Next Winter Classic: Revisited

The Winter Classic at Fenway Park was nothing short of classic. It's such an awesome tradition and there's no shortage of opinions on who should play in future outdoor games. Since the last concept post, a few other artists have submitted some interesting ideas. I have a pair here I thought worth sharing before we move on to a new concept topic.

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Brad McPelican

Brad writes in with an idea for a New Year's Day game not in 2011 but in 2014. He calls it the Canadian Classic. It would feature the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks (playing as the Millionaires) at Frank Clair Stadium in Ontario. It may seem a bit unusual, so I'll let him explain. He wrote a very long proposal which I have actually edited way down for your convenience. All the key details are intact. There was a time when the Stanley Cup was a challenge cup exclusively for Canadian clubs and in the Canadian Classic, I would like to relive that era. The contest I find would be the best is one between Ottawa and Vancouver. Both cities currently are home to NHL franchises who have never won the Stanley Cup but, in hockey's early days, had taken home the prize as two of the nation's finest teams. What makes this game even more special is that — 100 years earlier, in 1914-15 — the Vancouver Millionaires played in a best-of-five series in Vancouver and won the Cup. It was the last time the Stanley Cup would be exclusive to the best Canadian team — with the Portland Rosebuds joining the PCHA. This series was the last truly Canadian challenge for the Stanley Cup, which I think is pretty special. As for the jerseys and event logo, I tried to make them as classic and as true to their time as possible. The logo was designed to look like the old team championship pictures and features vintage colors. The jerseys, on the other hand, are almost exactly what they wore — refitted for Reebok Edge jerseys of course — with Ottawa wearing brown pants and Vancouver wearing white ones. You might notice as well that their are no names on the back of the jerseys. This is to be true to the times, not a mistake. If that game doesn't satisfy traditionalists, nothing could. By the way, just wanted to point out (because I know someone will) that the nameplates on NHL jerseys are currently part of NHL regulations and would probably require an Act of Bettman to sidestep. And he hates Canada.

John B

Obviously this one is just meant to be for fun. You could call it Winter Classic Freak Out. While my little corner of Florida has been atypically cold the last couple of days, there's clearly no way it could sustain a sheet of ice outdoors. But as a Lightning fan, this was a fun concept to look at and muse on. As long as the Winter Classic is around, I don't ever imagine the Bolts or Panthers getting a shot at it. It will forever be reserved for teams who play where outdoor ice is a viable option. John does have some interesting artwork here but I'm just not sure these "classic" jersey designs really work. Tampa hockey club? An F with cat ears and a tail? I'll pass. The icing on the cake probably has to be the Winter Classic-themed surfboard design. Thanks to John for giving us a laugh.

Thanks to all the artists who sent in their ideas for future Winter Classics.

Comments

[maddmatt]

via your twitter asking which one is good and which one was bad....they both blow, IMO.

[Andrew K]

Obviously the Tampa is brutal. The Ottawa vs Vancouver is brutal too. I wouldn't want to watch a game where teams were wearing ANY of these jerseys no matter how nostalgic they are.

[Curtis]

Canadian Classic...GREAT IDEA! This would be such an amazing tribute for those great teams of old. Somebody should pitch this idea to the NHL!

I think they might have a bit of trouble getting rights to the Millionaires jerseys since the Vancouver Giants wore them in a game last year. If I recall, didn't the Giants get the rights to the old Millionaires team? Might be a problem down the road but I might be wrong.

Funny freak-out concept too, the only way we'd see an Outdoor game in Florida is if it was on a hard surface and the players wore roller blades instead of skates. They' also need a different type of puck.

[Wes]

Please take this down before Bettman sees it. Who knows how far he'll go to sell the game to the south.

[Jeannette]

Actually, Curtis.. That wouldn't be a bad idea... Roller blades Hockey... Perfect for the south... LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning on street hockey!

[Jeannette]

Actually, Curtis.. That wouldn't be a bad idea... Roller blades Hockey... Perfect for the south... LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning on street hockey! Imagine the players checking against the wire fence panel (instead of glass panel).

[Robert48124]

This is better then the lightning jerseys they wear now.

[Lanaudiere]

Great idea the canadian winter classic. I just want to tell that the ancient Senators already won the cup several times in the 10's and 20's. About 5 to 7 Stanley Cups, I don't remember the exact number. :)

[Tyler]

That Sens/Canucks idea is absolutely badass. So awesome. It has every element that one could want. The Rangers/Islanders thing is for sure gonna happen. And there'll probably be another Canadian team playing one in the interim, but that 2014 idea is beyond awesome. Everything about it. Perfection.