Wings, Hawks Choose Retro Jerseys For Classic
27/10/2008 00:41
The Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings will don commemorative vintage uniforms when the two teams battle in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day at Chicago's Wrigley Field.
The sweaters were unveiled during Saturday night's game between the Wings and Blackhawks, which Detroit won 6-5 in a shootout.
Chicago will sport a predominantly black sweater with red and beige stripes that the club wore in 1936-37. The crest features the classic version of the Blackhawks logo.
Detroit players will wear a white-based jersey with a single red stripe the team initially donned in 1926-27. The crest is highlighted by the Old English "D" in the centre. The shoulders feature the team's classic winged wheel logo on each shoulder.
"These retro jerseys only strengthen what is going to be a historic day for our organization, the NHL and the city of Chicago," said Jay Blunk, Chicago's senior vice-president of business operations. "The Blackhawks and Red Wings logos are second to none in professional sports and seeing them on these jerseys only makes us more excited for the Winter Classic."
The game follows the successful 2008 edition at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored the deciding shootout goal in a 2-1 win over the Sabres on a snowy day in front of nearly 72,000 fans.
The game was watched on the CBC by the second-largest audience ever for an afternoon NHL game. It was also the most watched regular season game in the United States in over a decade.
NBC will again broadcast the game in the U.S. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
The NHL's previous foray outdoors was the Heritage Classic in Edmonton on Nov. 22, 2003. Over 57,000 endured frigid temperatures at Commonwealth Stadium as the Oilers battled the Montreal Canadiens.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Yawn!! Everything being done here is just “copy-catting” what was done in the previous two NHL outdoor games.