You guys are probably aware that the NHL’s Winter Classic, which will be played between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, will be taking place on New Year’s Eve (so, December 31, 2024). The game will be held at historic Wrigley Field, which has hosted the WC once before, when the Blackhawks played the Detroit Red Wings; that game was held in 2009.
But the Winter Classic won’t be the only ice hockey game to be played at Wrigley Field this season. Dubbed “The Frozen Confines: The Big Ten Hockey Series,” Notre Dame Men’s Hockey will be taking on Penn State on January 3, 2025. Ohio State and Michigan Men’s Hockey will also be plaing that date (there will also be two games the following day — OSU vs. Wisconsin Women and Wisconsin Men vs. Michigan State).
With that big game on the schedule, Notre Dame Men’s Hockey have unveiled special new sweaters to be worn for the game. The jerseys will pay homage to the Windy City.
There are a couple cool features seen on this jersey: The crest uses the Cubs “C” logo, with the Notre Dame Leprechaun contained mostly within the C. Additionally, the sleeves will feature light blue and white striping, bordered in thin black (or very dark navy), with four shamrocks rendered in gold — many of you will instantly recognize that as an ode to the Flag of Chicago. The jersey is white, but the blue elements are taken directly from the light blue of Chicago’s flag. Each jersey also has gold “ND” logos atop the shoulders, and TV numbers will be light blue outlined in black/navy.
They even do a bit of storytelling with the jersey. And unfortunately, the team didn’t reveal the rear of the jersey on social media, but they did show what the rear numbers will look like.
The team has not unveiled what helmets, breezers or socks they will wear, but when ND wears white jerseys, their domes are golden and their pants are blue. Socks generally match the color and stripe pattern on the jersey sleeve. I’d expect we’ll see gold helmets and blue pants, but I think the team will get special socks to match the “Chicago” style of the jersey.
In general, I like the special sweater Notre Dame has created for the event. It plays nicely off the Chicago flag and Cubs “C” logo without being too garish. I wish we could see the rear of the jersey — but I’d imagine the striping on the hem will be the same as the front, and hopefully the rear numbers will be HUGE. Not that fans in Wrigley’s seats will be able to make them out from afar, every little bit helps. I’m actually surprised the TV numbers are 1) as small as they are, and 2) in light blue with black (or very dark blue) outline. Those will be impossible to read from afar. Generally outdoor hockey games — at least the NHL’s outdoor games — feature comically oversized TV numbers.
I’ll reserve full judgment until I see the full uniform on ice, but so far, I like what I see.
Your thoughts?
I like how these look, but I wouldn’t be able to tell right away this was being worn by a Notre Dame team.
I love the logo in the logo look though!
If Notre Dame wears their usual gold helmets, that should be sufficient identification.
Notre Dame Tar Heels?
Doesn’t look like Notre Dame. Doesn’t look like Chicago. Ugly. Poor contrast for stadium viewing. 0 for 4.
Fine logo, but should have been a special logo on otherwise more normal jerseys. It’s one thing to do something special for a special occasion, but it’s lost in the sauce if you don’t look like yourself anymore. And frankly it’s why I found myself tuned out of Uni Watching these days. I’m not saying that nobody is allowed to change, but when everybody changes everything all the time and I can’t recognize anybody or anything anymore, I can’t find the energy to care. Good logo on the wrong place, because the place is a jersey that doesn’t look a thing like Notre Dame, so if it’s in the wrong place then it’s a total misfire and it’s not so good anymore.
The BEST example of a special jersey for this occasion is when Boston University hockey (whose jerseys say “Boston” on the front) had otherwise totally normal uniforms for their date at Fenway Park, but they used Red Sox letters to spell BOSTON on these jerseys.
This is a good take.
I’m more of a traditionalist, but I like the look of these for a one-off game. Sort of a balancing act (light blue from the flag, but gold shamrocks vs red stars, etc.). I get the “it doesn’t look like ND” sentiment, but anyone tuning in knows it’s a special game and the participants (vs regular games you might find yourself watching) so I don’t know that instant recognition matters here as much. I’d also say the fighting leprechaun makes it pretty obvious, different colors or not.
If people are ok with college football teams having new uniforms nearly every game, sometimes not even in school colors, they need to be ok with this one off. It’s ok with the light blue for one game as a tribute to the city.
Does anyone know if these will be available for purchase?
I’m not a big fan of sarcasm, but this is pretty funny.
I think it is cool they are utilizing environment for many games. I am assuming a couple other schools will have fun uniforms, I am excited to see!
side note: I love the less commercialized college sports. I hope others saw the ncaa men’s soccer final, Vermont’s uniforms were beautiful. Loved the simplistic striped scarfs coach/fans had also!
Using as your crest logo a log of another team…in a different sport…from a different city…is definitely a choice.
Generally the winter classic jerseys are pretty traditional number sizing. It’s the stadium series games that get the oversized numbers.
I do understand the ad nauseam regarding the alternate uni-verse, and I am not a Notre Dame fan either. But for the uniqueness of the event at Wrigley, I think these jerseys are pretty sharp and very creative with a neat concept.
I noticed the nine gold stripes along the bottom shadow of the C, which ND says are in reference to the Founder’s Lines that adorn Notre Dame Stadium’s end zones. (Yes, I ran a Google search.) I thought they made the shadow appear as the edge of a hockey puck.
My first glance of the C offered a different take on the leprechaun: It appeared to be like a Chicago blue collar worker.
It will be interesting to see how they complement the jerseys with breezers, socks and breezers.
I love this one, not only as an Irish fan, but also the tie in with the venue and the city. I would have loved this equally if it had been designed for any other school participating in this series. The details are really clever.
Does anyone know if these are for sale? When How much and where at?