The always entertaining fount of sports uniform-related minutia, UniWatch, has a compilation of gametime scrambling caused by lost or stolen uniforms. The article–inspired by the recent Virginia Tech players who had to wear Georgia Tech jerseys for a recent game, complete with handwritten nameplates–has one hockey-related example:
1998: During the World Junior Hockey Championships in Finland, Canada and Russia both show up for a quarterfinal game with red uniforms. Russia is the designated home team, so the Canadians are forced to play the first period in Finnish national jerseys until their white jerseys can be driven to the arena.
Click here to read the full article, including the classic story of Detroit Tiger great “Sweet Lou” Whitaker leaving his All-Star jersey at home, going into the stands to buy a blank replica, and simply writing his number on the back.
Perhaps the Caps should have ”accidentally” forgotten their uniforms for the game in Tampa; they’d likely score more goals wearing Bolts unis. Chris Bourque might even net a hat trick wearing Martin St. Louis’ sweater–they’re about the same size, right?
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It’s not at the same level as those examples, but I remember going to a Caps-Rangers game several years ago and it was designated that even though they were the home team, it was one of those games where the Caps wore their dark road uniforms. When they came out for warm-ups, the Rangers also had on their dark uniforms. The Rangers all changed into light uniforms and the Caps won the game. The following day the NY Times used it as another example of the Rangers’ lost season, no one in charge being aware of which jerseys they were supposed to wear.
Is there a reason why the home team sometimes gets to wear white this year? I think the Caps did it against the Pens, and I believe I also saw Montreal do it. Kinda doesn’t make sense.
Good story TG, thanks for sharing it.
Jordan, it’s just a promotional thing — get the home crowd to see the other uniforms, and hopefully improve sales. Just like the old “third” jerseys (which, I suspect, will be reappearing within a season or two), wearing different jerseys at home generally increases the sales of those versions since fans tend to buy more of whatever the home jersey is for their team.
Ah, ok. That makes sense.
I hope they make a third jersey for the Caps with the secondary logo on the front. As much as I like the primary text logo, that eagle is twice as nice.
Probably obvious looking at my site. heh.
TG, that also happened at a Penguins game at MCI a few years ago. When we were walking around the concourse during warmups we looked at the monitor and noticed that the Caps were wearing their black jerseys. When we entered the seating area, we noticed that at the other end of the ice the Penguins were also wearing their black jerseys. Black jerseys, black breezers, black helmets, black socks, both teams were all in black. This time, though, apparently the Penguins claimed that they had only brought one set of jerseys on their road trip, so at game time the Caps came back out wearing their white jerseys. The funny thing was that they looked as though they hadn’t been cleaned since the last game. They looked kind of disheveled. Chris Simon, in particular, had a large blue stain on his jersey.
I don’t recall for sure, but I believe the team playing in black won that game, curse them.
There has always been a superstition regarding unforms. Teams used to force the Dallas Cowboys to wear their dark uniforms for games too. Being a VT alum, thought the whole Georgia Tech thing was hillarious. I do not care what uniforms they wear. Just want to see the Caps win at home! (Well not really, the Buffalo slugs are horrible). Sorry, could not resist.
I’m surprised the ESPN article didn’t mention the case of Sidney Crosby’s 2005 World Junior jersey being stolen (and later returned) as he came back to Canada after winning gold. The story was covered almost like a national emergy in this country.
That should have read “emergency,” of course.
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