A Capital Idea: W.C. in D.C.

Caps vs Rangers, please!Think of Ovi in a beanie toque. (I'm a Floridian. We don't really wear them here.)

The New England Hockey Journal is spreading rumors that Washington, D.C. could be up next to host the Winter Classic.

An article posted February 20 cites the ever-eager anonymous source, who also claims the Pittsburgh Penguins could be back in outdoor action just four years after their first foray. Let me be the first to say I would be horribly disappointed by that.

I would love to see the Caps host a Winter Classic. Despite their placement in the Southeast Division, it gets plenty cold there. Americans bore witness to the fury of the D.C. winter when the government actually shut down for snow days. Plus, they deserve it, according to the Journal's Kirk Luedeke.

I can tell you that there were a lot of disappointed folks in the nation's capital last summer when it became known that the Bruins' opponent would be the Philadelphia Flyers, so this should soothe the hurt feelings a bit if/when it becomes official.

But I'm not wild about Sidney Crosby getting another parade. It's funny, my wife can't stand him. She's just barely a hockey fan and even she knows he's overhyped. (An incredibly talented player, obviously, I'm just not sure why he gets all the praise.) On the other hand, she can't get enough of watching Alex Ovechkin. And neither can I.

So assuming the rumors are true, who should Ovi and the Caps face on January 1, 2011? It simply must be the New York Rangers. How is it that the NHL's most famous franchise has been left out of the league's biggest event? And while Canada rings in 2011 with their own outdoor game in Calgary, let Americans bask in the flood of red, white and blue in our nation's capital. What could be more fitting?

And if it's names the NHL wants, forget Crosby. Consider Ovechkin and Semin going nose to nose with Gaborik and Lundqvist. An epic winter battle in another American ballpark, to be sure.

That's really all I have to say on the subject. I'm sure you guys all have opinions of your own and I'd love to hear them. Feel free to share them below.

Scott Walker #24But first, just before the Caps edged out my Bolts tonight, the boys from D.C. skated out in camouflage for warm-ups. You can see what new Cap Scott Walker thinks of it. It's written all over his face.

Actually, the best comment on these jerseys probably came from Tampa Tribune beat writer Erik Erlendsson, who tweeted this tonight:

Not what those jerseys are the #Caps are wearing tonight for warmups, but I'm getting dizzy tryiing to figure out what they are????

He followed up with a clarification from his Washington Post counterpart.

According to @TarikElBashir those are military jerseys and will be auctioned off to military charities; look more like hunting fatigues tho

The Blackhawks and Ducks did the same thing earlier this season, wearing exactly the same jerseys. Only the logos and numbers have been changed. Reebok's taking care of everybody.

By the way, I've got minor league jersey and logo news to come. So keep an eye out for that. Also... I might finally explain the cryptic messages that keep appearing on the blog and Twitter. Hmm...

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Icethetics makes old school new again. 3.8.10

Snow Day for Caps' 35th Patch

Caps' 35th anniversary logoBy now, some of you may have noticed that the Washington Capitals did not, in fact, wear the special 35th anniversary patches we were promised tonight. The previously scheduled auction did not happen either.

The Caps and MeiGray, the group organizing the event, decided to postpone things until after the apocalyptic snowstorm bearing down on the capital city this weekend.

Icethetics reader Drew tells me that MeiGray sent out an email earlier today informing fans of the postponement. It reads as follows:

Due to the impending heavy snowstorm, the Capitals and MeiGray have postponed the 35th season commemorative patch celebration night and auction until Saturday, March 6, when the Caps play the NY Rangers at Verizon Center.

The auction will run as planned in the building on March 6, and we will keep the pre-auction bidding open until Friday, March 5.

If you've already placed a pre-bid, it will remain valid. If you cannot attend the game, but want to bid on a jersey, you now have a month to do so.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us toll-free at 888-463-4472, or e-mail us at sales@meigray.com.

So the 35th anniversary celebration gets a snow day. We'll revisit this in a month.

One thing does not have an answer yet, however. I'm waiting to hear from any Icethetics readers who braved the storm tonight to make it to the game. Were those classic jerseys on display, as previously announced? Or are we postponing that to March as well?

Special Jersey Caps 35 Seasons

A week from Friday, the Washington Capitals will celebrate their 35th anniversary with a special one-game-only commemorative jersey.

The details of the big night — which is February 5 — were just released yesterday via the team's official web site. However, the release does not go into particulars with regard to the jersey itself. Only that it's red (probably meaning it's the regular sweater with a special patch).

Caps 35th Anniversary LogoThe Washington Capitals will be wearing a special, one-game-only set of red jerseys containing a unique 35th season commemorative patch when they take on the Atlanta Thrashers Friday, Feb. 5 at Verizon Center. Fans attending the game can leave the arena that night with their favorite Capitals player's one-of-a-kind, game-worn jersey.

It will be Game-Worn Jersey Night in Verizon Center, as MeiGray and the Capitals will be hosting a special exhibit at Section 119 in the concourse: 35 Seasons of Capitals' Game-Worn Jerseys. 

On display will be jerseys worn throughout the years by the Caps, including jerseys worn during the team's inaugural 1974-75 NHL season, jerseys worn during the 10th anniversary and 20th anniversary seasons. There will be jerseys on display that were once worn by Bob Carpenter, Mike Gartner, Dale Hunter, Rod Langway, Scott Stevens and many more.

I imagine that is going to be one kick-ass display. If you've got tickets and a digital camera, we'd love to see what they have set up. And we'd be forever in your debt.

I plan to set up a jersey gallery in the Specialty Jerseys section over the weekend following the game if you're interested in seeing what it looks like. Speaking of which, let's start the speculation. What will this red jersey look like?

If the Caps are going for the "heritage" look, they don't have many options. They spent their first 20 years in the original red, white and blue and never really changed the jerseys. It's probably safe to assume that 1974 sweater with the white shoulder yokes will be making a one-time-only comeback  (however, let's hope they don't opt for white pants).

Or could they be planning something entirely different? You'll notice that 35th anniversary logo (above) contains only the secondary Weagle logo that we love so much. Could this special jersey be more of a tribute to the next 35 years? Perhaps hinting at a future where the wordmark is a thing of the past?

We'd love to hear some more theories. Post yours below.

Update on Saturday · Feb 6 · 2010 | 8:57 PM PST by Chris

Yeah, so this didn't happen as scheduled. Postponed to March 6. Want to know why? Click here.

Sweater Switch '09: Part 6

Turns out the Sweater Switch series isn't quite over just yet. I realized there were some pictures I hadn't yet posted. Since it's been so long, for those of you who don't know, the Sweater Switch series is here to give you a first look at players wearing their new uniforms for 2009-10.

First, obviously, Alex Tanguay. He officially signed with my Tampa Bay Lightning back on September 1 and posed for photos with coach Rick Tocchet and GM Brian Lawton.

Rick Tocchet, Alex Tanguay and Brian Lawton

Tanguay opted for the No. 13 sweater this season, same as he wore last year in Montreal. But as he pointed out in the press conference, Tanguay's preferred number is 18. It's what he wore with the Flames from 2006 to 2008. Adam Hall has that one locked up in Tampa.

However, Tanguay may be best known for his No. 40 jersey, which he donned throughout his tenure with the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche. Another Adam (Deadmarsh) had No. 18 back then.

Mike KomisarekMike Komisarek, one of a handful of new Toronto Maple Leafs has selected No. 8, as you can see in the photo to the right.

No surprises there as it's the same number he wore for six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. Can't say what its significance is.

The last guy for Part 6 is Mike Knuble, who joined the Washington Capitals this offseason after four years in Philadelphia. As you can see in the picture below, he will keep the No. 22 sweater he wore with the Flyers.

Knuble began his career with No. 22 in Detroit for two seasons followed by two more with the Rangers. He then strayed for five years between 1999 and 2004, wearing the No. 26 jersey in Boston. At the time he joined the Bruins, Mikko Eloranta had No. 22.

Mike Knuble

If you guys can track down any new pictures before the season starts, I may be able to get in one more Sweater Switch post before the highly anticipated Icethetics Season Preview! (Kidding, no one's anticipating it.)

One more note. I have new concept art on the way. Look for it to be posted Tuesday or Wednesday.

Sweater Switch '09: Part 5

The long-dormant Sweater Switch series wraps up tonight more than a month after the previous installment. I was holding out, waiting for one more picture to pop up, but no. We will have to settle for just two.

I mentioned these guys in Part 3, but now the Montreal Canadiens have put their new quintet in front of cameras together. Travis Moen, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri and Paul Mara all donning their bleu, blanc et rouge.

New Habs pose for a group photo

You can find the stories behind their chosen numbers in Part 3. I won't bother to re-hash it here.

The other picture I have shows new Capital Brendan Morrison with his new No. 9 Washington jersey.

Brendan Morrison

Morrison is returning to the No. 9 sweater he wore when he made his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils in the 1997-98 season. In 2000, he became a Canuck and switched to No. 7 as Brad May had No. 9. Morrison kept that jersey throughout his tenure in Vancouver and even last season when he joined the Ducks. After being claimed by the Stars late in the season, he switched to No. 11.

If I've missed any good Sweater Switch photo ops, let me know and I'll add them to this post.