DJ Brooks
August 18, 2009.
Hockey Canada unveiled the new, much discussed, much debated 2010 Olympic hockey jersey in Vancouver during this week. I personally was awaiting this with bated breath as I am a huge fan of sportswear and sports memorabilia.
Everyone I have talked to has loved this new jersey. Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, even went as far as to say “I think this will be the jersey that not only hockey players wear but that all Canadians and all Canadian athletes will be proud of. This might become the jersey for not just hockey but for all sports.”
Really Bob, Really? While I like the design concepts of adding symbolism regarding our medal counts in Mens, Womens and Sledge hockey, it seemed out of place. While I looked it over I enjoyed the artistic mantra of the artist to add the powerful First Nations symbols, it still didn’t seem right. Then it struck me, WE CAN’T SEE IT.
I am looking at a Maple Leaf on my computer zoomed in to an impressive size to be able to see anything. What is this jersey going to look like as Crosby skates down the ice? The answer – A plain Maple Leaf.
What is wrong with just the Leaf you ask, your answer – That is not how it was designed! Take a look at some of the classic jerseys worn at Olympics and World Championships past. They are all eloquent in their simplicity. A Maple Leaf with a hockey player – makes sense. Half a Maple Leaf streaming from the bottom to the top – logical. A Maple Leaf with a bunch of tiny little designs you can’t see or make out unless you saw it beforehand – why??
I can’t even truly express my disappointment in this jersey. I was actually excited when the IOC told Canada they had to change their jersey. As a collector I thought, SWEET new Jersey for the collection. Now I am thinking, the Canadian Olympic hat better look amazing or I am going to lose it!!!!!
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