We Are All Canucks
Tuesday · Jan 12 · 2010 | 6:00 AM PSTI'll be making the long cross-country journey back to the Sunshine State today. Sad.
This is the final of five auto-posts featuring new concept art and it is being written nearly a full week before it will even see the light of day. Trippy. Or not.
You knew it was coming eventually. Not a single Canucks-centric post all weekend. How can this be possible? I saved it all up for today, that's how. Readers seem to send in more Canucks concepts than any other team. I don't know if it's the team's undying identity crisis or the possibility that Canada somehow funnels its most artistic people into one corner of the country.
 Matt Marczel |
We'll kick things off with my personal favorite. Matt Marczel's concept depicts the ideal Canucks identity. It's not plagued by spaghetti, corporate interests or over-simplification. That logo represents Vancouver and Johnny Canuck. And it incorporates the green and blue to boot. What more could you ask for? The design also manages to hang on to its history by keeping the modernized stick-in-rink logo on the shoulders. If ever there was a 40th anniversary jersey that could spell perfection, folks, this might as well be it. What's even better is this set paves the way for a brilliant green third jersey. |
 Jared LeBlanc |
Jared LeBlanc has provided us with just such an example of a green third. It certainly shouts Reebok Edge but it shows a willingness to accept the things we cannot change and work inside certain parameters. That being said, the curved tail of the sweater may be rather exaggerated. We get it. As long as the greens matched up, there's really no reason that Matt and Jared's designs couldn't form a complete package here. Jared's even offered a nice pants design. |
 Ryan Haslett |
Continuing with Matt and Jared's ideas, if it's a special event, vintage type design you're looking for, Ryan Haslett has the answer. He's gone with the "vintage white" and the new VC logo. Do I smell a Winter Classic coming? Though to be fair, all the previous Winter Classic jerseys have either taken elements or entire jerseys from actual historical record. This would just be vintage for its own sake. Not that that's bad. Could I be any more equivocal? The point is these are all great designs but what really needs to happen for the Canucks is they need to choose one and commit to it — for more than a few years. |
 Kevin Krilow |
This next concept by Kevin Krilow focuses on the full-body Johnny Canuck logo. It's just as good as some of the previous artwork so what can you really say? Now it just comes down to personal preference. Do you prefer the full body or just the head? You know where I stand but that doesn't mean I'm right. This set comes with a home, road and alternate jersey. Surprisingly, it's the home and road sweater the make use of the text logo. Not necessarily bad, but uncommon. |
 Ryan Broda |
The last one had to be an '80s recreation. You just knew it. If the Canucks never introduced the orca logo in 1997, it's entirely possible their current Reebok Edge uniforms could look something like what Ryan Broda has come up with here. It features an orange (some call it red) alternate and gold vintage jersey. Though I'm surprised the Flying V hasn't found a place on the gold sweater. The red/black/gold stick-in-rink logo is even there on the shoulders of all four sweaters. Glad to see it there. It was the cornerstone of the team's original identity and even if it can't be center stage anymore, it needs to be part of their look in some way forever. The only drawback this set seems to have is the numbering and lettering styles. I think for these, you need to just stick with your standard block text. Don't try to be fancy. |
The end. I hope you guys appreciate all the effort I put in to make sure there was new content on the site every day while I was gone.
I'll be back in town Tuesday night but have some errands to run on Wednesday so the next update to the blog/concept page may not come until Thursday. In the meantime, enjoy the archives!
Reader Comments (19)
I'm tired of Canucks posts. But since I'm a Kings fan, and there are lots of those also, I don't know how much I can complain.
Of course Chris, you don't see what's so great about the Blackhawks jerseys/logos, and nobody can persuade you. I feel the same way about the Johnny Canuck and the current alternate jersey. I just don't think it's as great as everybody thinks it is.
What's the purpose of a logo? To identify the team. What is a "canuck", anyway? It's not an orca... it's not a stick in a rink. And a picture of a guy doesn't tell me that either. At least the Ducks logo tells you it's the Ducks. I don't know what a canuck is, and the jersey doesn't tell me that.
I don't see them changing their name any time soon, so I feel they should do what the Rangers have. But of course we don't wanna copy other teams' looks, so that won't go over well. But I don't get it, and I don't know what's great about it.
Now, all you Canucks fans out there, and lots of you read this blog, feel free to try to persuade me.
I've always been a fan of the Canucks Yellow, Black and Red jersey's from the Pavel Bure days. I think they should go back to those colours.
Kevin Y: A Canuck is another term from a Canadian. So even though i dont like the stick in rink logo it does show some meaning of the word.
The first mockup would look much better without the dumb vertical/underarm striping. Put traditional horizontal hem striping on it and you've got a winner.
I love how people are willing to try every single color for this sad franchise. I want to know if there are any colors that have not been tried or actually worn for that matter. I think the V eating the Johnny Canuck head logo will be it for a couple years, only to have them completely overhaul their identity again in time for the next Winter Olympics.
Does a winter classic jersey need to be from the depth of the teams history vault? (aka Blackhawks, Bruins, Wings) One that not many people have seen or even remember until they see it? It can't be a newly created jersey, can it? The problem is, the Canucks have already used up everything in their vault, numerous times. I say have the game in Calgary, and have the Flames play in the old Atlanta flames throwbacks against a Nordique-esque Avalanche team....but in a few years once the Flames figure out how to solve Anderson....
Being a long-time Canuck fan, I always enjoy seeing new Vancouver concepts. Because this franchise has had multiple identities, fans are going to be divided on what look fits the Canucks the best. I do agree with Chris. The Johnny Canuck V would make a great primary crest. However, my number one preference is the full-body Johnny Canuck. I also like the current alternates with the updated Stick in Rink. Among those three logos, whatever the Canucks choose as their long-term primary crest, I will be happy with any one of the three. Just as long as the Orca is gone and that there is a future green alternate.
As for the design, keep the horizontal stripes. Shoulder yokes are more than welcome. And please, bring back the traditional block-style numerals. The current numerals designed in the team's font don't stand out that well.
Said it before and I'll say it again, the V eating Johnny Canuck is a hideous logo and has no place anywhere. Let alone front and center. The concept of the 80s-90's jerseys remade as Edge cuts are fantastic. The spaghetti-skate was the best logo the team has ever had and needs to revert to it again.
I hate johnny canuck, chicagos and LAs 3rd, everything ever done by detroit. I love everything else chicago does, love LA, phx and SJSs look, pittsburghs weird 90s triangle thing, and I happen to like the slug (its not as good as the new/old logo).
What's with Ryan Haslett and vintage white?
I don't see the Skate logo coming back Ian. Excellent logo from the glory days but it's time to move on.
I agree with Andre's selections but I also have a longshot hope that ownership considers new, different Johnny Canuck designs as well. I can only dream....
Kevin Y, if the Canucks were to go with "text" logo I would suggest the VC logo. Not going to happen though.
That Winter Classic proposal just looks like a sweat stained unwashed white jersey
The Johnny Canuck V is the best logo the Canucks have ever had -besides the original Johnny Canuck logo from the 50's. It's simple, bold, and iconic. The V itself is pretty unique in sports and fits with Vancouver's pro hockey logo history.
The Canucks should stick with the V, rink, and Skating Johnny and be done with it. All of the other logos are just bad experiments and corporate marks that really have nothing to do with the name of the team.
As for these concepts none of them are particularly exciting and none really fit with the Canucks brand.
The Red/Orange jersey, sublimated gradients notwithstanding, was one of my favorites and I believe sports a #1 "McLean" in my closet.
However, when looking at these well-done sets, I see there's the matching red/orange socks to go with it... which are actually historically not correct. The Canucks actually wore all black socks when wearing those thirds, creating a very unique effect in which all the color was above the crest and descended into black from the chest down. It was just different.
@ Six Zero
You're correct as far as the black socks go for 95-96.
But in 96-97 the Cancuks changed to a red sock for the red/black jersey.
www.nhluniforms.com will have the information for you.
Yes, please have the Flames play the Avalanche for the outdoor classic. The Canucks would be wise not to waste a rare outdoor game on a dump like Mcmahon Stadium or put their brand in the hands of a terribly sub-standard marketing department.
Just to be clear.....the other Jared in the coments is not me....I wouldn't mind seeing the vintage white in a WC...nice concept Ryan.
These designs by Ryan Broda are flat-out spectacular, in my opinion! In my idea of a perfect NHL, I now know what the Canucks will be wearing.
A new Canucks design doesn't mean it has to be a new jersey. Granted I like most of these, Vancouver's current jersey template fits perfectly; it's simple and in my opinion, it is the best look they ever had--excluding the atrocious whale with "VANCOUVER" above it. Replace the orca logo with a Johnny C. That'd be an instant classic.
I don't have the artwork to back it up, unfortunately. So hopefully someone can come up with the actual concepts. However, I was thinking of this:
1. The home jersey: The full-body Johnny Canuck on an all-navy blue uniform with green shoulder yokes with white trimming. The yokes are solid but with a point at the ends. The JC-V is the shoulder patch. The rest of the jersey uses the same templete as the current alternate with the modern Stick in Rink. Note There is navy in the full-body JC logo.
2. The away white jersey: Same crest, shoulder patch, and templete as the home jersey, but with navy blue shoulder yokes with green trimming.
3. The alternate jersey: The Johnny Canuck V on a green sweater with the same templete as the home and away, but without the yokes. The Stick in Rink is the shoulder patch. The navy helmets and pants are used for this look.
4. The vintage jersey: The current royal blue alternate with the Stick in Rink crest and JC-V shoulder patch.
Even though there will be many Canucks fans who would be screaming for a return to the black, yellow, and red Speeding Skate(and I LOVED that logo as well) and who could blame them('82 & '94), but using the current non-Orca logos for the home, away, alternate, and vintage is the way to go. It's keeping the colours consistant with the Canucks and with the city of Vancouver. They also contain elements from past logos. For example, the full-body JC holds a stick and wears skates(Stick and Skate logos). The JC-V has a connection to the Millionaries' V and at respectable distance, the Flying V. And the modern Stick in Rink is a tribute to the original Stick in Rink uniforms.
Therefore, in my book, these concepts would end the Canucks' identity crisis once and for all while at the same time, containing elements in connection to past logos. Cheers!