Thursday: The Birds and the... Qs?

Is it October, yet? This is the question all hockey fans have been asking ever since Ovechkin took the Cup to bed with him on that fateful night in early June; the unfortunate answer, of course, is no. That being said, it is August 30th, and that brings the return of my second favourite sports season (that of course being NCAA football).

Just a few hours after this past goes live, I'll be heading across campus to Ross-Ade Stadium to watch my Purdue Boilermakers kick off their 2018 campaign against B1G foe Northwestern. Sure there's no body checking, no puck-over-glass violations, and no clappers from the point. But there are costly turnovers, beautifully set-up scoring opportunities, and highlight reel goal-line saves, so that will have to serve surrogate for know.

So, until I get the opportunity to resume my dorm-room "Let's go, Pens!" chants, I'll be backing the Boilers on the grid iron and I encourage you to do the same. Maybe your team's not Purdue and maybe your sport's not football, but go out there find a team and a sport and start warming up those vocal chords because October's just around the corner and your team needs you in top shape to cheer them on when the time comes.

REMINDERS:

 U of Mich Competition Design (Entries Due Friday, Aug 31st @ noon EST) 

 COTW Vote Aug 17-23rd (ends Friday, Aug 31st @ noon EST) 

On to the concepts!

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Burkus Circus.- St. Louis Eagles (NHL Defuncts)

 

The St. Louis Eagles have perhaps the most boring uniform history of any team out there. With a dated logo and an ever so simple jersey as the only tangible inspiration, they're a blank page for design to run wild. The home here works really well, the simple chest stripe adds enough intrigue while staying on brand and the white name and numbering manages the color balance beautifully, the away is where the design falters. The arm remains much of the same but the chest stripe walls away with no replacement. The leaves the arms heavy with their color blocking while the body is devoid of any color but white. Beef up the hem striping to draw from the arms and you've taken a big step in the right direction

Overall Rating: 6.0/10

A home set ready to leave the nest, but the road look leaves this concept grounded.

Jordan R.- Lrk Jonavos Zasys (Fictional LHL)

We've got two Lituanian concepts from Jordan today and (fair warning) I'm not gonna even attempt to repeat the team names. We're gonna call these guys the Geese. Jordan checks off all the boxes here. Nice color scheme. White yoke. Solid striping pattern. And yet I'm still left wanting more. Maybe the striping pattern reminds me a bit too much of the Oilers or maybe its something else. Props as usual for a beautiful logo design, but I think this concept needs a little something more to make it memorable.

Overall Rating: 7.0/10

The Geese fly a little bit higher than last concept's Eagles, but still not high enough to get too far from the nest.

Jordan R.- HK Kajakas Jurmala (Fictional LHL)

From one unpronounceable name to another... these boys shall be known as the Gulls. You know how I asked for more out of the last concept? Jordan delivers. Jordan meshes two of my favorite design concepts here with an well-executed upper-arm pattern that creates two unique looks despite being identical on both jerseys. And speaking of beautiful color schemes, is there anything as satisfying as a beautiful green and blue? I'm looking at you, Seattle... Another great logo graces the front of the jersey here for the Gulls, so full marks for that. My one concern with this look is the green numbers on the road. I know you're trying to help insert some more green into the look, but it really throws the balance off with the dominance of blue on the rest of the uniform.

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

The Gulls got up and took a graceful leap out of the nest. Flying high and not coming down anytime soon.

Lucas D.- San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)

I don't know what to call this look. Is it minimalist? Is it futuristic? Either way, its new and that's what we look for here at HJC. I'm a big proponent of logo-based striping so I definitely appreciate the attempt there. The chest stripe fractures upward to match the logo perfectly while taking an overplayed look into uniqueness. I think the major downfall here comes in the coloring. Sublimation is nice, but when its the only striping on the jersey you run into the distance issue. That issue being that, at any respectable watching distance, the jersey appears as nothing more than a blank practice jersey. Swap the sublimation for the original blue and black pattern in the logo and I think you've got a winner. 

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

A unique look for sure, but you're gonna need to change the colors up if you're gonna color me impressed.

That's all for today folks. 

In the Battle of the Birds, the Gulls reign supreme. This week's COTW Nomination heads to Jordan's HK Kajakas Jurmala Concept

Like what you see? Hate what you see? Want to see something different?

Let us know in the comments and be sure to shoot your designs to concepts@hockeyjerseyconcepts.com to make your mark on our daily posts.

We'll see you all next week!

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