Sweaters and hockey have been synonymous with each other since the infancy of the sport. Teams have been identified by their iconic colours and patterns. Some of them are classic while others are classically awful. This summer our annual series focuses on the best and the worst sweaters in each team’s history. Today we have the best and the worst Ottawa Senators sweaters in team history.
Ottawa Senators Sweaters: The Best and Worst
How We Did It?
We at Last Word on Hockey used a variety of methods to compile this list. Polling came from social media, our writers, and fans. We wanted to get a variety of opinions when we put out our list. This compilation will likely spur debate. However, we wanted to see who had the most memorable sweaters in each team’s history. Let’s put our best foot forward with the best sweaters.
The Best of the Ottawa Senators
The Original Whites
For this recap, we won’t be counting the original Senators franchise that was founded in the 1890s and lasted until the 1930s. We’ll only be recapping the Sens sweaters from the current incarnation that started play in the 1992-93 campaign. Ottawa struggled early in its history, but at least it looked sharp during that period. The Senators wore white with black sleeves and the Roman-flavoured logo. Players like Sylvain Turgeon may have struggled, but the fans got a good look at some nice-looking sweaters.
This design would last until the 2006-07 season when the team would lean into its more animated logo. Ottawa would bring back a variation of this in 2021, but the black sleeves would not return.
The 2011 Alternate
Ottawa has had third sweaters for a long time with its first coming to fruition on 1997. There would be some attempts, but the Senators would get it right in 2011.
The best alternate jerseys in the biz are back in action tonight for #tbt. Plus $1 hots dogs/small pops before 7 pm. pic.twitter.com/vX6bIp03R5
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 5, 2015
The Senators would tap into its past and hit the third sweater out of the park. They would take design cues from the old Senators franchise of the past. Barber pole sweaters can be a risky proposition, but Ottawa nailed this concept.
There would be a cream-coloured variation in the 2014 Heritage Class that we’ll talk about later. These would only last until the 2016-17 season, but no one would bat an eye at a comeback.
The 2014 Heritage Classic
Sometimes too much of a good thing won’t be good. However, this variant of the 2011 barber poles just works. These uniforms were worn by Ottawa when they played the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place for the Heritage Classic. The striping just works on both variants because they are fatter stripes. This design wouldn’t last, but there would be a red version for the 2017 100th anniversary of the league. We hope this other striped sweater also makes a visit once in a while.
The Worst of the Ottawa Senators
The SENS Jersey
Ottawa has carried a third sweater for most of the time since 1997. However, the franchise has struggled to find the right fit until the 2011 season.
2008-2011 Ottawa Senators alternate jersey pic.twitter.com/GYk2v3RXIl
— Every NHL Jersey (@everynhljersey) August 22, 2023
Our worst entry come from the 2008-09 season when the Senators… sorry the SENS debited a black sweater with white lettering. This one would last from 2008 until 2011. The white SENS lettering ruins the sweater because it could have been decent with a few changes. This wouldn’t be the first alternate sweater that would jump out.
The Red Alternate
Ottawa would introduce the red alternates in the 1997-98 campaign. It had a cartoony Roman senator on the logo that face would have that face looking at an angle. There would still be black and white elements on the uniforms. However, the striping is in a hump pattern. It’s an odd look for a sweater. We know the 90s were an odd time for hockey jerseys. The reds would actually become the primary dark kit in the 2000 season and would stay until 2007.
The 2022-23 Reverse Retro
The previous red sweater would still haunt Ottawa in the second batch of Reverse Retros. Ottawa would smartly change up the colour to a black base. However, these ones still aren’t the best-looking sweaters. Ottawa decided to eliminate the white from the sweater, but the striping is an odd choice. Hopefully we don’t see these sweaters ever again.
Other Considerations
Some people may not like them, but the jersey with the gold accents that debuted in 2000 is an honourable mention. The only that thing that would have it better would have been the old logo. Ottawa’s current sweater at home also works. The Red Reverse Retro was a shocker and was a unique choice for that sweater. There really hasn’t been much else that has been bad.
Main photo by: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
