At Work On Goalie Masks

You thought I was going to go a whole weekend without a single post didn't you? Gotcha!

No but seriously I have been hard at work on things relevant to the blog, actually. I've been designing graphics for the upcoming NHL Tournament of Goalie Masks. Indeed, this isn't something I'm just throwing together. Just like I did with all the logo graphics, I'm putting my own spin on the helmets.

Check out some of what I have done so far.

Those guys are among the top vote-getters right now in the sidebar poll so obviously there's no need for me to explain who they are.

My goal was to make you look only at the mask and nothing else in the photo — that's why everything else has been grayed out. That said, all the photos I'm using are game action photos and I'm still looking for better pictures of some goalies. I'll post a list here when I get a chance if anyone wants to help out.

Apologies for the small images. You'll be able to click through to larger versions when the tournament actually begins.

Let me know what you guys think of these graphics. I encourage feedback!

Goalie Mask Tourney Update

Quick update for you on the upcoming goalie mask tournament. I went through all 30 teams and came up with 48 goalies I could see being eligible for this tournament. Obviously, that's insanity. We're not doing a tournament that big. The max I'm willing to do for this is 32. Therefore, I think what I'm going to do is place a huge poll in the sidebar and essentially let you guys decide which goalies will be included.

This poll will have all 48 names and be multiple choice. That is, you'll be able to select as many goalies as you want when casting your vote. You can vote for all 48; you can vote for just 1. Whatever you want is fine by me. But ultimately, the top 32 vote-getters will make up this tournament. So while I'll continue to gather pictures, you guys will have another poll to vote on for a while.

In the meantime, if you're bored, may I suggest casting a daily vote over at ToHL where we're conducting a WHL Tournament of Logos. It's the beginning of a larger CHL logo tournament. The WHL will be followed by the OHL, then QMJHL. The three winners from each league will face off for one final vote.

All right, that's all I got. Just be prepared for a ginormous poll to appear in the sidebar very soon. Then pick as many goalies as you like. The 32 with the most votes will be in the NHLToGM. (I like abbreviations.)

UPDATE (9:11 PM): Okay, I've added the goalie poll to the sidebar. Choose as many or as few as you like. Happy voting!

Guitar Logos, Part 1 of 10

A reader of the blog here named Scott has started an interesting series of his own that I've decided to feature. It probably stems from a pretty good case of boredom, but nonetheless he's turning all 30 NHL logos into ... guitars. Yes, guitars. Here's what I mean.

Presenting them alphabetically, I'll be posting three at a time as he sends them.

Scott's finished nine of the 30 teams and as long as he sends them all to me, I'll share them all with you.

Should we call that one a banjo?

Up next: Sabres, Flames and Hurricanes — as guitars!

(By the way, happy Pi Day! I'm celebrating with a key lime pie. You?)

New Banners For Logo Champs

Check out the new banners now hanging in the sidebar, dedicated to the champions of each logo tournament we've done here. I've got some concept art coming in a little while. Just wanted to point out what I've been working on this afternoon.

Go Vote In WHL Tourney!

The first poll of the WHL Tournament of Logos has been posted. Go and let your voice be heard!

By the way, I'm assembling plans for the NHL Tournament of Goalie Masks (or NHLToGM) and I'll have news for you probably tomorrow about how it will work.

WHL Logo Tourney Starts Friday!

No concept art today, but I do have some news. Voters at sister blog ToHL have selected the WHL as the first of the three CHL leagues to participate in a grand tournament of logos.

The Western Hockey League tournament will commence Friday afternoon. But for now, I've posted the complete logo pool for the WHL tournament. Check it out and get yourself psyched up to bring the logo voting back to ToHL!

Newsday Discusses Next Outdoor Game

There's lots of new information about a possible outdoor Rangers-Islanders game at Yankee Stadium in an article published by Newsday. They also mention that the Blackhawks want a game at Wrigley. Read about it for yourself.

Dropping Into Carolina

Today's concept art subject is the Carolina Hurricanes. Got a lot to share so I'll get started right away.

First up, a simplification of the current uniforms.

It basically drops some striping. Not much to speak of. There's also an idea for a black third jersey using the current primary logo.

I like the triangular shoulder designs. However, a lot of the rumors we've heard suggest that the secondary logo will don the chest of a new alternate sweater.

The one on the right is funny because of the waves. Reminds me of the Lightning's sole attempt at a third jersey in the mid-'90s.

But as many have pointed out, that flag is actually a tropical storm flag. It's simpler and therefore makes a more balanced logo. Technically, a hurricane flag would look like this.

What do you think of that secondary logo?

Now we'll go back in time a little to when the 'Canes were the Hartford Whalers. We've got some Rbk EDGE designs for them.

That's nice but I don't think the folks from Hartford will be able to identify well with the hurricane flags around the bottom.

Probably a better design there. I like that green jersey a lot. Thoughts on these? Post a comment.

Next Outdoor Game In NYC?

I haven't really been following along with the news coming out of the NHL with regard to plans for another outdoor game to take place in 2009. But a reader emailed in a photo that seems to suggest the game may well happen at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Below is the email I received along with the photo.

I just thought that you would find this interesting. I know there are rumors saying that New York will host next years Outdoor Game, I now have some evidence that may prove that rumor. Recently family friends of mine took a tour of Yankees Stadium during their stay in New York and my buddy sent me some of the pictures. One of the pictures includes the field and boards looking material on the field in the shape of a rink. This would make perfect sense to plan out the schematics now since soon the Yankees will be occupying the field for most of the time and it could be too late to plan it after the Yankees season in time for the game. So here is the picture and I hope you enjoy this so-called evidence.

Who do you think would play in such a game? Rangers and Leafs, perhaps?

Anyway, if you're interested, post your comments below.

LFV Day 6: Last Day In Canada

LIVE FROM VANCOUVER!

Well, today is a sad day for me. My flight back to Tampa is tonight. I have to leave this wonderful weather (yes, I know it's raining right now) and go back to work on Wednesday. And since I've been away, the Lightning just keep losing. So this concept post is meant to honor all those teams that defeated the Bolts in my absence.

The teams I'm talking about would be the New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, and of course, the Philadelphia Flyers. We'll start with them.

Also got a white version of that.

Not a bad design at all. There are also a couple of orange ones with the alternate Flyers logo.

This one is based on the old New York Islanders third jersey.

And speaking of alternate logos, here's something different.

Not really sure what to say about those. Not normal but not quite crazy enough to warrant a Friday post.

We've also got a very sharp jersey set for the Blue Jackets.

And a fan suggesting they switch from red pants to blue.

And either wishful thinking that one day a certain Sedin will find his way to Columbus or the idea that the Jackets would look better in a jersey with striping similar to the Canucks.

Moving on now to the New Jersey Devils. Here's a black concept without the circle in the logo.

My feeling is that if you're going to dump the circle, you need to make some upgrades to the rest of the logo. Something like this might work well.

Continuing on the tack of black jerseys, there's this one.

Very nice. Then there's this set.

Those jerseys look like hoodies to me, though. Maybe I'm just losing my mind. And finally, here's why it's a good thing that the Devils dumped green out of the logo and uniforms.

It looks bad!

And that's it for this afternoon. Gotta get things packed up and maybe take one last walk around the city before heading to the airport this evening. Bye Vancouver!