While I try in vain to find time to update other parts of Icethetics, I'm thrilled to tell you that the KractIce project continues to move forward! Head on over there and learn about how your T-shirt designs could win you up to $150 in IceJerseys.com gift certifcates and other prizes.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my previous post! The Montreal Canadiens' released Centennial jersey event list via their 2009-10 season pocket schedule. See it here, courtesy of Dante_X.
Five nights during this campaign will be dedicated to old-time Montreal hockey sweaters, and they are scheduled to be worn as follows.
Let me point out the irony is not lost on me that the Habs will don the scary striped jersey on Halloween night. Speaking of which, in case you're not up on your Canadiens history and you don't know your 1909 jersey from your 1910 jersey, here's a quick refresher.
1912-13 centennial jersey
1909-10 centennial jersey
1910-11 centennial jersey
Personally, I can't wait to see the latter two. Not sure which one I like better. They're just so unlike anything else in the NHL these days. Shame we have to look back a century to find quality hockey sweaters.
By the way, Icethetics reader and Habs fan Adam makes a good point. The actually 100th anniversary date — December 4 — isn't listed as a Centennial jersey night. Makes you wonder if they have something else entirely up their sleeve that night as they face the Bruins. (I wish the Bs would sport that Winter Classic sweater a month early.)
Anyway, thanks again to those of you who contributed to this post. I'm adding the special dates to the calendar now.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have released their third jersey schedule for 2009-10. The powder blue sweater will make its season debut when the Pens take on the Lightning this Saturday and be worn 11 other times throughout the season, including twice on the road.
Here's the full schedule, which comes from the Penguins' web site.
The Pens aren't the only ones who've recently released a special sweater schedule. I'm working on getting confirmation for the Montreal Canadiens' centennial jersey nights for this season. Can anyone help with that?
We're taking another stab at the Icethetics Season Preview with a look at a variety of mostly horrendous minor league jerseys for 2009-10. We'll begin with the bigger leagues.
In the AHL, the Rochester Americans will be pulling out an old classic to be worn as a third jersey.
;)
Rochester Americans' 3rd jersey
I don't know if it's better or worse than what Montreal did to us last season. As mentioned previously on Twitter, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers will take to the ice looking like the old Islanders all year.
;)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers' new uniforms
Their new home and road jerseys are modeled after the Isles' new throwback third. Hopefully the big league club will join them soon.
In the ECHL, the Stockton Thunder recently unveiled their new third jersey.
;)
Yeah, if that's not bad enough, the lightning bolt motif is even making its way into the SPHL. The Mississippi Surge will wear these this year.
Mississippi Surge uniforms
The Dayton Gems have also released designs for four different jerseys that will be used for 2009-10. There are home, road, alternate and retros. For a league that probably plays four games a year, it's probably a little much. But wait until you see them.
;)
;)
I'd be embarrassed to wear that in front of the home crowd. At least black road jersey has some interesting striping. That yellow jersey is just horrible.
;)
Here's the third to the left. Very reminiscent of our favorite Reebok Edge designs, what with the interrupted striping, curvy tails and the team name printed across the ass.
The retro's not that much better.
;)
They've hidden most of the logo in the picture anyway.
I have to finish up by going back to the AHL. I saved this one intentionally. I've seen teams wear patches to commemorate a championship victory. But I have never seen an entire sweater dedicated to blatantly bragging about it.
;)
Way to go, Hershey Bears, for being the first.
That is all I have to say on that. Feel free to share your opinions below.
Being sick is not fun. I'm certainly glad to be back. The good news is that the season has started so most of you probably haven't even missed me.
All right, so since I haven't updated the site in a week, there's a lot to catch up on. I'll try not to overlook anything, but it's inevitable. We'll start with your favorite — third jersey news.
First, another rendering of the Colorado Avalanche's forthcoming third jersey has surfaced.
;)
Avalanche's new third jerseyWhile surfing the web, Icethetics reader Colin stumbled across this graphic, which gives us a better look at the Avs' new alternate. It's not a bad looking jersey, though I am surprised they chose not to try something new.
It's a blue version of the burgundy third introduced in 2001, in service until the Age of Reebok in 2007.
The main difference is the addition of a burgundy shoulder yoke and the lack of any striping around the base of the sweater. The primary logo will still appear on the shoulders.
Still no word yet on when the team plans to launch the new sweater or even make official mention of it in any way. All information about it so far has been coming through the media.
That brings us to the Florida Panthers, who are in kind of the same boat. After a summer of silence, I'm now getting mixed reports on whether they will even have a third this season.
However, various sources have me convinced there will in fact be a new sweater in the Cats' arsenal this fall. For one thing, it's available for pre-order on some web sites.
According to the latest round of rumors, the Panthers are set to unveil the new alternate sweater sometime this month, with its on-ice and store shelf debut scheduled for November. I'll keep an eye and ear out for any new information.
It's all speculation of course, but my guess is they'll be red and feature the stick-breaking panther logo on the front, as seen above. Technically, I live in the Panthers' market so I may even see something on TV.
I suppose the biggest newsmaker of the week would have to be Buffalo Sabres when managing partner Larry Quinn went on the radio and told everyone the club is scrapping their jerseys once again.
Charlie at Sabres Not Slugs has a report, which includes a link to the WGR 550 audio interview in question. In it, Quinn confirms that new uniforms are on the way in 2010.
"We have the 40th anniversary next fall," Quinn says. "We will have a permanent uniform change and a new third jersey."
Of course the word "permanent" is used loosely in Buffalo of a team enduring its fourth uniform in as many decades. However, Quinn assures us that fans will not be disappointed this time around and that a return to the classic look is indeed coming.
He says it "probably won't be [released] until next summer." Icethetics will have coverage.
He doesn't say specifically what they'll look like — whether we should expect versions of the current third or something more like the true vintage worn at the 2008 Winter Classic — but it's a safe bet that the slug is on its way out the door.
As a side note, I would guess that the Canucks might have a similar plan in pushing the 40th anniversary celebration back a year so that they can call it the 40th season (damn lockout). Wonder if they too will make a "permanent" uniform change. So many similarities between Buffalo and Vancouver.
So much news to cover still. Although this may barely pass as news, it's a win for all of you who loathe the Age of Reebok. Slowly their fist of stone is being chipped away. Both the Flames and Senators have done away with the socks whose stripes don't go all the way around the calves.
;)
Senators get new socks
Icethetics reader Ryan has provided this side-by-side comparison (right) of Jason Spezza last year to this year.
Notice they've even changed the design of the stripes. I thought last year's worked better because of the similarity to the stripes in the "O" patch on the shoulder.
As you can see, real stripes are back in. This leaves just a single team wearing those other socks — my team, the Lightning. Oh well, it works for them. (What else can I really say?)
And since we're on the topic of socks, my previous report on the Calgary Flames came merely from a video game — NHL 10 to be precise.
It's time to take a look at the real things in action. Look no further — here are the Flames in preseason action against the Islanders.
;)
Flames get new socks as well
Yes, that is Theo Fleury. Poor guy. (Well, not really.) He's also got that laughable 30th anniversary patch on his shoulder there.
But despite all the bad Calgary Flames news, there's some good as well. The 2009-10 NHL season opened this past Thursday with the Flames taking to the ice against the Canucks looking like they haven't in 15 years!
It was the debut of their new retro jersey — which only sees action in four more games this season — one of which is tomorrow. Now this is a hockey jersey!
;)
They're not just celebrating a goal — they're happy about their jerseys too
I like they there were no compromises with either the socks or pants. Flames fans, as I said, you have four more chances to see these in person. If I were you, I wouldn't miss them.
I'm sure there are things I've missed, but I will get to them this week. This should hold you over for now.
Friday · Oct 16 · 2009 | 11:44 AM PDT