Hockey Canada revealed a preview of the jerseys the Olympic teams will wear in Milan, sparking immediate reactions from fans. The final roster for Team Canada is still over a month away, but the jersey design has already drawn criticism.
Many fans expressed displeasure about the introduction of black to the traditional Canadian color scheme.
“I’ve never seen Black on a Canadian Flag,” tweeted @CalderSnub22.
“I’ll never understand the obsession of adding black to our color scheme,” added @kjc_2599.
Though the full design remains unclear, the jerseys seem to feature thick black stripes on the arms and possibly bring back the black maple leaf from the Beijing Olympics.
The black-themed jerseys resemble the ones worn in Beijing, where the team, without NHL players, lost in the quarterfinals to Sweden. This past outcome reflects why fans might be hoping for a fresh look.
“So basically the same as the previous Olympic jerseys? Logos and strips look the same. Disappointing,” shared @curmudgeonaf.
The official unveiling of the jerseys was scheduled for Thursday, which would confirm whether the teased design makes it to the Olympics. The upcoming design also contrasts with the red and white jerseys worn at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where Canada won the tournament.
“It's a shame because the 4 Nations jersey was elite,” commented @DrCrackOfficial.
Team Canada's fans clearly have strong opinions on the design choices, especially regarding the use of black, which they associate with less successful past performances.
Author's summary: Fans are critical of the new black-accented Olympic jerseys teased by Hockey Canada, expressing a strong preference for traditional colors linked to past victories.