Loose Threads: Outdoors & More

Flames to unveil third jersey at Flames Fest

Got a handful of items today, so I'm condensing them into this post.

First, the Calgary Flames sent an email to season ticket holders last night, inviting them to the first ever Flames Fest on Oct. 27. And getting a starring role at the event will be the unveiling of the team's new third jersey. (In fact, it's mentioned four times in the email!)

Specifically, the jersey will be officially unveiled at 1:30 PM MT (or 12:30 PT, 3:30 ET). Of course, if you can't wait, there's always that leak from a couple weeks ago.

Thanks to Ryan C. for sharing the email.

Ducks to wear fifth jersey to Stadium Series game

In a previous post, I wondered aloud whether the Anaheim Ducks would simply wear the eggplant throwback again in January for their Stadium Series game against the Kings. We now have definitive word that they will not.

According to tweets to fans from Adam Brady, the Ducks' Director of Publications and New Media, the team will have a completely different uniform for the Jan. 25 game — making it the fifth jersey the Ducks will wear this season on top of their home, road, third and last weekend's throwback.

Thanks to Matt Baldock for pointing me to this tweet.

There are also rumors — which may have started with an employee of the team store — saying that the Stadium Series jersey will be primarily orange and feature a version of the throwback Mighty Ducks logo. Probably not unlike what's currently used on the shoulder patch of the third jersey.

I can't imagine we'll have to wait too much longer to start seeing Stadium Series jerseys. Perhaps closer to late November? All seven teams are expected to have them, including the Ducks, Kings, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Penguins and Blackhawks. (We're also waiting on the Canucks' and Senators' Heritage Classic sweaters.)

Do Lundqvist's Stadium Series pads preview jersey?

Henrik Lundqvist BlogSpeaking of the NHL Stadium Series, the New York Rangers will actually play two outdoor games this winter — but I'm only expecting one jersey from them. And Rangers fans may have gotten a sneak

Icethetics reader John F. sent in this photo (right) via Facebook. The photo appears to have been first posted almost a week ago by The Henrik Lundqvist Blog.

Unfortunately, while the writer said the photo was found on Twitter, no source link was provided.

There was also no information about the context of what we're seeing. Where/when was the photo taken? We don't know. Maybe someone reading can help out there and offer a little background.

On the table there's a card that reads:

Henrik Lundqvist
New York Rangers

Stadium Series
Yankee Stadium - January 26, 2014

So it's definitely a recent shot.

All that said, what's interesting about these pads is the striping pattern. While it definitely screams Rangers, it's not like anything they've worn recently.

I can't tell if it's the lighting, but the pads appear to be an off-white color. Vintage white. My favorite. But the heavy use of the Rangers' shield logo suggests we might see used it on a jersey for the first time ever. (The shield was different in 1978 and the 2012 Winter Classic.)

If nothing else, this might be good for another concept artist challenge. Who wants to create a jersey based on Lundqvist's pads?

Bruins throw back to 1940s with Milt Schmidt

Finally, here's one that slipped under the radar a bit. The Boston Bruins paid tribute to Milt Schmidt and the 1940s team on Monday afternoon as part of their 90th anniversary celebrations.

Photos from Boston Bruins

The 95-year-old ex-Bruin stepped onto the ice for the ceremonial puck drop sporting a replica of the sweater he wore way back in the mid-1940s — with the 90th anniversary patch stitched on. (Two minutes for tucking it in, though.)

The scoreboard was also decked out in the 1940s "B" logo, as seen in this photo tweeted by @KyleClauss. 

The scoreboard at TD Garden is sporting a pre-1949 "B" for today's game. cc @icethetics @TheEmblemSource pic.twitter.com/Az5WHraSkX

— Kyle Clauss (@KyleClauss) October 14, 2013

Seeing Schmidt in that sweater led some to wonder whether the Bruins would make a good opponent for the Capitals at the 2015 Winter Classic. (Yes, I know they've taken part before.) If so, this would be a great jersey to go up against the Caps' classic red look. What do you think?

Rangers Unveil Winter Classic Threads

Today, the New York Rangers officially unveiled their 2012 Winter Classic sweater. And I'm happy to report that every so-called "leak" along the way proved wrong, leaving us all surprised this afternoon. For the most part.

While no fan concept or Chinese knock-off scored on the details, some of the larger, more obvious ideas are on display here. For example, the jersey is vintage white — in other words, not white. It's got a tie-up collar and a traditional striping pattern.

It's a very simple design but there's something about the oversized stripes that make the players almost look like kids. Not sure if that was intentional. But if it was, it's kind of brilliant. Part of the draw of the outdoor game is to recapture that feeling of children playing on the pond in tattered old sweaters. The vintage white adds to that, making the jerseys look unwashed.

Rangers unveil Winter Classic jerseyMany are likely to cry foul at the notion of the Rangers wearing the shield on their chest. For two short seasons between 1976 and 1978, the team stepped away from the text-only sweaters they'd worn for 50 years. And then of course in the late '90s they introduced the Lady Liberty jerseys, which were quite a hit. But other than that, they've basically used the same uniform design since, well, forever.

Much like the Boston Bruins' Winter Classic jersey from 2010, the Rangers' 2012 edition isn't based on any single design from their history, but is rather a combination of elements from the past spruced up with some new ideas.

Despite that, you have to ask yourself, when you look at it, do you immediately know it's a Rangers jersey? And I'd have to say yes. Regardless of seeing the crest, how can you call this anything but a Rangers sweater? Could be the colors. Could be the shoulders. Whatever it is, it works.

Time for links. In their official release, the Rangers credit the design to a partnership with Reebok. Our friends at the Hockey Uniform Database have the Rangers' complete sweater history on display for you. And you can find a few more pictures of the new threads on the team's Facebook page. And a lot more on Blueshirts United.

And if you've been living beneath a rock, the 2012 NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia between the Flyers and New York Rangers takes place on Jan. 2 at 1 PM ET. Both jerseys are now officially out. (For those keeping score at home, we now have all of the new uniforms expected for the 2011-12 season — that is, unless the NHL breaks out new All-Star threads, which I don't expect.)

Anyway, what are your thoughts on what the Rangers will wear to the Winter Classic? It's close to what we had been expecting. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Rangers' Classic Jersey Coming 11/28

Exactly a week after the Philadelphia Flyers unveiled their 2012 Winter Classic uniform, the New York Rangers have announced they will do the same. The event will be streamed online for fans.

The unveiling is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 28 at 4 PM ET. Details of the jersey have been well guarded, but that hasn't stopped more than a few rumors from making the rounds. One such rumor is this design, which is what I currently believe to be accurate:

Rendering of rumored design of New York Rangers' 2012 Winter Classic jersey / icethetics.info

We'll see on Monday if it proves as true as the Flyers jersey leak.

The following information about the unveiling was posted on the Rangers' website:

Fans can log on to Blueshirtsunited.com and Facebook.com/nyrangers to tune into the live streaming jersey unveiling which will feature select current players and will be hosted by MSG Network talent Dave Maloney and Al Trautwig. Official Winter Classic jerseys will be available for purchase beginning December 5th at Madison Square Garden.

If you're unable to watch the stream, just check back here for pictures on Monday. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts about what we should expect for the new sweater.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers!

Flyers Revealing New Sweater 11/21

The wait is almost over for the official unveiling of the Philadelphia Flyers' 2012 Winter Classic jersey. According to the NHL, it's happening in just three days.

On Monday, Nov. 21 at 11:30 AM ET, last week's leak will either be proven right or wrong. (But I'm pretty sure it'll be right.) The uniforms will be modeled by players at Citizens Bank Park, home of the outdoor game on Jan. 2, 2012.

Personally, I'm steadfastly standing by this design, which surfaced last Thursday:

We're still waiting on something solid from the Flyer's Winter Classic opponent, the New York Rangers. It doesn't seem like they'll be ready to unveil in time for the Black Friday shopping rush. However, earlier rumors are still holding up, based on T-shirt designs available in the NHL's online store.

Winter Classic T-shirts on sale look a lot like the leaks / shop.nhl.com

Some people refer to these types of tees as "shirseys" — as in a shirt that's meant to resemble a jersey. It doesn't have any of the striping, so it's nothing definitive, but so far the Flyers leaks have been a match.

I wouldn't think the Rangers would wait until game day to unveil the jersey as they'll want to get the word out so fans can buy them before the Winter Classic. But we'll keep waiting. This is actually the longest we've had to wait. In the past, Winter Classic jerseys have been unveiled over the summer at the press announcement, or before the first week of the hockey season.

Share Your Winter Classic Theories

The 2012 NHL Winter Classic is now just 56 days away and we still haven't seen the official jerseys yet. It's a little surprising, but rumor has it we'll see them before this month is out. In that spirit, I thought I'd share what details I've been able to cobble together from rumors and speculation over the last few months.

Regular readers know I don't like to base posts off of speculation, but I have a lot of reason to believe these are very close to what we'll see when the jerseys are officially released.

Rumored Winter Classic 2012 jersey, New York Rangers / icethetics.info

Rumored Winter Classic 2012 jersey, Philadelphia Flyers / icethetics.info

Again, understand these are based on what I believe to be true. Feel free to tell me how wrong I am. Share your thoughts, opinions and relevant links in the comments.