Anaheim Preps Throwback Night

Photo from Anaheim Ducks

Mighty Ducks jerseys will see action again this Sunday

It's been seven years since we last saw them take the ice. But in just two days, the Anaheim Ducks will revive the Mighty Ducks for one game this weekend. On Sunday, the Ducks will host Throwback Night against the Ottawa Senators.

Photo from Brad Kirchhofer

Last month, Ducks season ticket holder Brad Kirchhofer sent in this photo of the game ticket, which features the classic Mighty Ducks logo. He also pointed out a couple of other ways the throwback logo was being used as part of the team's 20th anniversary promotions.

Photos from Anaheim Ducks

This week, the old eggplant and jade starting showing up at Ducks practices so players could break in their new gear before Sunday. We got a glimpse and gloves and pants on Tuesday and Wednesday. (There are plenty more photos at those two links if you're interested.)

It's my understanding, however, that the team will be wear Reebok Edge versions of the old Mighty Ducks jerseys, meaning we should see an updated collar and cut. But otherwise, it should be the spitting image of the old eggplant jersey.

Photos from Anaheim Ducks

The goalies got to test out their new equipment as well. The shots on the left and center are Viktor Fasth, who modeled his mask after Guy Hebert's. On the right, you can see Jonas Hiller in his throwback pads. The Ducks tweeted a photo of Hiller in his mask earlier today.

If all this has you feeling nostalgic, I dug up some photos of current Ducks players in the classic threads.

That's Francois Beauchemin, Corey Perry — as No. 61! — and Teemu Selanne as No. 13. Think of this as a sneak peek of what's to come on Sunday — only pre-Edge. Hopefully it won't look too much different.

Lastly, for non-Ducks fans, how about a look at a few familiar faces who you perhaps didn't know — or forgot — once donned the eggplant and jade?

That's Joffrey Lupul, Chris Kunitz and Sergei Fedorov. Truth be told, before I found that photo, I didn't know Lupul had played for Anaheim. But he did for a couple seasons a decade ago.

So who's excited for Sunday?!

Update on Saturday · Oct 12 · 2013 | 11:25 AM PDT by Chris

Photo from KTTV FOX 11

TV station gives first glimpse of Edge version of Mighty jersey

On Friday morning, we got to see the Reebok Edge version of the Mighty Ducks jersey for the first time. Good Day LA reporter Mar Yvette wore it for a feature during the morning show. As expected, it looks the same as before but with the updated Reebok collar and cut.

It was cool seeing the jersey, but Yvette's interview with Sheldon Souray is not worth watching. She starts by talking about the Dodgers shirt she's wearing under the jersey and goes on to make up the term "puckshot" since she doesn't know what a "slapshot" is. I get you're a feature reporter, but does that absolve you from doing a little research before you head out the door?

Anyway, here's another shot that shows the full jersey.

Photo from KTTV FOX 11

Some commented that it looks practically transparent, but I'm not sure it's any more than usual with the latest round of Reebok Edge jerseys. And it may also be just an optical illusion because of how it's worn on her. One thing I can't tell is whether the stripes are sublimated. None of the Edge templates lend themselves well to the diagonal stripe from the old Mighty Ducks jerseys.

We'll get to see them in all their game day glory tomorrow afternoon!

Canada's Olympic Jerseys Unveiled

All photos from Nike

Official photos reveal differences from leaks

Canada's 2014 Olympic jerseys leaked not once but twice this summer. First, Jonathan Toews was caught modeling it in a photo shoot, then another photo popped up showing all three sweaters in a retail setting. So the official unveiling today from Nike was just a formality, right? Not exactly.

What we couldn't tell from those early photos is that the large chest and sleeve stripes don't extend all the way around the jersey. They stop at the player's side. There's a practical reason for this. A completely different (and more breathable) material makes up the side panels of the jerseys.

Another difference seems to be between the retail and game-worn versions of the jersey. In the retail store shot posted two weeks ago, 12 gold maple leaves are visible on the front, toward the bottom. (They represent the combined gold medals won by the Olympic and Paralympic teams, according to Nike.)

On the game version, the gold leaves are on the inside of the collar. Look closely and you'll notice that telltale faux lace-up collar protruding through. Not quite Reebok's "hanger effect" fad, but it does have something in common with the American jerseys now.

Another new detail is the shoulder applique. It's a maple leaf within a maple leaf pointing out of the collar. So far, only the Czech Republic has escaped this feature — what many here would likely call a scourge. Under those bright TV lights, it'll probably be more noticeable than you'd expect. We'll find out in February.

At this point, I'm counting 19 individual maple leaves on this jersey. Maybe going a bit overboard, Nike? In any case, these are the sleeve features. On the left is the Canadian flag — which we've seen before, and on the right are the Olympic rings — which we haven't.

Finally, there's the black jersey. This won't be the first time Canada has worn black, but all the gold makes it a bit odd. According to Nike's press release, it's there to "remind the world of Canada’s goal to win gold medals in Sochi." Everyone needs a reason for existing.

Many of you have probably said your peace on the previous leak posts, but if you have anything else to add, now's the time to do it. Do these slick photos from Nike make you like the new jerseys any better? To those who hadn't made up their mind today, what do you like/dislike most about the new designs?

Nike Unveils Czech Olympic Jerseys

Images from Nike

Manufacturer's run of unconventional designs continues

Earlier today, Nike unveiled the Czech Republic's new uniform set for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. They're another example of unorthodox sweater designs from the jersey maker. It's the fourth national team we've gotten a look at in the past six weeks.

In August, Nike showed us the jerseys for the U.S. and Russia. Then last month, the Canadian jerseys leaked — though they're scheduled to be unveiled officially on Tuesday.

But back to the Czechs. They'll essentially be draped in their national flag throughout the Olympic hockey tournament this winter. That gives us a primary jersey made up of three colors instead of one. The white jersey is a bit simpler. Front and center on both is the classic coat of arms.

Image from Nike

Worth noting is the lack of applique features on the shoulders like we've seen with the U.S., Russia and Canada. But the Czechs still share the faux lace-up collar. Like it or not — and most people seem to hate it — that seems to be a feature of all Nike jerseys going forward.

Speaking of which, based on the four we've seen so far, what are you expecting for some of the other national teams like Sweden, Finland and even Germany (since they didn't qualify, how about Switzerland)? What's next from Nike?