Wednesday 30 December 2015

My NHL jerseys rants

Hi everybody, Alan here for my last post for 2015, concept wise for me wasn't a good year for me, it was the worst for me even thou I had two concepts up for the HJC COTW. I didn't made many concepts as I usually do, to didn't even got creative with most of my concepts, most of them I gave the "Reeboking" treatment (using the same templates in the past concept works.) I really felt like I went back to the well so many times that it became poison. The 1st half of 2016 will be crazy for me because I planning on putting together some posts leading to my 5th anniversary post in April including my annual "Playoff Pickz" then after that it's clearly unknown for me because summertime is usually a busy time for me outside of the concept world it'll be more likely another summer break from this site witch means I won't have time or efforts in putting together any more concepts from the top of my head, so don't be surprised with the lack of posts in the summertime if I'm not too busy then I'll try put some concepts together, but one change I will make official, starting 2016 I will no longer accepting contributor's concepts, it's a decision that I made for myself with having less time doing concepts because outside the concept world (aka life) will be more busy around me, my apologize for that one.

Now with that out of the way time for NHL Jerseys rants!

NHL turns 100!
As many of you all aware of, beginning in 2016-17 season the NHL will be 100 years old not season 100 due to the lockout that canceled 2004-05 season (thanks Bettman.) Hopefully we can expect a special centennial logo that is good to see, and won't hurt our eyes.

World Cup 2016
It's back the World Cup is coming to Toronto that not only put together by the NHL, and NHLPA. But also the jerseys are going to be made by Adidas! With both Nike, and IIHF out of the picture in this one I can see this to be either good jerseys, or ugly jerseys that make you wanna pull your eyes out of the socket. This event featuring six nations, and two all-stars like teams. To make things even better there is no talks about lockouts, CBA, or any other crap, just the World Cup of Hockey, can't wait.

Oilers going orange.
If the rumors are true that there are talks about next season that the Oilers are promoting their orange jersey to 3rd, then I'm all for it! I kinda like the orange jersey how it base on their old WHA days as they're getting out of their old barn and into their new beautiful new arena next season, it's fitting that a orange third is in demand of all of the Oilers fans, if for the sake of my input the only change I want to see is the arms and hem stripes getting the same treatment as either the home, or the road and call it a day.

Panthers getting new set.
With the Florida Panthers staying put despite low numbers of fan support going to games, Reebok said there are talks that the team is getting a new set witch make sense to me because if you look at it they are 2 years away (2017-18 season) of hitting their 25th anniversary of the team's time with the NHL. Some people hopping the new set base on the team's early days, I'm hopping for a set that works well to my taste, their current set was alright but early edge design with vertical piping ruins what could have been one of good edge design.

LA going gold!
Los Angeles Kings will turn 50 next year along with 3 other teams that will turn 50 also. Sources say a "special edition" jersey to honor the team's 50th anniversary. My perdition they will wear the Gretzky era jersey because they're already show off their Reebok style classic set base on the team's early days for their Legends Night games, having the Gretzky era jersey made sense to me, after all in my opinion Gretzky was the reason that the Kings rose to become big time team, and put themselves on the map and later on in 2012 won the Stanley Cup.

Ottawa Sens 25th.
The Ottawa Senators are turning 25, the team's 25th anniversary logo is a horror show just bad, and more likely will be on their jerseys. As for jerseys I'm hopping that the team make their current alternate jersey as their main home, while making the team's heritage classic jersey as road, so that will make way for a early '90s throwback third jersey. That's my perdition!

Flying at 50.
Just like the LA Kings the Philadelphia Flyers will celebrate the 50th anniversary. According to Reebok the Flyers will also have a "special edition" jersey in the works. I for one believes that it's a no brainier that it will be a jersey base on a set they wore from 1982 to 2007, sure that set didn't gave them a Stanley Cup titles as oppose to their 1972 to 1977 set they won two titles (1974, 1975) but truthfully in my opinion they wore that style better then the Kings 1980 to 88 set!

The Pens turns 50.
Pittsburgh Penguins is celebrating 50th anniversary next year, and I'm hopping finally at last they would change their set that had plague both the Pens fans, and the jersey loving fans. All they have to do is to make their current 3rd as their main home, and make a white version of that jersey. That will make room for a 3rd jersey base on the team's inaugural season jersey, the powder blue one with the word "Pittsburgh" across the front diagonally not that poor excuse 2011 Winter Classic jersey don't get me wrong it's a nice jersey and all but I felt like it's more alternate flux back style then being classic in my mind.

St. Louis going 50.
St. Louis Blues will turn 50 next year, nothing too big only talks they are replacing the team's 3rd jersey. It's pretty much more likely just like the other 3 teams a throwback jersey, there are many good jerseys that the Blues wore but the 1979-84 set is my favorite, followed by 1998-2007 set, and their current set.

25 lightning strikes.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are marking 25 years in the NHL next season. With their current set is bad, and their alternate jersey is a joke. No word on any changes within the team but I'm hopping for a brand new set with black as the team main color, and make the jerseys base on their first set and just call it a day!

100 Leafs
The NHL are not only ones that are turning 100, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be turning 100 also! Since 2013 the club have been preparing this anniversary, and there talks that the Leafs will be pulling the Habs for their 100th anniversary with lots of jerseys to honor their days as Toronto Arenas, Toronto St.Pats, and currently the Maple Leafs. There are going to be a crazy numbers of jerseys to be part of my collection even thou I hate the Leafs but their jerseys I can't hate.

2017 Heritage Classic
Winnipeg Jets have been trying to host a Heritage Classic for a long time but with the NHL 100th anniversary around the corner the top two on the list to be host of the event is either Toronto, or Ottawa. I can see Toronto vs Ottawa whether it's in Toronto, or Ottawa it'll be a good match up.

2017 Winter Classic
Chris Smith from Icethetics suggest that the match up should be the Pens and the Flyers some of you disagreed with him, I say half, in fact why stop there I say have two Winter Classic games! one in Pittsburgh were the Pens face the Kings, while the Flyers goes to St.Louis to go one on one with the Blues. Sure two Winter Classic is too many, but hey it's a win, win in my books!

2017 Stadium Series
Everyone wants different teams playing the Stadium Series indeed I too want different teams playing! If the Wild didn't host the 2016 Stadium Series, I would see the them hosting next year with the San Jose Sharks. Now hear me out on this one, next season could have been both the Minnesota North Stars (moved to Dallas) and California Golden Seals (moved to Cleveland in 1976 then two years later folded) 50th anniversary in the NHL it make sense with the Wild playing against the Sharks (were they're playing the same area as the Seals) as tribute to two fallen teams.

2017 All-Star Game
It's a no brainier that the Maple Leafs will host next season All-Star game, if not New York Rangers should be in line to host the game. With this years All-Star game going a 4 team tournament style who knows what 2017 will bring us.

Well that's my rant post, and my last post of 2015, hope you all have a happy new year and hope a good 2016 for you all.


Sunday 20 December 2015

My unreleased Sabreswords set

Hello everybody, Alan here for another post here at AJH HJA. Today is the team I created two years ago to be part of the HCIHL (Hockey Concept Ideas Hockey League) fantasy league, early this year after the season ended I decide to change my team's look again but switch the colors from green to orange as the main color for my team, as September came no e-mails came to me so that means no HCIHL this year for me, I'm O.K. with that with my work schedule randomly changing ever week to even an odd 3 times within a week that were I can easily lose track and forgot about doing my fantasy team, with not doing any fantasy leagues this year it's pretty much for me to take a break from doing fantasy sports.  I'll wait and see if this league decides to make a come back next year, and when it does I'll be in that league in a heart beat (I'm hoping.) This link will take you to my last year set, now here's what could have been this year.


The main logo I did was a small change the "S" within the logo changed from white with green trim, to green with white trim. The white jersey is still the same only the logo but the color jersey is different, it's all orange with orange socks, and orange helmet. I kept the pants green to make the set more balance look.

Well that's that. No more concepts for the rest of month, I'm debating on whether or not I should put together a rant, it'll be more likely thoughts  about Icethetics yearly "Jersey Watch" post. Until then Happy Holidays everyone!

Saturday 19 December 2015

Colt 2.0

Hi everyone Alan here for another post here at AJH HJA. Today is a OHL team that I made 3 three years ago, after that I thought I would never do it again until HJC had a contest and I can't help it but to do a concept of  that team again, today is the Barrie Colts.


Simple stripes on the arms, hem, sock, and even on the side of the pants. Added cuffs to the wrist, red on the blue jersey, and blue on the white jersey. Standard block font for both numbers, and nameplate. The main crest is indeed the team's Secondary Logo but recolored by me. Lastly the shoulder patch logo (also for the helmet as well) made by me with a small improvement.

HJC Feedback

And so the post is in the books, come over Sunday for my last concept post of 2015, til then later.

Sunday 13 December 2015

Ooooo Barracuda!

Hello readers, Alan here to keep this ship staying on course here on AJH HJA. Today is an AHL concept that has been stuck in my head since this team came into scene, today it's the San Jose Barracuda.

First up the logo, I remove the corporate logo background behind the barracuda, and remove the grin off the barracuda to make it look better to my taste. The arm stripes is base on the team's corporate logo. The colors are teal, black, and silver, I choose silver over orange because I felt it doesn't fit this concept to my taste. Lastly I use the Sharks old number fonts before the edge era.

HJC Feedback
Icethetics Feedback

Well this weekend is in the books, hopefully I got some more in line for the next weekend til then, later.

Saturday 12 December 2015

Concept Contributor: Different Desert Design, and West coast team goes Soccer

Howdy everyone Alan here, today we got two concept made by Ricky, it's been awhile since I post some concept contributor so let's get to it.

Arizona Coyotes Concept
Up points: For a Buffaslug style template being used for both home, and road this one really works for me. Adding the shoulder yoke was a nice touch. Lastly love the alternate jersey!
Down points: On both home, road, and alternate I felt like the front numbers made the front jerseys look too cluttered to my mind. The leaping coyote is alright but it doesn't fit both home and road jerseys.

Anaheim Ducks Soccer Concept
Up points: The dark uniform is nice! The stripes is well placed that doesn't interfere with the numbers, and sponsor logo.
Down points: The white uniform is alright but I felt it belongs in the alternate. I feel that the white should have the same treatment as the dark uniform.

Well there go this post is done! come over here Sunday for my concept, til then later.


Sunday 6 December 2015

IceHL weekend: Unfinished set by me

Hi everyone, Alan here for my last IceHL post here at AJH HJA. Today is a team I had worked on trying to put together before the deadline, but I ran out of time. Today is the Seoul Express.



Simple yet it fits the team. Blue is the main color followed by red. Using Carolina Hurricanes fonts for the nameplate, and the Washington Capitols fonts for the numbers. Nothing much to talk about this set just unfinished, I didn't put a shoulder patch on it and didn't put the "IceHL" tag on it ether because like I said I ran out of time.

Well that's it, next weekend will be west coast theme featuring my work plus a concept contributor! Until then, later.

Saturday 5 December 2015

IceHL weekend: Auckland Rockhoppers

Hi everyone, Alan here for another weekend post here at AJH HJA. Continuing my IceHL weekend post we got the Auckland Rockhoppers.

Another of my "Reeboking" design but I replaced the hem stripes with curved side stripes base on the NY Islanders old black 3rd jersey. I made black as the main color followed by gold, and light blue. Letters are the Anaheim Ducks font, while using the Calgary Flames fonts for the numbers.

Well that's Saturday, see you all Sunday for my last IceHL post that featured the last team I didn't got it finished and miss the deadline. Until then, later.