There's no news here. I just want this picture to be the first thing Icethetics visitors see for a little while. Color is slowly making its way back into the NHL. Because here's what this game would've looked like on any other night:
So enjoy it.
We have to be nearing some kind of record: New posts EVERY DAY since Sept. 15. And some of those days have seen multiple posts. I can't remember the last time Icethetics was this busy. But there's no sense in slowing down now. I promised a look at some CHL third jerseys before the week was out. Unfortunately, there are too many for a single post.
We'll begin with the Western Hockey League. The season kicked off a couple weeks ago and already we've got several new sweaters hitting the ice.
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Kamloops Blazers 3rd jersey
The Kamloops Blazers have added a blazing orange blazer. It's not the color but the front of this jersey that is its downfall.
I hate to start on a bad note because last time I discussed Canadian Hockey League uniforms on this blog, it was with great acclaim. I said the NHL should take a page out of their book. But it looks more like the Blazers have taken a page out of the Dallas Stars' book. And the Stars' book is terrible!
The dawn of the Age of Reebok ushered orange out of the NHL. But prior to that, only the Islanders and Flyers used it for their third jerseys. Philadelphia then brought it back in 2008 as an alternate. Only now is it finally a regularly-used color again.
So despite the terrible lack of any sort of crest design for Kamloops, you won't find a more colorful hockey league and that by itself should be applauded.
;)
Kelowna Rockets 3rd jerseySpeaking of colorful, the Kelowna Rockets have barely worn their regular home and road sweaters this season.
On Sept. 25, the Rockets debuted a new red third jersey with silly-looking dragon face on the front of it. Say what you will about it, but how many teams have ever used this color combination? Certainly none in the NHL and the closest one I can think of is the Detroit Vipers in the old IHL.
But that's not all. The Rockets also wore their pink-ribbon jersey recently for (I'm hoping) Breast Cancer Awareness Night. To save space, I'm linking to it rather than displaying. Plus, you've seen one pink jersey, you've seen them all.
Rather ironically, their home and road sweaters are black and white. Still, the fact that they're willing to take advantage of their color scheme, even if only on a third jersey, is good enough for me. More NHL teams need to get a little creative.
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Kootenay Ice 3rd jerseyThe Kootenay Ice have a new blue third jersey in the pipeline.
And here's another example of an awful NHL fad creeping into the CHL. Stop with the mismatch nameplates. Philly did it first with their third jerseys to replicate a past design quirk. That's all right. Now stop.
Setting that aside, this is an otherwise perfectly nice hockey sweater with great colors and a slick design that manages to also feel retro.
In a web release, the team credits the jersey design to Jack Santos of Visible Means Design in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
Red Deer Rebels 3rd jerseyI recently mentioned the unveiling of the Red Deer Rebels third jersey. Now we can see it on a player in full gear.
The photos I have were sent in by Jorden Clarke. One thing he did point out was the poor visibility of the black numbers on the maroon stripes on the back. That's kind of a shame and easy to fix.
Despite that, however, I still believe this to be among the best new hockey sweaters in the world this season. I just wish they could get the WHL logo off the front.
This jersey made its debut last week on Oct. 2. My thanks to Jorden for these photos from the pre-game skate.
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Chiliwack Bruins' 3rd jerseyAlso making its first appearance that night was the Chilliwack Bruins' new third jersey.
This is an instance where I think the team would be better suited to just adopt their third jersey as the new standard. As Reebok-ified as the sleeve striping may be, it's still a great looking uniform as a whole.
I don't even think changing the logo would be a bad thing. Not every team called the "Bruins" has to have a spoked letter as their primary mark. (Yes, that's you too Providence.)
By the way, most of the uncredited game photos in today's post, this one included, and many more can be found at WHL.ca and their online photo gallery. Also this next one...
Vancouver Giants' anniversary jerseyThe Vancouver Giants are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a special jersey.
The most notable feature of the sweater is the 10th anniversary logo placed front and center. The ECHL's Florida Everblades did something similar for their decennial in 2007-08. But they actually put the 10th year logo on the home and road jerseys all year.
For the Giants, they've just taken their standard white jersey and swapped out the crests. Might've expected a little more creativity from these guys so it's a tad disappointing.
Maybe we'll get something better from them next season. Last thing today then I'll leave you alone...
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Lethbridge Hurricanes' 3rd jerseyAccording to blogger Scott Wasilewski, this is the Lethbridge Hurricanes third jersey.
This photo appears to have been taken on a store shelf last Friday and I haven't seen anything on the team's website about an alternate sweater, so maybe you guys could help shed some light on this particular subject.
It looks like a frightening fusion between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes. Scott isn't sure if he likes it. I'm pretty sure I don't. And heck, while we're talking about bad Lethbridge jerseys, they've announced plans for Pink in the Rink Night on Nov. 19-20.
More new sweaters from the OHL and QMJHL this weekend. Also new stuff in the AHL and ECHL as well. Check back for updates.
Chris
There is now a follow-up to this post: CHL Third Jersey Fever, Part 2. It features the Tri-City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings from the WHL, Halifax Mooseheads from the Q, and the OHL's St. Mike's Majors and Soo Greyhounds.
;)
Kings' throwback sweaterWithout a lot of fanfare, the Los Angeles Kings today unveiled the throwback jersey they will wear occasionally during the season.
The new uniform was revealed via the team's website this afternoon. Unlike the retro gold jersey we saw the Kings give to their first round draft pick in June, this one is purple.
The sweater's design is simple, a replica of what the club wore during the 1970s. It features a single heavy gold stripe around the waist and sleeves along with the classic crown on the chest. Click here for a rendering of the full uniform.
In their press release, the team acknowledges the throwback jersey is being used on Saturday to commemorate 40 years of competition with the Vancouver Canucks, who entered the NHL in 1970. This year is the Kings' 44th.
The release also confirmed the jerseys would be worn again at home during the season:
Saturday’s game at Vancouver will also help kick-off off a special “Kings Legends Series” planned for later this season at STAPLES Center. As part of this series, the Kings will again wear their special vintage jerseys on three future home dates while honoring three distinguished former players. Legends Series dates and honorees will be announced at a later time.
For more pictures of the jersey, including photos of players breaking in their purple and gold gear at practice, make your way to the Kings' website. You can also find a page on the Kings' uniform history.
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Kings prototype jerseys?A couple of Los Angeles Kings fans say they got a sneak peek at what might be prototype jerseys.
One reader sent in this photo (right) in which we see two white jerseys draped over a couch in Luc Robitaille's office at the team's practice facility in El Segundo.
Robitaille is the Kings' president of business operations. And the sweaters feature the logo currently in use on the team's black third jersey. The anonymous shutterbug included the following in his email to me:
They're white versions of the Kings current third jersey. One is an inverse version and the other has the colors reversed on the arm bands. I actually think the silver band with black trim looks really sweet.
You can see a pair of matching socks underneath as well. Looks like maybe the Kings are thinking of switching their black thirds to full time home jerseys at some point, with these as the road version. I sure hope so; these look great.
If these are in fact actual NHL prototypes, the Kings wouldn't be the first team to be going retro, as that's become a welcome fad as of late. When this crest was introduced in 2008, it was meant to evoke the team's black-and-white era of the late '80s and '90s. So what's going on here? Are the Kings looking to drop the purple again?
Here's another theory: Maybe the NHL is considering going back to whites at home. Many fans want it. The league designated white jerseys for road games beginning in 2003. (That was also the year that broke hockey — they switched the jerseys, my Lightning won the Stanley Cup and then all NHL hockey ceased for more than a year!)
If the league were to go back to whites at home, it might be wise for some teams to have a white alternate uniform as an option. And if these jerseys do ever see the light of day, it will be until 2011-12 at the earliest. By the way, I have absolutely no basis for this theory.
Photo by Kasey SpatzIf anyone can make out details in the photo and wants to take a shot at some concept art, I'd be happy to get it on the site.
One more Kings thing. While they still haven't given us any official details, there's more evidence that that team will be wearing throwbacks on Saturday night for the season opener in Vancouver.
In this photo (right), presumably taken at the same facility as the one above, Kings D-man Matt Greene is breaking in his purple and gold gloves during training camp.
Thanks to Josh for sending this in!
By the way, in case you missed the link earlier, there's an article in the New York Times today about the return of retro sweaters to NHL hockey. I was interviewed and quoted in the piece, and Icethetics gets a shoutout!
A couple of things happened over the weekend. First, the Capitals officially unveiled their Winter Classic jersey. Second, I got a sneak peek at the Penguins' jersey.
Despite my previous post, which would indicate otherwise, I am now prepared to say with some certainty what the Pittsburgh Penguins 2011 Winter Classic jersey will look like. In the past I've only been able to offer up a text description. Now I have something visual.
This is a rendering of the Penguins 2011 Winter Classic jersey.
There you have it. Your first look at the sweater everyone's clamoring to see. This is as close as I can get without having an actual photo of the unreleased jersey. I've left off the Winter Classic logo on the chest as well as the numbers on the sleeves, but otherwise it's right on the money. What do you think?
It's just what UniWatch first reported and very close to the concept that Hockey Week did based on that description. The only difference being vintage white rather than real white. (Also, I may have gone a little thick with the powder blue stripes.)
Also to help this rumor along is a picture that was posted on the Penguins' official website today. Remember about a week and a half ago when I wrote this:
...the story does say the new sweater will "resemble uniforms worn by Mario Lemieux's son's local youth team."
Mario Lemieux's son's hockey teamEvidently, they won the local championship and that was enough to get their photo posted on the team's site.
The photo isn't the highest quality but you can see how it resembles the jersey design above. Just swap out the black with navy blue and gold with powder blue in your mind.
Looks like all these little bits and pieces of information are finally coming together. We still have to wait for an official unveiling to be sure, though. Can't tell you when that's going to be. But I'll bet money it'll be closer to Black Friday!
By the way, for those of you paying attention, I did promise a Kings post. That is on its way, but I thought this was more newsworthy at the moment.
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