Monday: Time to Start the Usual Summer Hibernation

Yes, Jets. I am still incredibly hung over.

It has been a glorious week. A very glorious week.

I don't know if you may have heard by now, but the greatest team ever in the greatest sport ever have just won the greatest trophy ever. Yes, my beautiful bunch of boys called the Chicago Blackhawks are the 2015 Stanley Cup Champions. I mean, it's simply my opinion that they're the best, but c'mon. I can't think of any other team in the NHL that's viewed as such a consistent and massive threat.

They have names like Kane and Toews that every white girl in the state of Illinois knows, but there are still players like Saad, Keith, Seabrook, Oduya, Crawford, Teravainen, Hjaalmarson, Darling, Shaw, Richards, Vermette, Versteeg, Hossa, Desjardins, Kruger. Every single player on the team was a workhorse this playoff season. Minus a few who won't be named (*cough cough Sharp, Bickell, and Timonen cough* jeez I think I'm coming down with something).

Sadly, I didn't get to go to either the parade or rally like I hoped (all on account of a massive group of scalpers and a terribly designed ticket distributing website that crashed within minutes of me logging on). I really hope DBro managed to go and could share his experiences from it this Wednesday.

Luckily though, I managed to make my way into one of the NHL's playoff moments videos from this year. http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=830190&lang=en

I can verify to you that that stray set of arms belongs to yours truly. This is just a small taste before the true persona of Jack Godlewski is revealed and you all see who your Monday writer truly is!

Nah, I'm only kidding. I thought it was cool this video was thrown in, and find it incredibly ironic that I'm not really visible at all. Ah well, it was a whole lot of fun enjoying hockey with friends this season. And that's the best part of hockey, just enjoying it with a bunch of your close friends. Of course, this wasn't the craziest our game 6 party got. Let's just say it involved a bunch of shirtless sweaty dudes, a fake cup made out of a salad bowl, some buckets and duct tape, and speeding around a neighborhood while blasting Chelsea Dagger. I'll let you fill in the blanks.

My job here is to review concepts and to remind you to vote. Sometimes to most of the time I will try to do something different, but I always try to keep it in the vain of hockey. I don't think you will care all entirely that much about my personal life, but hell if it ain't fun using this place as a soapbox from time to time.

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Well, speaking of voting, here's me reminding you to vote! This week, there are four fantastic concepts that you can vote for! Choose your favorite!

COTW June 14-20 vote (ends Friday @ 11:59pm Eastern)

Voting is also open for our latest competition. Click on the banner at the top of the page to go vote for your top 5 favorites in the 2 Colour Competition!

2 Colour Comp Top 5 vote (ends THURSDAY @ 11:59pm Eastern)

**A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE**

 For those of you who didn't read ALL of William's post (you should, he always does a great job), you may have missed Ryan's note. But it is of great importance that you know:

 IF YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THE 2 COLOUR COMPETITION PRIOR TO SATURDAY'S POST, THEN YOU MUST RECAST YOUR VOTE AS NEW CONCEPTS WERE ADDED TO THE COMPETITON

**Thank you, that is all**

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Concept time!

I should state here how the rating system I use works numbers-wise, as those of you who receive sixes and sevens seem to be a little disheartened. Don't be!

1- A jersey that is neither creative or functionally proper. I will only hand this out if someone sends in an NHL jersey verbatim, especially a bad one.
2- A jersey that seems like it could either be a nice jersey if executed properly, but is sorely lacking all the major elements of a jersey.
3- A score for those who have a concept in mind that don't know how to properly utilize their software. They're working on it, but have a long way to come and a lot to learn. Always keep working!
4- Here we start seeing either jerseys that lack all the proper logos but look decent on their own, or a jersey that has all the elements but can't stand too well on its own.
5- Average. This is where I'd place any jersey that has really hit the midway to greatness. Only 5 more points til your journey is over!
6- Good. Most jerseys here can be bumped a point or two with some very simple changes.
7- Great. A jersey that could be used in a minor professional team. It's got some strange choices, but it's still a great jersey. This may also be for those jerseys that I personally am not a fan of, but I know from my brain that they're still a great jersey.
8- Excellent. This is for those high-skilled jerseys that include everything it needs, and looks great doing it.
9- Amazing. This is for those jerseys that are just undeniably beautiful, no matter who you are.
10- Perfect. Expect these from the big names here like Wonka, Ryan H. and McElroy. A jersey that blends professionalism and artistry perfectly. These are those Blackhawk/Whalers/Mighty Ducks jerseys that everyone loves.


Ben Mical - Tampa Bay Lightning (Nike Style)

Execution: Just missing an NHL patch here. (.75/1) 
Striping: I liked this curved striping a lot. I wasn't a huge fan of it when the Ducks did it, but I think that's mostly because of the mish-mash of colors they used. It looks nice here, especially with this Rangers-esque yoke. I get a flowing water vibe, great for a team from Florida. The alternate's striping is beautiful. It's simple, clean, and could fit well with virtually any team. I think that the biggest issue I have with this is that the arm stripes need to higher. That curved stripe should seem like it's flowing up from the hem. (1.75/2)
Effectiveness: If Nike ever took over, Tampa would look good in this. (1/1)
Creativity: I think the home and away are definitely on their own a semi-original concept, but I've seen that alternate made for every team in the NHL. (1/2)
Other: One issue to put here is that there is no back to the jersey. I love seeing the full concept to get an opinion of it. I won't say that this is incomplete, but I just like having the full jersey in front of me. Oh, and the alternate would be brought that much higher than it is already by adding some collar laces. (2.5/4)

Overall: A good jersey, but something I've seen before. (7/10)

Brandon Cockeram - Ottawa 67's

Execution: Killed it. (1/1) 
Striping: It's just like the current jersey with some minor improvements, mostly in the shoulder and tail. I've never been a huge fan of this style of striping, but it definitely isn't bad. (1.5/2)
Effectiveness: It's so close to what they wear now, it's hard to say this WOULDN'T work. (1/1)
Creativity: I've already said this. It's so close to what they wear, minus a few tweaks. (.5/2)
Other: It's good. It's not incredibly stellar. Then again I'm in the small group that doesn't like the whole Ottawa vintage style of striping. Blasphemy, right? I just feel like this concept is cluttered. (2/4)

Overall: I don't really know how to feel about this. There are a few minor changes, but I really wish there was more changed to become something new. (6/10)

Chase Carlson - Halifax Mooseheads

Execution: You're missing the logos you need to mark this as a proper jersey. Also, I feel like this isn't a part of a series where Reebok takes over the CHL, so I should say that the QMJHL uses CCM jerseys. Make sure when the stripes start, the stitching stops! (0/1) 
Striping: It's great. I love the little spruce of gold in the arm and tail, as well as incorporating the colors of the logo seamlessly. The pants look gorgeous here, and fit perfectly without copying the pattern used. (1.75/2)
Effectiveness: It would work great as an alternate, but I wish there was a home to fit with it. (1/1)
Creativity: It's not the Wild jersey. It's actually something completely different. Hell, if you slapped a Wild logo on this and changed some of the shades around, I'd rate it much higher. (1.5/2)
Other: One issue I have are the numbers. The green is just too dark to pop against the sleeves, so they're really hard to see. I think white numbers would work better here on this jersey. (2/4)

Overall: What this jersey lacks in the formalities, it makes up for in being beautiful. If you change those small elements and add those logos, make a matching white jersey and send the idea to Halifax. (6.25/10)

CPM - Cleveland Crusaders
 

Execution: I think you've got it all here. Also, great job with the 15 on the sleeves. (1/1) 
Striping: Wow. That home jersey is just... wow! I love it to death! I'm honestly kind of sad that the away doesn't have that same kind of oomph, because other than that I really only see a very simple, modern jersey. (1.5/2)
Effectiveness: Yes. I want to see that home on the ice. (1/1)
Creativity: I have to give this the full points for this concept. It's just too gorgeous to deny it! (2/2)
Other: Like I said, the away is lacking when seen alongside it's counterpart. It, by itself, is not bad in the slightest. But yikes! That home is just a thing of beauty! One little gripe I do have is that the name and number don't really fit too well on the back of the home jersey. I'm usually not a fan of filling in the nameplate, but it looks great on this away jersey. (3.5/4)

Overall: If this series matched, I would actually probably give this a 10. (9/10) and a COTW Nom

Lucas Daitchman - Team Europe
 

Execution: It works. The biggest issue though is that the sleeves on the back of the colored are a little messed up. (.5/1) 
Striping: I like this pattern a lot. But changing it on the socks probably wasn't the best idea. Regardless, this pattern seems fine if I can see what you were trying to do. (1.5/2)
Effectiveness: Yeah, I could see this representing the EU. (1/1)
Creativity: I'd say this is pretty creative. It seems nice and modern. (2/2)
Other: A few things about the logos, the chest logo is a little low. Second, the shoulder logos, are there two stars or just one? Because if it's two as pictured, then I'm not that big of a fan. (3/4)

Overall: With a few slight changes, I would love this on the ice. It's got something about it. I just love the colors of the EU a lot. (7/10)

Matt Gomula - Leicester City

Execution: Yep. Killed it. (1/1) 
Striping: These jerseys are very blank, and that's actually great. The logo is nice and has a very hand-drawn element to it that should be showcased. Dylan Nowak made note of this last week, and I'll restate it here. A stripe on the back of the jersey that isn't on the front is just incredibly out of place. A jersey should seem heavier on the front, as that's the identity that's known more. Putting more detail on the back than on the front just feels a little strange. (1.25/2)
Effectiveness: For a soccer jersey, I could see this as a sweater. (1/1)
Creativity: Definitely a modern jersey that works perfectly with the team's identity as well as the IceBorn template. Good stuff. (2/2)
Other: It's good. I think I've covered all the big points, but one thing I love are those petals on the sleeves. They're gorgeous, and wish that the decal could have been used all over the jersey. As it stands, the minimalist approach to this is gorgeous though. (3/4)

Overall: I like this jersey a lot. It just seems like a lot of fantastic choices were made in terms of keeping the jersey simple. (8.25/10)

Lucas Daitchman - NWHL Logo
 

Wow. This is my first logo I'm reviewing here. I had to rework the review system (a.k.a taking away the striping category and slapping those points in the other section)

Execution: The more I look at this, the more the font looks angled a little off. I think it might just be moved too far forward. (.5/1) 
Effectiveness: For the NWHL, it works. (1/1)
Creativity: This is just the NHL logo with an additional letter that I don't know what stands for. I actually made something just like this for my friend's DotA league this summer (pictured below). I don't think I can consider this very creative because I did this so quickly, it only took me minute maybe. (0/2)

Other: The NHL logo is always gorgeous. So you've already got a great base. The font just looks a little small. But what is NWHL? North Western? No Wingers? Night Wear?! (1/6)

Overall: I don't know what this means. I don't know if I can take this seriously or not. I'd really love to see something original, as you have proven how talented of an artist you are just a few posts prior. (2.5/10)

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Well, that's Monday folks!

Hockey will be back this October, and luckily Wonka gets to watch Eichel get crowned as a Buffalo player, and we get to see some new jerseys for Arizona, as well as a slew of alternates all summer! It's gonna be fun now that teams are changing things up on the jersey side of things, and I'm glad we here will have the ability to report on this. But it still feels empty knowing that I'll be in my freshman year of college for an entire month before we get to watch hockey again.

I guess it's time to do what I do ever summer. Turn all my fans on in my basement and play disgusting amounts of Dark Souls and Minecraft. The hibernation has begun again.

Have a great week all, I'll see you next Monday.

GO BLACKHAWKS!!! GO DUCKS!!! BUT ESPECIALLY GO BLACKHAWKS!!!
-Jack G.