Why the new New Jersey Devils jersey isn’t all that bad
The soup de jour in the hockey world is circling all around the new third jersey revealed by the New Jersey Devils.
A simple design, the black jersey literally says ‘Jersey’ on the front of it and is accompanied by 21 stripes to represent the state’s 21 counties. But if you scroll through social media, all you’ll find are people cracking jokes.
In Jersey, tradition is everything.
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“this can go from the worst jersey in NHL history to the best if the Devils also wear pants that say PANTS on them,” wrote one user.
“Someone at the Devils found the first draft of the 2019 Blackhawks Winter Classic jerseys in a drawer and said “f*** it, good enough,” penned another.
The truth of the matter is, however, that past-pro teams in both New Jersey and Chicago donned similar sweaters.
But the joke is easy enough, right? The Jersey is undoubtedly low-hanging fruit on a slow news day, but I’m actually quite a fan of the design.
The Devils collaborated with HHOF’er and New Jersey legend Martin Brodeur on the design. Brodeur, who works with the team as an executive vice president of hockey operations, said the jersey draws on hockey roots in the northeast.
It will be worn 13 times this year,
“The organization has been playing with the same jersey for almost 40 years, and to be a part of bringing a third jersey for our fans to enjoy is going to leave a great mark,” Brodeur said. “The new sweater is inspired by a history of hockey in the Garden State that fans may not be familiar with, and layered with design elements of Devils championship success. This is a jersey our alumni are envious of that they wished they could have played in it back in their day. People throughout the state and country know us as “Jersey,” this is our place, our home and this jersey signifies that.”
Brodeur’s influence was wide-ranging. The lacing on the neck of the jersey reflects the goalie net, while he noted that “friends, family, strangers, people in visiting cities” New Jersey simply reference it as “Jersey.”
The black and white striping pattern pays homage to hockey history in the area honoring the Newark Bulldogs, River Vale Skeeters and Jersey Larks — all clubs that played in various professional hockey leagues from the late 1920s to the ’60s.
While honoring the past, they still took a step into the future. It’s a design the hockey diehards who still think hockey shouldn’t be played in warm climates, while the younger crowd will love the step forward. For a league that’s continually trying to grow its brand and reach new fanbases, stuff like this is a step in the right direction.