Canadian Hockey League across Western Canada and Ontario can look forward to their teams sporting a bit of a different look over the next couple of months.
Until the end of March, junior teams in the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League will be rolling out their respective winning designs in the Real Canadian Superstore Jersey Design Contest. Fans 16 years of age or younger had the chance to submit designs for their local junior teams earlier this season for the chance to see them in game action. Entries were due October 31 and winners were chosen in November.
The first two fan-designed jerseys made their debuts on Sunday, January 28, in the WHL. First, the Edmonton Oil Kings wore jersey with the Northern Lights dancing above the Edmonton skyline against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
A little further east, the Saskatoon Blades went with a more whimsical pizza-themed design for their game against the Swift Current Broncos.
Each winning designer won a VIP experience for them and their family on the night the team wears their jersey, along with a team-autographed jersey.
Game-worn jerseys from each team’s dedicated game night will be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefitting the President’s Choice Children’s Charity, “whose dual purpose is to remove hunger as a barrier to a happy life and to educate children about food and nutrition.” Since the program began in March 2021, the CHL and Real Canadian Superstore have raised more than $375,000 for the charity.
Other teams participating in the jersey design contest include:
- Barrie Colts (OHL)
- Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
- Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
- Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
- Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
- Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
- Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
- London Knights (OHL)
- Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
- Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
- Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
- Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
- Oshawa Generals (OHL)
- Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
- Peterborough Petes (OHL)
- Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
- Prince George Cougars (WHL)
- Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
- Regina Pats (WHL)
- Sarnia Sting (OHL)
- Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
- Victoria Royals (WHL)
- Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
All 25 games featuring fan-designed jerseys will be available to watch on a free preview of CHL TV. A full schedule of games can found here.