Uniforms used to be something that fans could distinguish their allies by, when colours separated teams in a game they both shared a passion for. The team sweater used to have a power that allowed the bearer to show off who their heart laid with.
Then the alternate/third jersey was born and the death of the hockey sweater began.The flashy jersey was born with the non-traditional fan in mind in hopes to reach out to new targets to re-energize the market, leaving the traditional sweater left in the closet to be eaten by moths.
I researched on the Internet to see who actually started the third/alternate jersey phenomena but could only find in the 1981/82 season the Pittsburgh Penguins had the league’s only alternate jersey and, of course, it was a disgusting yellow.
The NHL was begging for the away jersey sales when it decided to change the jersey rule that has been held in place since 1970. Traditionally, white sweaters were worn at home and dark on the road.
Before that, the change was due to a laundry problem. The white sweaters were apparently too hard to keep clean on the road so they switched to the dark.
Unfortunately, the alternates have brought technicolour eyesores and child-like logos with putrid yellows, fluorescent oranges, evil cartoon goalie ducks and cuddly bears.
It’s obvious why teams decided to make these alternate jerseys. Todd McFarlane, Spawn comic book creator and partial owner of the Edmonton Oilers, designed an alternate jersey for his team and in its first weekend available it made $300,000.
I understand the need for some sports maniacs to be the master of their domain. And purchasing memorabilia to be a curator for the sports world and for future generations is fine, but why bother with ugly pieces of money-grabbing schemes?
I’ve got an idea – why don’t we bring back the long Cooperall pants to hockey? If you don’t remember them, you’re lucky. They looked so good in 1981, the NHL outlawed them.
I think that teams should be allowed a third jersey with respect to something. The original six hockey teams, like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, should be able to show off their history through their sweaters.
However, when teams like the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, who have only been on ice for three years, introduces an old-school style of throwback jersey the idea becomes ridiculous.
In fact, I enjoy busting out the playstation EA Sports 2005 Hockey because I can choose any single jersey I wish.
It’s only when I am the Maple Leafs in traditional lace-up sweaters defeating the Colorado Avalanche in their glorious wine-coloured alternate jerseys that I admit I thoroughly enjoy the option.
For the most part, alternate jerseys are just like the tobacco industry peddling cigarettes to people so they look cool.
In reality, both these things are making people look ugly.
Maybe the designers should add labels to the jerseys just like cigarettes to expose the damage caused. Big black and white bold labels can be sewn onto the alternate jerseys stating: Don’t poison us, alternate jerseys contain seizure-causing colours and designs. Alternate jerseys will cause a slow and painful death to the traditional sweater.