B-Sens Sport Ottawa Throwbacks

B-Sens throwbacks / photo by Just Sports PhotographyThe AHL's Binghamton Senators hit the ice last week looking about 100 years old — at least as far as their uniforms went.

On Saturday, the B-Sens wore striped specialty jerseys that paid tribute to the original incarnation of the NHL's Ottawa Senators from 1930s — complete with the barber-pole stripes and the big O. While wearing them, the Senators beat the Rochester Americans 2-1.

For the record, I would've posted this sooner, but you may have noticed the All-Star jerseys took center stage this week. So we go from super-futuristic to super-old today.

The game-worn sweaters are currently up for auction on NHL.com by MeiGray.

So the question is this: Should we expect to see these in Ottawa at some point to come? And while I can't answer that for certain, I can tell you the SENS jersey is going away.

Multiple sources suggest that a new alternate sweater is in the works for the Senators, being prepared for a 2011-12 launch. Many fans have been pushing for a throwback jersey for years, especially concept designer Jacob Barrette. His design is absolutely outstanding.

It's unknown what the new third jersey would look like, but I do hope they avoid the B-Sens' throwback. The Montreal Canadiens did something similar for their 100th anniversary and it did not turn out well. It's fine for a game or two, but let's not make a habit of it.

Update on Saturday · Jan 15 · 2011 | 3:09 PM PST by Chris

There were a couple of links I forgot to include when I posted this yesterday. First, the Ottawa Senators posted a photo gallery on their website from the Binghamton-Rochester game. So if you want to see more, that's where to go.

Also, the blog Sens Town did a write-up on the specialty jersey in advance of the game last week. They express their disappointment that the farm club beat Ottawa to the punch on these throwbacks — among other complaints. But the way I see, Binghamton was a test market. Say what you like about the NHL, but at least they don't go all willy-nilly with the specialty jerseys — regardless of what charities may benefit. Structure is good. My two cents.

All-Star Sweaters from the Back

On Tuesday we were inundated by images of the new 2011 NHL All-Star Game uniforms. But there was one problem. All we saw was the front. And that's left us with a few questions.

First, what does the design on the back even look like? And second, how are the numbers and surnames styled? Today we have our answers.

Backs of All-Star jerseys / from NHL.comThe NHL's online store now has the sweaters available for customization and that means we can preview the numbering and lettering in advance of All-Star Weekend.

Of course we won't know who'll play for which team until the Fantasy Draft on Jan. 28. So if you want to get your favorite player's name and digits stitched on the back, you'll just have to guess until then.

One interesting feature you notice straight away about the design on the back is that, while we all thought the pinstripes just stopped at the elbow, it turns out they didn't. They just teleported to the other side of the sleeve and kept going.

Some have called it a baseball-inspired uniform element. I'm not so sure. But regardless, I do like it. It's one of those things that I've not seen on a hockey jersey before.

I talked Monday about how I liked the outside-the-box thinking on these and all All-Star jerseys. One commenter then said, "there's such a thing as going too far."

I have to laugh at the overblown rhetoric for a simple website like this. Going too far? The Florida Everblades decorated their jerseys like Christmas trees this year. That's going too far. This is an attempt at something new that still keeps a very professional feel while attracting a younger crowd.

And sure, you're free to disagree. Many of you seem to be traditionalists when it comes to hockey sweaters. But personally, I hope you don't win out. Because that will make our sport look really dull. And I like that it stands out, especially at the All-Star Game.

Update on Thursday · Jan 13 · 2011 | 1:17 PM PST by Chris

2011 All-Star jersey numbers / from NHL.com

Even though no one asked, I thought some of you might like to see what all of the numbers look like. So rather than forcing you to go to the website and do it yourself, I've saved you some time. They're pretty standard, and the font is the same on the white/red jersey as well.

Official: NHL All-Star Jerseys Revealed

2011 All-Star jerseys / from WRAL-TVThis morning on WRAL-TV, the 2011 NHL All-Star Game sweaters were officially unveiled in the host city of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes marketing director Doug Warf stopped by the station's studio to show off the new jerseys. In his segment, he talked about some of what went into designing them:

• Colors, six of them, were selected because they represent the majority of teams in the NHL. (At least they kept black out of it.)
• NHL shield was used as the crest because we won't know the team's names until the captains are selected. (Which we knew already.)
• Warf says the captains will be picked a week from today on Jan. 18.
• Red team is "home" while blue team is "road." Warf doesn't say how that was determined since the dark jersey is typically worn at home in the NHL. (Maybe because the host team color is red?)
• Reebok is trying new things. Oh geez.

This unveiling comes just a day after we got an early look at one of them here at Icethetics. Now we're able to have a good look at both of them.

2011 NHL All-Star replica jerseys / from NHL.comAs predicted, the blue sweater is the inverse with all of the same design elements as the red one. Aside from the colors, the main difference between the two is that the All-Star patch is on the left shoulder of the blue jersey while it's on the right shoulder of the white one. 

The league confirms the opposite shoulder will bear the player's home team logo. That article also contains more details about the uniforms including Reebok's new Smoothfit numbering and lettering. Good luck buying an authentic customized jersey.

As a side note, the more I see the red jersey, the more the lighter shade starts looking like pink. But I'm sure it'll look fine under the lights on the ice. Well, I hope. Also today, with just 17 days until the Fantasy Draft, the full 42-man All-Star roster has been announced. Half of that group has never been to an All-Star Game before, so that will be fun.

Who do you think the players will pick as captains? And who do you think the captains will pick? Or instead, if you were an All-Star captain, who would you pick? List your rosters below (paragraph form with commas please, bullet lists will be deleted). And don't forget to tell us what you think of the two sweaters.

Update on Tuesday · Jan 11 · 2011 | 1:00 PM PST by Chris

Authentic 2011 All-Star jerseys / from NHL.comJust to clear up some confusion, the images of the jerseys above show the Premier replicas that fans can buy. The photo to the right shows the "authentic" versions, as seen on Shop.NHL.com.

Some of you have noticed the difference in spacing between the collar and the NHL shield — the area where the sweater number will go on the actual player jerseys.

As I've mentioned before, these images are not true photographs of the jerseys. The are simply meant to advertise a product. The process starts with a photo but most of the elements, including the crests and patches, are added in later with Photoshop.

To demonstrate this, look at these two different sweaters and notice all the little details like the creases and folds. There's no way you can take two separate photos and end up with exactly the same creases. Just not possible. So one photo is taken and the colors are altered to match the product.

What I'm saying is don't expect these to be dead perfect. We'll probably have to wait until we see a player's actual jersey before we know the exact arrangement of everything.

Update on Tuesday · Jan 11 · 2011 | 11:46 PM PST by Chris

All-Star jersey chest numbers / from NHL NetworkWhy wait? Our buddy Glen C. tweeted this image which shows the numbers on the front of the new 2011 All-Star uniforms.

Certainly an unusual placement for a sweater number. And most of the comments you're going to read here will be nothing more than horrible hyperbole.

So for something different, I'm going to tell you why All-Star Game sweaters should be bold and different. For one, it's the league's only chance to get you outside of your comfort zone.

They're worn one time (maybe twice) and then they're gone. But for that short interval, they have the attention of every hockey fan in North America and they get to grace the backs of the sports most talented.

Don't misunderstand, I love the traditional look the brought to Minnesota in 2004, but I'd hate to see it every season. I'd rather see the league's All-Star designers draw outside the lines once a year and give us something new and exciting to look at for a change. Every third jersey is starting to look the same now.

So I challenge every commenter to tell us what you like about these jerseys. And sure, you can't be a smart ass about it, but no one will be impressed. Let's get outside that comfort zone and recognize that once a year it's refreshing to see something unique. Not every jersey has to be based on the limited sweater design sensibilities of the 1910s.

Exclusive: Red All-Star Jersey Surfaces

Red 2011 All-Star jersey / exclusive to IcetheticsJust last week I shared some details of an early sneak peek I got of the 2011 NHL All-Star Game uniforms.

Today, a loyal Icethetics reader emailed in a photo of the red team's jersey. I'm told the sweater was found hanging on a rack inside a Pittsburgh sporting goods store. You can see some Penguins jerseys beside it.

I don't want to reveal where exactly this was found as I'm not looking to get anyone in trouble, merely to show you guys. A few observations based on the photo:

• The gaudy Reebok patch on the front tells us this is a Premier replica jersey, not an Authentic one like the players will wear.
• The collar is a style we've never before seen on a Reebok Edge jersey. Nice to see something fresh.
• The red NHL shield fits perfectly with what was posted last week, but because this isn't a customized jersey, there's no number above it.
• There appear to be red stars spaced out around the bottom of the sweater just above silver and maroon stripes.
• The arced pinstripes on the lower part of the sleeves resemble what I was trying to describe as the design inside the numbers on the back of the uniform.
• And the All-Star Game logo patch seems to be placed on the top of the right shoulder, not the front as previously assumed.

I still don't have a picture of the blue jersey to share but it's probably a safe bet it will be the inverse of this one. Having seen this, are there any concept artists that care to take a stab at the set? You have my email.