Time Traveling in Toronto
Tuesday · Jan 26 · 2010 | 10:03 PM PSTWhenever I put together a new concept art post, I often try to tie it all together with a theme of some kind. One of my more common themes is geography. Sometimes I'll take you on a virtual journey across the continent with a number of different teams. Tonight's theme focuses on one team and instead of traveling through space, how about time?
A handful of designers have reached back into history to come with their ideal versions of Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys — be they home, road or alternate. Now strap in. Don't want to lose anyone on the journey.
 Matt Marczel |
We begin with Matt's combination of present and recent past — though I use the term "past" loosely and you'll see why in a moment. These home and road Leafs jerseys are pretty much a hodgepodge of the last half-century — especially when it comes to the logos. For the primary logo, he's got the leaf introduced in 1966 with the text stylings that came about in 1970. The secondary/shoulder mark is based off of the leaf logo launched in 1938. And it looks to me like the T within it is borrowed from the TML shoulder patch which debuted in 2000. So that's a pretty good mix of history there. |
 Yoav Ickowicz |
The oldest thing in Matt's design dated back to 1938. Yoav Ickowicz wants to go back at least another decade. His Maple Leafs concept is based on the less-common 1928 logo. He's also gone with three stripes on the sleeves and bottom of the jersey instead of the usual two. It's great work and I sure hope we see more from Yoav in the future. |
 Ryan Haslett |
So maybe you thought 82 years was far enough back in time. As it stands, the Leafs themselves are only 84 years old. But you'd be wrong. Toronto's hockey history dates back much further than that, as Ryan demonstrates with his Toronto St. Pats concept. With the Devils dipping back into their past for green-infused uniforms this St. Patrick's Day, perhaps the Leafs might join them in something like this? Not to mention, I'm sure they'd sell like mad. |
 John B. |
Now this last one may have you puzzled. I sure am. The only way I can figure it, not only would you have to travel to another time, but also another dimension to find it. It's what I imagine someone from the 1950s would draw if you asked them to predict what the Maple Leafs would be wearing in 50 years. (Except that the CN Tower wouldn't come for another 20 years. Let's just look past that.) |
Man, I just gave myself a great idea. What if we started concept contest where we try to imagine/predict what teams would be wearing (or even exist) 50 or 100 years from now? I think it would yield some interesting artwork.
Reader Comments (12)
That'd be an amazing contest! I'd be down for some futuristic, spacey, bad science fiction interpretations. :)
I agree! Call it Mystery Sweater Theater 3000 LOL
That would be an interesting contest idea, Chris. Need something else to do, what with the failure of the IceHL.
Of course, teams like the Coyotes, Panthers, Predators, Thrashers, maybe the Islanders, and even the gulp Lightning won't exist anymore in 50 years.
The T in the first concept could also have been taken from the 1917 Toronto Arenas thus pushing the timeline further into the past.
The 1928 concept is awesome! I would love to see the Leafs wearing that all year long.
The Leafs already did wear St. Pats throwbacks for St. Patrick's Day several years ago. Shame if you missed it, they looked great!
http://media.photobucket.com/image/sundin%20toronto%20st%20pats/cdnuniguy/Maple%20Leafs/sundinstpats.jpg
@steve - that's right, i do recall the st pats jerseys, they wore them on st patrick's day in 03 and 04.
Also, I remember them wearing something similar to the 1928 jerseys that same year - was it 2003? I think it was during Wellwood's rookie year.
All I remember was that the jerseys had something like 7 stripes on each sleeve.. they were pretty crazy, but cool also. Does anyone have a pic of that?
The Leafs wore a 1928 inspired sweater for the Maple Leaf Gardens 65th anniversary in 1996/97. Here's Dougie rockin' the duds.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/gallery/enlargePhoto?id=3686919&story=3686832
And Felix Potvin. Glorious.
http://image56.webshots.com/156/4/59/73/429845973Zbshst_ph.jpg
I don't remember wellwood ever wearing anything like this, but maybe this is what you were thinking of Casey.
Now that contest would be interesting. I say go with it!
WOW. I would SO love to see that contest. Kind of like baseball's "Turn Ahead the Clock" promotion. I think that would be really cool.
Of course, not that I would design anything, seeing as how I don't know much about design, but that would be a blast. Now bring out the DeLorean!
Love the concept by Yoav. That's perfection in every detail, the throwback logo and the matching stripes. As for the green I think maybe have a green version of Yoav's design as a specialty jersey.
I beleive that the final concept is actually based on the Toronto city flag.