Wednesday: Hockey is for Everyone

Another Wednesday here at HJC and another day where I bring you the latest in jersey concepts from readers just like you! And with this month being celebrated by the NHL as "Hockey is for Everyone" Month, there have been great moments in this first full week of February that are already touching. The You Can Play Nights I've seen in Newark and Brooklyn (not live unfortunately) and the one upcoming in Midtown Manhattan. An important cause to grow the game that the NHL pushes, saying that "All hockey programs should provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for players and families regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status." Without something like that, we don't see stories expanding beyond Willie O'Ree of the Bruins. We don't see stories like Harrison Browne of the Riveters. We don't see stories of Scott Gomez, now an Islanders assistant coach. O'Ree is the first African American player in the NHL. Gomez is the first Hispanic player in the NHL. Browne is the first openly transgender player in professional hockey. But not only that, but the You Can Play Project encourages fans from all facets of life to attend games regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. So hats off to you NHL.

If you can play, you can play.

THE SEASON: We have 6 great head-to-head match-ups and of course one MEGA MATCH-UP featuring North Bay, Aurora and Orlando. Let's see how Week One shakes out, and I'll analyze the match-ups next week after the results come in. BUT that doesn't happen without your vote.

CONCEPT OF THE YEAR: Congratulations to Jake M on winning Concept of the Year 2017. A well deserved long term victory.

REMINDERS

 COTW Jan 26 - Feb 1 vote (ends Friday @ noon ET) 

 The Season Week 1 vote (ends Friday @ noon ET) 

ON TO THE CONCEPTS!


Chris W: Chicago Steel (USHL) Concept

I have two submissions of the same exact concept with only one difference between the two: the color of the wordmark on the alternate jersey. Therefore I shall review this as ONE concept. The main set is gorgeous. I love the steel plate motif you are using in the striping. A detail I find similar in idea to the Metropolitan Riveters using rivet patterns in their striping. Genius. Maybe a bit more red on the home whites? As for that alternate, it's a tough choice which is why I understand the inclusion of both ideas here, because the silver logo is better fit for the branding, yet the black is better fit for the rest of the jersey. Font is brilliant, custom logo is brilliant, especially with the stars of the flag of Chicago. EXECUTION NOTE: The manufacturer branding on the back of the red jersey is off-center on both images.

Rating: 87%


Dylan T: Adelaide Adrenaline (AIHL) Concept

For a team called Adrenaline, their entire branding scheme is pretty tame. Logo is cool with the little lightning bolt helping form an A shape within an A. But probably an average jersey. Nothing really stands out. Colors are balanced well. Collar isn't great but that's Adidas' fault. Maybe rearrange the colors a bit so they match each other a bit better?

Rating: 77%


Harry B: Miami Stealth (Fictional) Concept

I've never been a fan of concepts from NHL 18, because the game limits creativity in jersey design, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Good because it prevents the jerseys from becoming stupid crazy, bad because it doesn't allow you to go out of the box on a design with an idea that works, like the steel plate motif we saw in the Chicago Steel concept earlier. On top of that, concepts are usually transferred onto here via photo from someone's phone, instead of a true screenshot, which looks to be the case here. The recolored Winnipeg Jets logo is an complete no from me. The alternate logo is cool though. Black, bright green and silver are cool for a team called the Stealth. But these are simply recolored template jerseys. LA Kings for the main set and Boston Bruins for the alternate, plus a phantom yoke.

Rating: 30%


Taylor R: 2018 NHL All-Star Game Concept

I've never been a fan of shoulder numbers as you all probably know. But having them there is the only way to have this awesome lightning pattern on the arms the way it is. The recolored NHL logo works here. The real key here is the sublimated bolt patterns on the body of the jersey. GORGEOUS. Maybe place the ASG logo on the front of the jersey? Equipment would be nice because Adidas has said that white pants are not out of the question, something I despise.

Rating: 95%


Taylor R: 2018 Winter Classic Concept (Buffalo vs NY Rangers) Concept

Color on color is a favorite of mine. Yellow on blue would be great. The Rangers concept is a perfect throwback with the old style front font. The white colored name is a nice touch without outlines. However Lundqvist wears 30, not 35. The white trim of the Sabres jersey kind of gets lost against the yellow body of the jersey from a distance. Is the blue trim on the bottom necessary? I think so. Helps balance colors better. No Adidas logo on the back of the Sabres jersey?  No winter classic logo? No equipment? Because I know the Rangers could pull this look off with red or brown pants. Just would like to see how it works.

Rating: 87%


The WINNER of my Concept of the Week Nomination is:

 TAYLOR R 

 ALL STAR GAME CONCEPT 

And that will do it for me tonight. I'm going to help with the production crew of a basketball game on a college radio station that shall remain nameless should Ryan yell at me for self promotion. Should be a fun night for me, which I need after the horrible Islanders loss on Monday in addition to Scott Mayfield being sent to IR. Things are clearly looking up in Islanders country. The one thing I will plug though related to the last two is the podcast. I go on a pretty good rant about Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, operators of the Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum. Have a listen on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or whatever podcast listening tool you so desire. I'll see you next week!