead of Purple, Teal and White, just like their current shoulder patch that has the old Mighty Duck logo in the current colour scheme."
Get out. Their color scheme went from the most unique to the most boring in one change and you want to keep it?
ah, someone already said it. But this post made my day as well!!
To see the old Ducks jersey return, even if it's one night, will be awesome. in the NHL video games I always used the old jerseys in any game involving Anaheim.
Holy heck. I nearly fainted when I saw they were going to bring back the Mighty Ducks brand. I don't particularly like the team, but I really really love the old identity. It was unique, and it was pure eye candy. It's a shame they won't completely go back. Maybe some day, in the future. But heck, they're making merch with the Mighty Ducks logo on it, and making jerseys (which better be replicas, by the way) and playing with them. The fact that they emphasized the word "mighty" just gives it away right there. But heck yes, anything that brings the 90's back (I'm not a 90's kid, being born in the late 90's and not really able to remember anything from those years. I just love the 80's and 90's in general ), I'd really like for that to happen.
Heck, replace the alternate jersey (sadly, since it's the best jersey they wear), and make it one of those cases where an alternate jersey becomes the base of the home and away jerseys the next year. This has been done especially for throwbacks, like recently: the Sabres, Oilers and Islanders. I know it hasn't been way too long since we last saw the Mighty Ducks jerseys hit the ice, but I'd be fine seeing the throwback as an alternate for a few years. Oh yeah, and I'd buy all the throwback merch I can get my gloves on, especially a jersey. Holy crap, I can't wait to see an Edge replica of a Mighty Ducks jersey. It better be the same dang thing.
Phew.
As for the Panthers, I'd be way more than happy to see a throwback sweater, the old ones are miles better than the current ones, like most, if not all the pre-Edge jerseys. Though, speaking of which, is it even possible for Edge jerseys to have triangle yokes? I'm not sure, but I want to know if they could have done a replicated version of the 1993-2007 jerseys on the Edge template. In any case, I'm excited.
I only like throwbacks when they are in the same continuation as their current brand. It annoys me when a team like my canucks go back into the wardrobe and pull out some jersey that looks like it belongs to a completely different team. I suppose the Ducks are a bit different because it's not so long ago that they wore the might duck, but even still I prefer continuation and not an encouragement of a mix and mash of different colours and logos representing the same team. 20 years is fine, but certainly the minimum amount of time required to warrant having a 'throwback' game.
It would make my decade if the outdoor game features Wild Wing vs. Burger King jerseys. But I know neither team or the NHL would have the guts to pull off such awesomeness.
Absolutely stoked for this. As a lifelong Ducks fan, and a HUGE fan of the old Mighty colors and logo, I can't wait to see what's in store. And I'll certainly be adding any new jerseys to my collection.
I am a huge fan of the Might Ducks logo. I think it is leaps and bounds better than the current one. I have been thinking about buying a retro ducks jersey for my collection. This will probably make me pull the trigger on one. I won't be getting the new one though, I'll probably by a Starter blank replica.
As far as the Panthers go, they look very similar to their inaugural season. I don't see a need for that.
I want to see the old Mighty Ducks jerseys in play, and I want Goldberg to drop the opening puck.
I hope they do plan on bringing back the original Mighty Ducks Jersey the white one was awesome and the logos maybe a little cartoonish but that is what made it unique and it is a lot better than a lot of teams have now, it also allowed Grown-ups to come out of the closet so to speak to wear Disney merchandise :). When I play as the Ducks in any of the NHL games where I can choose the jerseys they wear I always have team wearing the White original with the Duck Goalie Mask home jersey and the Current Alternative Jersey with the Duck foot D as home and away. I tried getting the White Goalie mask Jersey before they were gone with no luck hopefully this will give me a second chance. But once they are finished with the throwback in years to come after this season they should use the Goalie Mask logo on an Alternative maybe Orange and have the Duck foot D on the shoulder and the current Alternative in Home and Away Jerseys with the Goalie Mask on the Shoulder like they do now. And for the heck of it use the first movie jerseys the Green District-5 ones for warmups that would be awesome as well. I wish the Sharks had to use there throwback Teal for their 20th maybe for their 25th.
I quietly hope for the District-5 Ducks jersey.
I'm a Ducks fan, have been since I was 4 in the '97 season, I CAN'T WAIT.....if they do it with the current colors make it permanent. If it's the old colors make it a third like Calgary or LA with the "Forum Blue"(purple) and gold. PLEASE ANAHEIM FOR ALL OF US MIGHTY DUCKS FANS.
Omg that made my day. I've been waiting (like so many others) so long for this day to finally come true. Yes the Mighty Ducks jerseys will be back!! And the hint at the end of the post has be freaking, sounds like they may use both white and eggplant for both the Oct. throwback and the Outdoor series. Or it may be a hint that a retro/modernized retro will be introduced as their new 3rds! Oh man I am so siked and can't wait for this hockey season to start.
I'd also would love to see the Panthers bring out the retro red or white with the triangular yokes as well, that would be sweet.
This news has me way to excited and just want this season to begin already! lol
20 years for these teams - already?
20 years is too soon for throwbacks. For an outdoor game or if they want to scrap their current look and go back - fine. Could probably find a better look than any they had, at least the Ducks, out of some of the better concepts out there.
(from a child not of the 90s or later but of the 70s).
This is my first comment on this site although I do frequently browse it to see the uniforms.
I have to say that as UK fan who was introduced to the sport through the mighty ducks series of films as a kid, I would instantly buy the home/away kits from this era, and the district 5 one if they did that as well. Love them all! (unlike the current ones which are a bit bland/generic sports team)
As a Hurricanes fan I must say I really like the idea of wearing a throwback after 20 years, that means the canes could wear their good jerseys again in 2017 instead of these terrible team Canada rip offs. I also think celebrating a 20th anniversary makes more sense than 15 year anniversarys, tho 25 years seems like more of an achievement to me.
As a Kings fan even I can agree that this would be true awesomeness. When the Ducks first came they were more like a curious oddball team rather than a rival. I must say their duckface cartoony mask was just brilliant too.
While i don't think we'll see a Wildwing vs. Burger King jersey match-up in Dodger Stadium in Jan, I would say it would be epic if the teams wore those jerseys during the pregame skate
The two teams should wear the throwbacks in the two games that they play against one another. That would be cool.
If only it were October already! The Ducks should have never abandoned their old look.
Go MIGHTY DUCKS go !!!
And the colors Jade-green, aubergine-eggplant (purple), white and grey COME BACK AGAIN PLEASEEE with the OLD LOGO !!!
I cross my fingers until October
The new logo (sorry) sucks a lot !!!