It was supposed to be worn for one night only back in 2022, but the Prince Albert Raiders knew their 50th anniversary jersey was too good to collect dust in their locker room.
The Western Hockey League team has brought back a fan- and player-favorite jersey from their 50th anninversary season in 2021-22 and added it to their permanent rotation as an alternate jersey.
The jersey is predominantly black with a gold logo on the front depicting a skull wearing a pirate hat. The collar is black with a green insert at the front and black laces. Green stripes extend out from the collar and taper toward the shoulders. The hem has a broad green stripe, while the sleeves have green and gold stripes.
The Raiders’ primary logo appears on each shoulder, while a green panel runs under each arm. The numbers on the sleeves are gold, while on the back they’re green with a gold outline. The name on the back is one-color gold.
The new jersey is almost identical to what the Raiders wore against the Saskatoon Blades on March 19, 2022, during their 50th anniversary season. It was touted at the time as a one-night-only look, but Raiders business manager Michael Scissons told the Prince Albert Herald they were too good to not bring back.
“I think these ones were overwhelmingly well-received and thought of as unique and appropriate for the Raiders to be wearing,” he said. “(There are) a couple of small changes. We put our regular logo on the shoulder this time because that’s another logo we’re incredibly proud of and changed the shading a little bit on the main logo.”
Both versions of the jerseys were designed by Montréal artist Alec Des Rivières. “It’s really cool to finally see something you made in real life. I don’t really see the results because I just send the design off and they do whatever they want with it or they print it,” he told PANow.com in March 2022. “(The Raiders) sent me a jersey, it’s in my room. It’s really cool to see. I saw photos of the pucks they’re going to use for the game. It’s really awesome.”
Scissons said that while most of the 50th anniversary festivities in 2021-22 looked back on the Raiders’ history, the black jersey was intended to be a step forward.
“We worked with an artist out of Montreal, who we gave some direction to what we’d consider a futuristic pirate look, something that would take us into the next 50 years. This is what he came up with,” he said. “We made a couple of small changes, but here they are today now as our permanent third jerseys.”
The Raiders wore the new jerseys at home against the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, December 8, a game they won 4-3. Forward Ryder Ritchie was a big fan.
“I love ’em. I wish we could wear them more,” he said in a video posted to the Raiders’ website after the game. “I think we look mean in black. I love the jerseys; they did a great job with those.”
Related stories:
QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads Throw It Back to the ’90s for New Alternates 
Viva Leth Vegas! WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes Don Casino-Themed Jerseys 
WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings Can Bear-ly Contain Excitement For Teddy Bear Toss Uniforms 
WHL’s Saskatoon Blades Look to Bulldoze Competition in Retro Jerseys 
Cowabunga Dudes! WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes Break Out Ninja Turtle Jerseys 
WHL’s Regina Pats to Sport Special Jerseys Tonight for Cancer Awareness Game 
Return of the ‘Bull Skull’: WHL’s Red Deer Rebels Unveil New Alternate Jersey 
WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors Mark 40th Season With New Logo, Third Jersey