New Additions from Old Habits

My excitement leven when I check the tracking on a package containing a new jersey to add to my collection and see "Package Delivered" is on a level that is potentially embarrassing.

Since the sabbatical I took from HJC back in February of last year, I have added a few new additions to my jersey collection. I now proudly have a "jersey closet." Here are some of the contents:

• 2013 Nashville Predators customized gold jersey
• 2009-2011 Nashville Predators dark blue alternate jersey
• 2005-2007 Nashville Predators blue home jersey
• 2009-2011 Nashville Predators blue authentic home jersey
• 1998-2001 Nashville Predators white home jersey
• 2004 Atlanta Thrashers alternate jersey (numbered lot of 2004)
• 1994-1999 Boston Bruins Ray Bourque black authentic jersey
• 1996-2006 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim eggplant jersey
• 2010-2013 Buffalo Sabres Thomas Vanek dark blue authentic home jersey
• 1993-2007 Florida Panthers red jersey
• New York Rangers Wayne Gretzky CCM Vintage white replica jersey
• 2002-2004 Philadelphia Flyers Tony Amonte "3D" third jersey
• 1983 Team Sweden gold jersey
• Team USA 1980 "Miracle on Ice" K1 blue replica jersey
• 1988 CSKA-Moscow Sergei Fedorov white jersey
• Team Finland Teemu Selanne Lutch blue jersey

My collection has gone from nine to sixteen in a year. My wife probably thinks I'm absolutely crazy. I'm not counting the jerseys I have in other sports...

I remember the first jersey I had. It was a James Stewart Tennessee Volunteers jersey. I still have it. No name, just the number, as is the practice with publicly sold collegiate jerseys. I think I got in 1993, and wore it to school those early years. The ones I remember the most from my childhood were again football jerseys. I wore my Reggie White Green Bay Packers and Eddie George Tennessee Titans jerseys until they were hardly discernible. My mother recalls having to wash them both twice a week. I would insist on wearing them, and playing football in them, that often. 

My first hockey jersey was the 2000-07 Preds jersey listed above. I got it for Christmas in 2009. I wore it fairly often and loved how comfortable it was. It wasn't long before I wanted another one, and other one, and another one, and anot...

You get it. Otherwise you probably wouldn't be perusing this website.

So what was your first jersey, and what new additions have you all added to your collection? Get to that comments section.

Tampa Bay Lightning concept - Lucas D.

Positives: The Lightning ditched some of their brand character when they redesigned their jerseys now five years ago. While the new logo looks more modern, the jerseys are fairly bland. Lucas brings back black as a primary color, which I’m ok with. The striping on arms/hem looks good, balancing the colors nicely. Bringing back the “Victory Stripes” under the arms was a must. The white yoke looks great on the black jersey.

Negatives: The silver shading on the lightning bolt was an interesting detail, but doesn’t actually stand out much. You really don’t notice it at all unless you look very closely. The lightning bolts on the hem stripes though…I don’t like. It makes the set feel like it’s trying too hard, if that makes sense.

Overall: A well-executed TBL jersey set with some interesting details. (8/10)

Colorado Avalanche concept - Dylan T.

Positives: The Avalanche’s pre-Reebok jersey set was a popular design. Bringing that look back is not a bad idea. It has been done many, many times, but I understand why people want it back. It was very unique and fit the team and the state they represent. The template used here is fairly simplistic, but it does give you more freedom to create designs outside of the status quo.

Negatives: The numbers are scaled slightly larger than necessary. I think in the time I have written for HJC, I have reviewed more retro Avs concepts than anything else. There’s just nothing new offered here.

Overall: Adidas just goes straight back to CCM here. It’s not bad, but I really need to more creativity to be interested. (7/10)

Montreal Canadiens Alternate concept - Dylan T.

Positives: I think the Canadiens could really pull off a blue alternate. Putting the sleeve numbers on the shoulders was an interesting idea.

Negatives: The double-color outline of the crest is intriguing. I don’t think it works, though. Taking that off the jersey, it doesn’t make sense out of context. The numbers are oddly stretched, and a little rough with pixilation.

Overall: The Canadiens are not easy to create alternates for. The crest is the most unique thing here, but it really depends on its location on the chest stripe to make sense. Take the crest off the jersey (for example: promotional material or merchandise) and it loses the context it depends on. (6/10)

Charlottetown Islanders concept - Jonathan H.

Positives: I really love the texture detail on this template. The striping fits the crest perfectly, and the colors are balanced well.

Negatives: The jerseys really need sleeve numbers. Fonts for the name and number can really make or break a jersey set (just look at the 2016 All-Star jerseys before and after the number/name font were revealed). That’s a crucial detail that is omitted here. “Phantom yoke” striping is out of vogue.

Overall: Some good ideas, but lacking in necessary detail. (6/10)

Quebec Remparts concept - Jonathan H.

Positives: While Jonathan is far from the first person to think of putting a castle rampart (as we English-types call them) pattern on Quebec Remparts jersey, it still looks good. The striping is conservative, but it’s aesthetically pleasing. The tie-down collar can work here.

Negatives: Again, no sleeve numbers. I can’t emphasize enough that the number and name font is an important detail of a jersey’s overall design. I can’t give high marks to a jersey that doesn’t have them. At least there is not a “phantom yoke” here.

Overall: This is a good design. It just needs a more attention to detail. (6.5/10)

Jokerit Helsinki concept - Sasin R.

Positives: I struggle with Jokerit sets. I have a personal problem with yellow and red touching. It’s just a pet peeve of mine. Jokerit’s colors are all bright. Your eyes get no relief or balance with them. Execution is pretty good.

Negatives: The inside of the jersey should be blue instead of white on the predominately blue jersey. I say "predominately blue" because designs like these have almost too much color even on their white jerseys to classify one as a "light"jersey and one as a "dark jersey." It's very similar to the LA Kings Stadium Series jersey from last year, not that those were bad, but there's just too much color on that white jersey for me.

Overall: This is a pretty good set for Jokerit. I would try to find a way to dial back the amount of color on that white jersey, even if it meant changing the jersey template used. (7.5/10)

Chatham Maroons concept - Alan J.H. 

Positives: The striping is conservative, but looks good. It would look good on the ice. Execution is very good. No complaints there at all.Alan's been doing this for awhile and it shows in those details.

Negatives: From a practicality standpoint, a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Junior B-Level team is likely going to want simple, low-cost jerseys. These aren't really simple. These are almost too professional for that level. I would imagine that you would need to take off the number outlines, tie-down collar, pants stripes and shoulder patches to save on jersey production costs. Do GOJHL teams wear white helmets with their light jerseys? I would guess not (also to save on equipment costs).

Overall: It's a good set in theory, but I would worry about financial feasibility of it. (8/10) 

Before I wrap up this post, I must congratulate Ryan C. on winning the 2015 Concept of the Year Award! Ryan was just starting out during my first stint as HJC writer, and I must say that he has come a long way in that time, especially to win over a very excellent Stadium Series concept from Justin C.

On the subject of contests, here are the voting reminders for this week:

COTW-Jaunary vote (ends Friday @ 11:59pm EST)

COTW Jan 31-Feb 6 (ends Friday @ 11:59pm EST)

White Jersey Comp entries (due Friday @ 10:59pm EST)

See you all next time!