According to a blog post by former FAN590 radio reporter Howard Berger, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be honouring one of the earliest uniforms in team history for the upcoming 2013 NHL Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Citing a source in the merchandising industry, who Berger claims had previously been spot-on about the Leafs alternate jersey plans last season, Berger states “the club will don a ‘slightly tweaked’ version of the 1931 uniform”.
Ace Bailey wearing the uniform of the 1930-34 Toronto Maple Leafs
This 1930′s Leafs look is NOT the same style as the vintage alternate jersey the club wore regularly (and for half of their playoff games) from the 1999 season through 2011, this style is a generation earlier complete with a different logo and triple-stripes all over the place – up the sleeves, across the shoulders, around the waist, and on the socks.
Should the Leafs actually being going with this look it’s likely the uniform will swap out the white for heritage-white (as most teams do in the Winter Classic), and add a patch commemorating the event on the top-right (from the perspective of the one wearing it) of the jersey front.
The backs of the throwback jersey worn in 1996, notice the lack of player name (http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.ca/)
Toronto had previously worn a jersey similar to this style (shoulder stripes were missing, making it actually the style worn from 1927-1930) during the 1995/96 season to commemorate the 65th anniversary of their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens, the club wore the jersey for at least two games and were the last NHL uniforms to be worn in a game to not feature a player name on the reverse.
Hopefully the 2013 version will also be lacking a last name but I have my doubts.
Red Horner in a colourized version of the 1930-34 uniform
The Leafs wore this style of uniform from 1930/31 through 1933/34 winning their first Stanley Cup as the Toronto Maple Leafs in this design in 1932.
I’d be very happy if this rumour is indeed true, this is the look I had been hoping the team would go with since I first heard that they would be taking part in the Winter Classic. From here on I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that they go that extra mile with the brown leather-style gloves and pants and somehow invent an invisible helmet between now and January 1st.
Make it happen!
Chris Creamer is the founder of SportsLogos.Net and has been maintaining it since June 1997. You can follow him on Twitter at @sportslogosnet or contact him via email at ccreamer@sportslogos.net
Bobby Mason
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 09:17i was hoping they'd go with the st.pats sweaters
Kevin Y
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 09:52Not actually the last jersey to not have a name on the back. In the 2010-11 season, Kings and Canucks wore throwbacks, and neither jersey had player names on the back. Then, later in the season, the Canucks (I believe, it may have been the Kings) wore this jersey again without the names. The Kings did eventually put names on that jersey when they wore it in future games, but both of those teams wore a jersey without a player's name on the back during the 2010-11 season.
Chris Creamer
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 10:33You are correct -- when I wrote that I was telling myself "you're forgetting one" but I couldn't find anything in my (quick) research
Scot
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 09:56This 1930′s Leafs look is NOT the same style as the vintage alternate jersey the club wore regularly (and for half of their playoff games) from the 1999 season through 2011... The Leafs played playoff games in 2011? Nice looking jersey.
Chris Creamer
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 10:32Yes, the Leafs did play playoff games between the 1999 and 2011 seasons... Nice try :P
Scot
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 19:36Seriously though, I think you're confusing the Leafs with the baby Buds. The Leafs haven't made the playoffs since the lockout, a fact that us Sens fans find quite amusing.
Chris Creamer
Friday, August 3, 2012 at 08:53What I find somewhat amusing is that the last time the Leafs played a playoff game was the day before they told me they weren't going to pay me if I continued working for the team ("you have to whore yourself out if you wanna work here" I was told... naturally I quit and perhaps cursed the franchise in the process ;) And since the lockout was in 2004/05, surely even a Sens fan would know that 1998/99 pre-dates that season, or did you try to block out the four straight series' the Leafs beat the Senators in?
Hauviette
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 16:49That is not Charlie Conacher in the top photo, that is Ace Bailey.
Chris Creamer
Friday, August 3, 2012 at 08:54Google Images lies to me again
Aaron
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 18:35I had a feeling the Leafs would wear this or something like it for the Winter Classic. I wonder if the Red Wings will wear the same jerseys they wore during their WC with the Blackhawks.
Cole
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 21:57I'd count on their 1928/29 sweaters. The ones they wore for throwback nights during the 1991/92 season.
Scot
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 19:41As much as I dislike the Leafs (being a Senators fan) I can't help but admit that this is a great look for them. There's something about that neck stripping that's so sleek. It's nice to see the Leafs do something right for a change. However, as an occasional listener of the Fan 590, even I can attest that Howard Berger isn't exactly a credible source on anything.