Team Canada 2014 Olympics hockey jerseys officially unveiled
Posted October 8, 2013 5:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hockey Canada has unveiled its new jersey, which will be worn by the men’s, women’s and sledge hockey teams representing Canada at the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi Russia.
CityNews reporter Hugh Burrill got a first-hand look at the new sweaters at Mattamy Athletic Centre – formerly the site of Maple Leaf Gardens – in Toronto.
The Canadian Olympic Committee as well as manufacturer Nike were on hand for the unveiling.
Nike creative director Ken Black said the jerseys were inspired by the 1920 team that won gold at the Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, with touches from the 1972 national team uniform.
“The best resource that we have in our country are our players and our people,” Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson said. “This really respects where it all started back in 1920.”
But the images were old news to die-hard sports fans: the images appeared on sportslogos.net on Monday, and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was first seen wearing the jersey in early September in what appeared to be a promotional photo.
“That’s the great thing about the game of hockey: Everyone’s passionate,” Nicholson said. “The key is the players will be proud to put it on, and know when the players are on the ice, whether it’s our women’s team, our men’s team or our sledge team, Canadian fans will support the jersey and the team.”
The jersey has a wide horizontal stripe across the front but it stops at the sides and does not continue onto the back. There are no laces and the shoulders bear a screened image of maple leaves.
There are 12 gold maple leaves embroidered directly onto the sweater.
Montreal’s Caroline Ouellette, a forward on the women’s team and a three-time Olympian, offered a very positive review.
“I think they’re lighter and they seem very comfortable,” she said. “I think every time change happens, there’s some people that resist it. I know we’ve heard some negative comments on it so far, but for me the jersey becomes the memories we make with that jersey.”
“The most important thing is the Maple Leaf,” said Joe Nieuwendyk who won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 winter games. “You follow a little bit of Canadian hockey history, this follows some of the history and captures that. It’s just such a clean look: red, white and a Maple Leaf.”
The Games will be held Feb. 7-23, and the Paralympic Games are set for March 7-16.
With files from The Canadian Press
CityNews readers told us what they thought of the official uniform. Have your say in the comments.
