Writing about 20 underrated sports uniforms from college football, NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA. One uniform at a time.
The uniform history of the Vancouver Canucks is as wild as any team in the NHL. When the team debuted in 1970 they had simple blue, green, and white uniforms featuring an understated hockey stick inside an ice rink logo. Then in 1978, design agency Beyl & Boyd created one of the most unique color schemes in North American sports with yellow, black, and red-orange completely devoid of white trim. The team updated to a new laser flying skate logo but the jerseys famously only featured a large “V” draped over the shoulders.
Things remained mostly the same until 1985 when more traditional hockey stripes were used and the flying skate logo became the crest on the jersey. Ahead of the 1989 season, Vancouver ditched the yellow home uniforms and adopted a white jersey and socks set for the ice.
Change came again in 1997 with blue, silver, and maroon colors featuring a new orca whale logo breaking through ice and forming a “C.”
The original designers literally said they wanted ‘hot’ looking uniforms.
After a successful 3rd jersey launch of their original uniforms in 2006, the Canucks switched back to royal blue and green for 2007 but kept the orca logo. That’s where things have remained today, but the team did bring back the 1989-97 throwbacks as a 3rd jersey recently and they look so good.
No one looks like this in the league, and I say that as blue and green are my favorite colors. If you agree the flying skate logo is too messy for modern tastes, at least go back to these colors. They are the best.
