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Blackhawks Wed Aug 28 2013
Kane, Saad and Leddy Model USA Hockey Jerseys
USA Hockey made like Fashion Week yesterday, in our Nation's Capital, revealing the look of the team's jerseys for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Donning the twenty-third edition of garb for the red, white and blue were the Blackhawks' own Patrick Kane, Nick Leddy and Brandon Saad. The three representatives from the 2013 Stanley Cup champs (it's probably now safe to refer to them as defending champs), are three of 48 invitees, who recently attended the U.S. Men's National Team Orientation Camp at Kettler Capitals IcePlex in Arlington, VA.
The jerseys have received mixed reviews, mostly due to the shaded stars, which are placed around the shoulders, reminiscent of a scarf, over top the dark-blue jersey. In the middle, just below the sternum, is a shield-like patch, containing red and white vertical stripes with the words "USA" at the top. It's as though Captain America laced up his skates and jumped in the team photo -- then again, maybe that was the idea.
However, other members of the squad look at the jerseys in a different light. St. Louis Blues captain David Backes and Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson stand by the look and feel the classy and humble look are not in any way flashy, but more so inspiring.
The jerseys also will recognize the gold-medal winning teams from 1960, in Squaw Valley, and 1980, in Lake Placid, by displaying the words, "LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE BRAVE" on the inside of each jersey on the back collar.
With 48 players looking to make the cut, which eventually will whittle down to 25, the two players not named Patrick Kane should have a shot. Keeping in mind the international ice surface is slightly bigger than the NHL surface, which will give the younger players like Leddy and Saad more open room to fly past their opponents.
(The average size of an NHL rink is 85-feet wide and 200-feet long, while the International hockey rink sizes up at 98-feet wide and 210-feet long.)
Kane has Olympic experience, having helped his country's team make it to the gold-medal game in 2010, against Canada in host-city Vancouver. This potentially will be the first go-around for Leddy and Saad who hope to make the final roster to play for head coach Dan Bylsma on February 12 through the 23, in the gold-medal game in 2014, in Sochi, Russia.
Andrew Huff / August 28, 2013 11:15 AM
It looks like a bulk rate stamp to me.