Friday: Fall Fun

Hey y'all and welcome to another Friday post here at HJC.  It's the last week of October and it's finally dipped below 80 degrees here in Georgia, so it's starting to really feel like fall again.  I love it, because I finally feel like hockey season is here, it just doesn't feel right watching a hockey game while sweating in gym shorts and a t-shirt.

In terms of voting news, we have the regular COTW vote for October 20-26 as well as entries for the LA Kings ReDesign contest, both of which are due Friday at noon EST.  Additionally, we are still looking for a new social media admin, so apply here to join our team so you can be one of the cool kids.  We also still have stickers with our sleek new logo up for sale here.

 COTW Oct 20-26 vote (ends Friday @ noon EST) 

 LA Kings ReDesign Comp entries (due Friday @ noon EST) 

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Now on to today's concepts!

Ben S.- Columbus Blue Jackets

Our first concept today is a Blue Jackets design from one of our newer writers, Ben S.  I love the use of the pointed extended yoke as the Ohio state flag.  They certainly love their triangular flag, and it's a great way to tie in the state identity with a design that works well on a hockey uniform.  The use of a more simplistic striping pattern was a good call with such a busy design in the yoke.  The breezers and socks look great, and you did a good job on the nightmare that is the Adizero collar.  I only really have two problems with this concept.  First, the silver stripe gets lost in the white on the away jersey, it's just too close to the shade of white.  Second, I'm not sure about the use of the "Ohio" script on the helmets, as it's not actually a part of the team's identity.  That may just be nitpicking, but that's what I'm here for.  Final verdict: a fresh new look for CBJ, who badly need an update. 9/10

Brooks F.- Team Antarctica

 Our next concept of the day is Brooks F., with a design for Team Antarctica in the fictional Continents Cup.  I really like the idea of this series and can't wait to see the other entries, I love when designers take an idea and turn it into a unique project series.  I like the choice of light blue and white as the main colors, it reminds me of a frozen tundra, which is very appropriate for Antarctica (even though it is technically not a tundra, but a frozen desert).  The use of black does a great job of breaking up the white and blue, which otherwise might blend together.  The numbers on the back are colored perfectly so that they do not blend in with the chest stripe, and the names are done well too.  The script on the front works well above the outline logo, especially since I just realized that I have no idea what the continent of Antarctica actually looks like.  Love the contrasting cuffs, it's such a little thing that adds so much to the striping pattern.  Gear all looks good.  Only thing I can think is maybe recolor the shoulder patch on the home so it pops a little more.  Other than that, I really can't find anything that I don't like about this one.  Final verdict: a great entry in a great series.  9.5/10 and my COTW NOMINEE!!!!!

Cole W.- Brandon Wheat Kings

Next up is Cole W. with a design for the Brandon Wheat Kings.  The light set is pretty much a carbon copy of what they wear now, so no sense reviewing that.  The dark set differs slightly from their current aways in an attempt to coincide more with the design of the home.  As explained on the concept, Cole replaced the half arm stripe with a phantom yoke that brings it more into line with the home whites.  While I can't say that I like Brandon's current set, I can't say that I'm a fan of this set either.  While it is more consistent across the two jerseys, it just comes out looking boring.  Personally, I can't wait until Brandon breaks out these bad boys again.  Sure, they're a little out there, but they're unique and minor league hockey is the perfect place for a uniform like that.  Final verdict: not much changed across the set, and what has is a downgrade.  5/10

Vaughn R.- Olds Grizzlys

Our final entry of the day is Vaughn R.'s latest design from his AJHL series, this time for the Olds Grizzlys.  While I am a fan of using yellow for a light jersey, I don't like that this is essentially the Bruins' '58-'59 jersey with a slightly altered yoke.  That being said, the design works much better on the dark jersey because it no longer looks like a copy.  It keeps essentially the same striping pattern, but a slight tweak really makes it its own.    The alternate is my favorite of the three, I really like the minimal striping that still somehow looks so bold.  I like the gear, but I would have gone with a breezer striping that better matched the pattern on the black jersey.  Final verdict: not a bad design, but nothing too spectacular either.  7/10

That's all for me today, see y'all next week!