Canucks 3rd Jersey Sked

The Vancouver Canucks will wear their third jerseys 15 times in the 2009-10 campaign. Canucks Hockey Blog posted the schedule today but didn't cite a source so I'm not sure from where this information originates. Still, why would they make it up?

Canucks fans, mark your calendars. Here is this season's third jersey schedule:

• Wed., October 7 - vs Canadiens
• Sat., October 24 - vs Maple Leafs
• Tues., November 3 - vs Rangers
• Sun., November 22 - vs Blackhawks
• Sun., November 29 - vs Sharks
• Thurs., December 10 - vs Thrashers
• Wed., December 16 - vs Ducks
• Sat., December 26 - vs Oilers
• Sat., January 9 - vs Flames
• Sat., January 16 - vs Penguins
• Mon., January 25 - vs Sabres
• Sat., March 13 - vs Senators
• Sat., March 20 - vs Red Wings
• Tues., March 30 - vs Coyotes
• Tues., April 6 - vs Avalanche

Every night of the week but Friday gets its shot with the alternate. 

In case you missed it, the Thrashers also announced their third jersey schedule.

Devils Going Green!

Green is slowly but surely sneaking back into the NHL in the Age of Reebok. The New Jersey Devils will join the throwback club this season as they don their original green-infused sweaters for one night only this season.

The report came earlier tonight on the team's official web site, saying the special sweaters would be worn on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, March 17, 2010 when the Devs host division rival Pittsburgh Penguins. President/CEO/GM Lou Lamoriello has long said his team would not wear a third jersey on his watch — which is why I think many of us are surprised by this announcement.

Brendan Shanahan"The original red, green, and white jerseys are a part of our history here in New Jersey," said Lamoriello. "We have always been an organization that takes great pride in its tradition. This is something we believe our fans will enjoy for that one special night."

The original red, green, and white jerseys were worn for 800 regular-season and 40 playoff contests from the team’s inception in 1982 through the 1992 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Jersey’s Team has worn red, black, and white since 1992-93, and both sweaters have featured a stylized “NJ” on the chest.

They're not kidding. The Devils had been the last remaining NHL franchise without any kind of alternate jersey — ever. The Red Wings were considered by many to be part of that group, but their throwbacks both in 1992 and at last year's Winter Classic kept New Jersey isolated in my book.

Everyone wants to make a buck — especially in economic times like these. While the article on the site doesn't address the sale of these "one-time-only" jerseys, I'm betting you'll be able to find them in stores in no time.

Switching gears now to the Nashville Predators. I've heard through multiple sources, including Icethetics readers Brandon and Ben that the Preds sent a note to season tickets holders about third jerseys.

The information is rather vague at this point, saying that the jerseys would be revealed in November. No word yet on whether that date refers to a public unveiling, on-ice debut, or both. I'll let you know if I hear anything else.

Preds owner David Freeman previously said the team's new third jersey will likely be revealed publicly in September. He described it as a very traditional-looking jersey, with a design that "came purely from some of the original six teams."

Just keep in mind that the original report out of Minnesota was that the Wild's new third jersey would be unveiled in mid-September. Now, not only has it leaked, but it's going to be officially made public two weeks earlier.

Wild 3rd Jersey Leaked!

We're getting our first look this morning at the Minnesota Wild's brand new third jersey — just five days before the official unveiling. The new sweaters are scheduled to make their public debut on Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair. Icethetics has a sneak peek right now.

Minnesota Wild new third jerseyI believe this is Brent Burns modeling the new sweater here to the right (correct me if I'm wrong). The photo is part of the background image on the Wild's forthcoming redesigned web site. Since the jersey won't be unveiled until Sunday, the new site will have to wait at least until then. 

Meantime, this is what we've been hearing about from the Wild and it's hard not to be impressed. As I said, Minnesota was the team I felt had the farthest to fall in terms of third jerseys for 2009. They have such a great (albeit short) history that it would've been very easy to ruin this one.

The minute amount of red works in its favor. We wanted a green sweater and we got a green sweater. The striping is dead-on, reminiscent of the 2004 All-Star jersey. And the only thing I might change is probably the thin piping around the shoulders.

Aside from that, I don't think there's anything else to improve. It's what most of us were hoping for. Easy on the red, heavy on the green.

By the way, so you have an idea where this came from, here is the full background image that will be featured on the new site — probably next week.

Wild's new web site background

Got an opinion on the Wild's new third? Share it in the comments. And check back on Sunday for more photos from the official unveiling.

Update on Tuesday · Aug 25 · 2009 | 9:52 PM PDT by Chris

While not mentioned by name, Icethetics was featured on Minneapolis TV tonight for the Wild third jersey leak.

Thanks to KSTP for the shoutout!

Update on Sunday · Aug 30 · 2009 | 12:43 PM PDT by Chris

This jersey has now been officially unveiled by the Wild. Click here for more photos and information.

Third Thursday

Quick note picked up from PuckDrawn via Twitter this morning.

The Atlanta Thrashers' web guy, Ben Wright, said yesterday that the team will be wearing the red third jersey exclusively for home games on Thursdays this season. Third Jersey Thursday, as he points out.

BenThrashers Thrashers red third jerseys will be worn exclusively on Thursdays this season. Third- Thursday. Nice and easy to remember, right?

He followed that up this morning with a reminder.

BenThrashers In case you missed it yesterday, the Thrashers will wear their red third jerseys exclusively for Thursday home games.

So mark your calendars — or not. I think the irony here is that this is on the of third jerseys people care about the least. In fact, it was recently the butt of a joke here on Icethetics.

Update on Saturday · Aug 22 · 2009 | 10:36 PM PDT by Chris

All the comments about how funny it would be if Thursday home games were rare this season got me thinking. I took a look at the Thrashers' season and I now have a full third jersey schedule for you. Ben said the third will be "exclusive" to Thursday home games. I'm assuming that also means "every" Thursday home game.

If so, here are the 12 games in which Atlanta will don those maroon duds this coming season. Fans, mark your calendars.

• October 22 - vs Capitals
• October 29 - vs Capitals
• November 5 - vs Blue Jackets
• November 19 - vs Bruins
• December 3 - vs Islanders
• December 17 - vs Stars
• January 7 - vs Rangers
• January 14 - vs Sabres
• January 21 - vs Hurricanes
• March 4 - vs Islanders
• March 18 - vs Senators
• March 25 - vs Maple Leafs

The Capitals will be subject to it twice in back-to-back Thursdays in the early part of the season. The Thrashers will save it for Ontario only as the season winds down.  Like the Caps, the Isles will also be treated to the red third jersey twice before the season's out.

If any other teams announce third jersey schedules, I'll be sure to post them for you.

Flames Leak 30th Logo?

Got some Calgary Flames news for you this afternoon on a couple of topics — their 30th anniversary and their brand new third jersey.

Icethetics reader Cody has sent in information on this first subject. According to Sportsnet.ca, the Flames aren't supposed to unveil their new 30th anniversary logo until September. However, it seems to have appeared briefly on the team's web site on Tuesday. An intentional effort to net a free but unsuspecting focus group or a simple mistake?

It is rumoured that the Calgary Flames will wear a new logo on occasion this year to commemorate its 30th NHL season.

The logo was expected to be officially unveiled in September, but it appeared on the team's web site on Tuesday. It is unknown for what games the new logo will appear.

Flames' 30th anniversary logo?The logo in question is apparently what you see here to the right.

There's no way to know at this point if this will be the 30th anniversary logo or if it's even a final version. If it is, I think it's safe to say the Oilers beat them on 30th logos — by a mile.

That's really all I have on that. This logo has been making its way around Flames fan sites and message boards since Tuesday but no one seems to have any definitive information.

Personally, I'm curious about that last line in the Sportsnet story. "It is unknown for what games the new logo will appear." If it's an anniversary logo, it should simply be a patch on the uniform for the whole season. I certainly hope there's no plan to put this on a third jersey.

Which brings me to the third jersey news. Last September, I posted this story — which appeared in the Calgary Sun. Basically, it was Flames president Ken King talking about the team's third jersey plans. King all but confirmed the new sweater to be black with a new crest — not the Flaming C — and that it would debut for the 2009-10 season. At the time he said it was 95% complete.

I'm now hearing from a couple of sources that this design is being replaced in favor of a retro look from the team's early days (no word if the Atlanta Flames logo will make a reappearance). It's possible the team is working on a white sweater devoid of any black. Those were the days.

I'll continue to follow these stories but keep in mind that we're less than a month away from getting some official news — which I always prefer anyway. Meantime, Calgary fans, were you wary of another black jersey? Excited about a vintage look? What about this 30th anniversary logo?

Update on Thursday · Aug 20 · 2009 | 2:20 PM PDT by Chris

Got a quick follow-up on the 30th anniversary logo thanks to the guys at the Calgarypuck Forums, specifically a user called alltherage. He's allegedly got a screenshot from the web site before the logo was removed. However, I can't vouch for the legitimacy of this image, so I post it with some hesitation.

As you can see, it's right there above Kiprusoff's head, but it's placed in such a way that would've made it easy to add later. That being said, the image was posted on Wednesday afternoon so it may well be real.

Did anyone else happen to see it before it was removed? Anyone else have a screenshot to share?

Update on Thursday · Aug 20 · 2009 | 6:23 PM PDT by Chris

One last update to this post before I put this topic to bed. Apparently, we have all seen this logo before right here on Icethetics and only Jared noticed. He pointed out that it was in a preview image I posted of the Flames' new web site almost a month ago. It just slid under the radar.

Early version of Flames' web site redesign

Turns out it was Photoshopped right into the rafters and I never even noticed. I think I was distracted by the burning hockey players. So there you have it. End of subject.