Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Kings Modify Jersey Numbers

Photos from a recent rookies game between the Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings seem to indicate the Kings are making a slight modification to their home uniforms this season.

A picture I found at LetsGoKings.com shows an outline has been added to the numbers stitched onto the back and sleeves of the black sweaters.


credit: Wile E. @ LetsGoKings.com

It's small but I guess it adds a little something to the jerseys. And it's different so I suppose that makes it news.

By the way, it's worth noting that teams tend to do all sorts of weird stuff for those rookie jerseys this time of year so it's hard to say for sure if this is a permanent change or just something that made it easier to throw together a bunch of sweaters for guys who won't see real NHL ice for a few more years.

That being said, this particular change seems like it'll stick. We'll know for sure soon. The season's right around the corner.

Thanks to Steven for the tip on this change.

Around The AHL

I don't plan to make a habit out of it, but I was just catching up on some news around the AHL. I'm more of an NHL guy but I figured there might be some stuff out there of general interest. Came across a couple of things.

A reader recently pointed out an unusual logo currently appearing on the Binghamton Senators' official web site. He noticed it in NHL 09 and wondered if it was a new logo the team plans to use.



Did some quick research and found that this is a specialty logo designed by a local artist for the B-Sens for an Ottawa-themed jersey almost two years ago. The jerseys were worn on February 23 and 24, 2007. It looked like this.



As far as I know, there are no plans to recycle the logo this season, but then I don't really have my finger on the pulse of the AHL. If any Binghamton fans have heard anything, let us know.

...

The Norfolk Admirals — affiliate of my Tampa Bay Lightning — unveiled a 20th anniversary logo a few weeks ago. It incorporates blue into the logo which the primary lacks despite being on a blue jersey. The blue was added to the team's color scheme when they hooked up with the Bolts.



I don't know how or if the Admirals plan to make the logo part of their uniforms this season. I would assume there will be a shoulder patch. But for sure, folks in Norfolk (ha) will see it on a lot of promotional materials.

...

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are going green! No, they aren't changing their colors despite what the image below might suggest. That's just a Bridgeport PR guy having some fun. Everybody wishes they had Photoshop skills.



No, they mean "going green" in the sense that they're saving the environment. Anyone who works in media or has been in the media box of any hockey arena knows about the stacks of stats sheets you get handed when you walk in. You've easily wasted an entire ream of paper after a few days worth of games.

To help curb the tree-killing, the Sound Tigers will begin offering all of that information on reusable USB drives.



Sounds cool to me. Makes you wonder whether the NHL will join up.

...

I know the season hasn't begun yet and these may just be preseason jerseys, but it seems NHL 09 had the jersey designs wrong for the AHL's newest team — the Iowa Chops. The image below, a still from the game, shows sweaters based off the design of the Anaheim Ducks, with some colors changed.



On the Chops' official web site is the following image which shows a jersey that looks nothing like Anaheim's. It also lacks the obnoxious CHOPS text beneath the logo.



Now this may or may not be the actual jersey. The story it's attached to is talking about a rookie tournament. But this is why I don't inherently trust video games for accurate jersey depictions.

Anyway, that's all for this afternoon. If there's anything I missed, feel free to email me.

IHA Final Art: Central

Two weeks ago I began unveiling the winning logo sets for each team in Project: IHA. You saw the final artwork for the Atlantic, West, Northeast, Pacific and Great Lakes Divisions. Last week you voted on logos for the Central Division. The polls are now closed and this is officially the final step of the project.

Below are the logos you selected for the IHA Central. On the left is the team's primary logo. To the right is the secondary and the wordmark is beneath it. Under the graphic is the designer's credit.


Chris S.


Chris S.


Chris S.


A. Thompson


Roccot


I wanted to mention that the designer of the Tigers, Thunder and Crusaders logo is not me — despite sharing my name. I'm was impressed that these were the first designs he submitted for the project and all of them won their respective votes. Because of that, I thought I'd show you guys a logo he submitted late for the Great Lakes Division. Click here to see his Buffalo Bison design.

To all the winning designers: If you would like your credit changed or a link added, please don't hesitate to let me know. Since you aren't being compensated in any other way for all your work, the least I can do is offer a link to your web site, blog or online portfolio — just in case certain eyes are looking. You never know. However, if you would like to remain anonymous, that's fine too.

And so ends Project: IHA. It was fun, if not controversial at times. We got to see some incredible artwork. I look forward to seeing more from our talented designers for the next project!