Wednesday
Nov122008

Kings Players Talk About Third Jersey

The Los Angeles Kings have posted a video on their web site featuring Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar talking about the club's new third jersey. They don't divulge much — or anything really — but it's fun watching them try to tiptoe around the fact that they've already seen it but aren't allowed to say anything.

At the end of the video, a graphic indicates the unveiling for Saturday, November 22 at 7:34 PM. Not sure what the significance of such a precise time is, but the Kings do play the Colorado Avalanche that night. I've included that graphic at the end of this post. But first, here's the video.

And that graphic at the end, here it is.

For the record, that web address is bogus — at least right now. I get a Not Found message for lakings.com/backinblack.

By the way, don't forget that I'll be posting a leaked image of the Kings' new third jersey during one of four Live Chats over the next week. The first one will be tomorrow night. Make sure you're here!

Wednesday
Nov122008

Getting Pumped For New Jerseys?

I'm on the jersey and logo beat tonight. So let's get to it.

The Ottawa Senators are at the top of my list tonight. They're pushing their "Back In Black" third jersey with a special pre-order page on their official web site. They make specific mention of the sweater's debut which will take place on Saturday, November 22 when the Sens face the New York Rangers in an afternoon game.

Speaking of "Back In Black," John Buccigross has an interesting column up if you like AC/DC — which he's sure is named after ex-Bolts Adam Creighton and Dino Ciccarelli.


The Atlanta Thrashers are giddy about the debut of their new third jerseys this Friday. An element on the front page of their web site is urging you to buy tickets — and then, I guess, the jersey too.

It's a big weekend jersey-wise in the NHL. On Saturday, the Penguins will debut their alternate sweater and the Canucks are expected to do the same. Then we'll find out how accurate the Icethetics leak was. The Canadiens will also be wearing their 1945 throwback jersey for their second Centennial Jersey Night of the season.


And finally, the OHL's Windsor Spitfires unveiled a new logo last week. Kind of flew under my radar. (Pardon the pun.)

Apparently this is the first major logo change for the club since 1990. And they're going all out with their new marketing firm and everything.

It's a cool logo. It reminds me of some of the better artwork we've been seeing for the IceHL. So those artists should be happy to know they rank with the pros in my book.

Merchandise with this new logo went on sale Monday. I don't know if the team has started wearing the new logo and jerseys yet — which are modeled after the Washington Capitals' by the way.

You can read more about the new identity on the Spitfires' web site. They also have a picture of the jersey.

Thanks to Nathan and Juston for the news tips.

Tuesday
Nov112008

Live Chat Fever

It occurs to me we haven't done a Live Chat since the new site launched. Time to fix that. And we're going to do it in spectacular style. I'm planning four Live Chats over the next seven days and trust me when I tell you that you won't want to miss a single one.

In each Live Chat, I'll be leaking one of the four remaining third jerseys that we have not previously seen — the Kings, Stars, Sharks and Senators. And we'll do it just like the Coyotes leak, just for fun. I should warn you in advance, though, that the images aren't the best quality. But you'll get to see what the jerseys will look like and it's better than nothing.

These events will take place on Thursday, Saturday, Monday and next Tuesday but I'm not telling you what order we're doing the jerseys in. You'll have to join us to find out.  I also haven't set times for these yet but we'll vary it so everyone has a chance to drop in for at least one.

Who's excited?

Tuesday
Nov112008

What's Up In Vancouver?

I haven't checked in with Vancouver lately. That streak ends today.

As we know, the Vancouver Canucks will unveil their third jersey on Saturday. The Vancouver Sun has a mostly business-oriented piece about the fourth alternate sweater in team history and the concept of third jerseys in the NHL in general. It's an interesting read for jersey geeks like us.

In case you forgot, Icethetics originally leaked a photo of this third jersey last month. The image was then picked up by the Sun and that's how they're describing the "rumors" in that story. The sweater has the modernized stick-in-the-rink logo on the front and the new Johnny Canuck V on the shoulders.

It's very sharp sweater, indeed. I may be buying two third jerseys this Christmas — you know, I have to buy the Lightning's even if BOLTS isn't my favorite thing for the front of it.

In other news, the WHL's Vancouver Giants have announced their intentions to wear a special throwback jersey on Friday, November 21. But what could a seven-year-old team have to throw back to? Glad you asked. They'll be looking to a different franchise — the Vancouver Millionaires.

By the way, I was shocked to discover the Millionaires actually have their own web site, despite the fact that they haven't existed for the last 82 years. Anyway, the Giants will be wearing the 1915 style jerseys for one night only next Friday and I hope to have pictures for you when they do.

Tuesday
Nov112008

News From The Northeast

For the record, I mean Northeast more as a geographical identifier than a division of the NHL because I'm starting with the Philadelphia Flyers.

You see, the Flyers sent out invitations to season ticket holders to their Meet The Team! event which takes place on Tuesday, November 18. Attendees are being offered the first opportunity to order the new orange third jersey. And on the invite are front and back pictures of the sweater.

One reader was nice enough to scan it and share it us. You'll note it includes the exact same images leaked by Icethetics last month.

Sorry about the watermark. It's there for security reasons. Thanks to Kevin for sending this in!


The Boston Bruins' new third jersey recently turned up on the back of a fan at a game at TD Banknorth Garden.

Why is this news? For one thing, the B's have yet to unveil their new third jersey let alone put it on sale. In fact, the unveiling isn't for another two weeks, at which point I would expect it to officially go on sale.

Jeff shot this blurry picture to the left and posted an account of how this man came to have it on his blog. Sounds like it has a lot to do with nepotism. What doesn't?

He also adds a mini-rant against the design of this sweater. And while I don't have the strong feelings he does, I do feel the Bruins dropped the ball. I'm not saying the yellow '90s third jersey was the best ever made, but it stood out and was very identifiable.

This is just another black jersey with a retro-looking logo on the front.


My last item of the morning involves the Buffalo Sabres. It appears that managing parter Larry Quinn has been publicly discussing the possibility of a full time return to the classic logo (seen to the left) for the club's 40th anniversary in 2010-11.

A post on Sabres Not Slugs quotes two message board comments regarding a recent radio interview with Quinn by WGR 550 SportsRadio. He was asked what the future might hold if the new third jerseys were well-received.

It was also suggested that the current primary logo might be relegated to third jersey status at that time. You can't get rid of it that easily.

What's not clear is whether this would be a permanent change beginning in 2010 or if the Sabres would simply adopt the classic sweaters for the 40th anniversary season only and then switch back to the current uniforms the following year.

So that's all for this morning. Hope it satisfies your itch for jersey news.