A team’s jersey is the first thing that catches one’s eye when seen on TV for the first time. If one does not like a team’s jersey the first time he or she sees them, it is unlikely that person will grow to like the team. Exceptions are made when a person already likes the team and they release a terrible jersey. But if one is tuning in for the first time and the team’s jerseys look like a dumpster fire, it is unlikely that person will support them. This is why the Calgary Flames need new jerseys.
Calgary Flames Jerseys Need a Change
Now, jerseys are a subjective thing. Some people love certain jerseys, and some people hate them. I consider myself a jersey enthusiast. I have a small collection that I intend to grow and two of the jerseys I don’t want in my collection at the moment are the home and away Calgary Flames jerseys.
Why?
Reebok stepped in during the 2007-2008 NHL season to take control of every team’s jerseys from the jersey manufacturers at the time — CCM and Koho. Some teams used this as a chance to re-brand and change their identity, while some teams saw it as nothing but a way to make their current jerseys more lightweight; other teams changed the look of their jerseys, but nothing else. Calgary took part in the latter. This resulted in a unique look, but in the worst sense of the word “unique.” They went with some boring template of a jersey instead of designing something new. Fox Sports’ Pete Blackburn said it best in his article reviewing each team’s uniforms when he said, “The Flames are significantly underachieving with their current primaries.”
They have good colours, a great logo, but a poorly executed result. They need to ditch the black in their uniforms. Red and orange makes you think of fire; but black just makes one think of the flames after they’ve been put out (which, as of late is a feeling far-too familiar with this club). Many think they should just go back to their old, Lanny McDonald-era sweaters. These are nice jerseys, don’t get me wrong, but then the Flames fall into what every team seems to be doing — bringing back an older jersey that fans liked as their primaries. Pittsburgh did it, and it’s looking like Washington will soon do the same thing. This has gone over exceptionally well for Pittsburgh, but Calgary doesn’t need to go down the same road. They can take inspiration from the jerseys of past and create something new for the fans to fall in love with. They have an absurd amount of potential — they just need to execute.
Why do they need this?
Calgary is a Canadian hockey team. That means something. They can’t be representing it with poorly designed uniforms. Some may say I just think Calgary needs to new jerseys to please myself, but I don’t. I think it needs to happen so they can honour the country they play in. They throw the Canadian and Alberta flag on the shoulders but what good is that if they are on a trainwreck of a jersey? Their bitter rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, have fantastic home, away, and alternate jerseys. Calgary’s aren’t even in the same league.
With their future looking as bright as the flames on their crest, they need something to represent the new-look Flames. Toronto did it for their next step, now it’s Calgary’s turn. This isn’t Jarome Iginla‘s team anymore, it belongs to Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. It’s about time they showed their true potential. Or in this case — their true colours.
Main Photo:
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 25: Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) skates in warm up before a regular season NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Calgary Flames on November 25, 2016, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Flames defeated the Bruins 2-1.(Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
