A little less than a week ago, the 2010 Memorial Cup wrapped up with the Windsor Spitfires winning their second consecutive Memorial Cup, the first team since the Kamloops Blazers did in the mid 1990's.
As was started with the Kitchener Rangers in 2008, the Brandon Wheat Kings brought a touch of class and Remembrance to the Tournament with special uniforms. CFB Shilo is the only military installation in Manitoba, and is located a scant 20 minutes from the Wheat Kings arena.
The uniform itself looks excellent, the various elements hiding the fact the team used the Chicago Blackhawks Winter Classic template to build the design upon. Using black as the backdrop, the team used it's signature yellow to highlight the white stripes around the jersey. The front crest serves as the main identifier of the Canadian Forces tribute, the detailed red maple leaf adorned behind by crossed swords.
The crossed swords represent martyrdom, bringing in the element of Remembrance that the Memorial Cup itself celebrates. On the left chest in the place of the captaincy is a red poppy patch, placed where it would sit on a coat or lapel during early November. The "C" is moved to the left shoulder to make room.
The Wheat Kings primary logo adorns the right shoulder, while the now traditional 'Year Patch" (a small image of the Memorial Cup with the year displayed) sits on the left shoulder.
Brandon has done a superb job in creating a traditional yet suitable uniform as the hosts of the Cup Tournament. With the first season of EDGE uniforms in the CHL finished, it is not too far-fetched to believe that the CHL will re-introduce alternate uniforms for the 2010-2011 season. Already, several teams had worn altnates this year, including Kitchener, Regina, Mississauga, Sarnia, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert to name a few. Many were to commemorate the Olympic Torch relay in the winter, as well as some for Remembrance Day in November. With the exception of the Regina red Pit-bull uniform, most were well done. Sarnia has already unveiled their new alternate jersey with their first round pick in the OHL bantam draft, and will be featured in an upcoming article.
It gives some hope that the forth coming alternates in 2010-2011 will be better planed out than most of the NHL alternates that came to light in the second season on the NHL EDGE experiment. For now, Brandon managed to keep a growing traditional alive with a beautiful tribute jersey. The onus of carrying on that tradition now falls to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, the hosts of the 2011 Memorial Cup to carry on the tradition. If their 2009 Remembrance uniform is any indication, the tradition is in good hands.
'till next time, keep your stick on the ice.
-zer0dotcom
