On
February 8th, 1966, the NHL awarded the city of Pittsburgh an
expansion team. Prior to the expansion era, the NHL consisted of six
franchises, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Boston. With the
city of Pittsburgh being awarded an NHL franchise, the next step was to come up
with a “nickname”. So the introduction
of a contest was announced. The winner of the contest ultimately ended up being
Penguins, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The
reason behind the name was simply due to the Civic Arena’s nickname, “Igloo”.
1967-68
The
inaugural season the Penguins weren’t wearing the accustomed colours that we
all now know. They wore powder blue, white & navy blue with the word
“Pittsburgh” across the front diagonally, very similar to the New York Rangers.
Stripes were used on the arms & bottom of the jersey. On the powder blue
uniforms, the multiple stripes were thick navy blue with thin white stripes. On
the white uniform, the multiple stripes were thick powder blue with thin navy
blue stripes. On both uniforms the wrists had a thick navy blue stripe. The
last names of players were not on the back.
1968-70
The
following season, the uniforms were changed. The entire front of the jersey
would see a change. They introduced a
crest that featured a skating penguin over a gold triangle all in a circle.
Inside of the circle had the words “Pittsburgh” on the top & “Penguins” on
the bottom. The gold triangle was to symbolize the downtown area of Pittsburgh.
The multiple stripes would change into one thick stripe on the arms & bottom
of jersey. On the home jersey (white), the thick stripe colour was powder blue
with the thin stripe being navy blue. On the away jersey (powder blue), the
thick stripe colour was white with the think stripe being navy blue. The
uniform was re-introduced in the 2008 Winter Classic game. The last names of players were not on the
back.
1970-71
At
the beginning of this season the only change that happened on these uniforms,
were the introduction of the players last names on the back of the white (home)
uniform
1971-73
The circle was eliminated and the skating penguin became the main
crest.
1973-74
The
powder blue colour becomes a darker shade of blue.
1974-75
The
skating penguin crest becomes larger & the stripes on the uniforms changed.
The stripes on the arms changed to the diagonal stripe.
1975-76
The
stripes would change again.
1977-80
The
primary colours would change back to navy blue. In the middle of the 1979-80
season, ownership decided to change the colours to black, gold and white to
follow suit of the other professional teams in the city. The change happened
not only to follow suit but owners wanted to test their luck and hoped to
follow suit and win a championship that season. In 1979, the Steelers &
Pirates both won world championships. The Boston Bruins would protest the
colours & style of uniforms as they were similar to the Bruins. Ultimately
the protest fell flat. In 2014-15 season, the black uniform would be introduced
as the team’s third jersey.
1981-83
The
Penguins would introduce a third gold jersey that they would wear occasionally
for their home games.
1983-84
The gold uniform would be the primary
uniform that would be worn in this season. The white jersey wouldn’t be used at
all this season.
1984-92
The
gold uniforms would be used only in preseason but ultimately retired prior to
the season, bringing back the white jersey as their primary home uniform. They claimed two Stanley Cup championships
under these uniforms.
1992-95
After
winning their second consecutive championship, the team would retire the
skating penguin logo & the entire look of both jerseys. The Penguins
changed the logo to what would be known now as the “Robo-Penguin”. This would
be the crest on the home jerseys. On the road black jerseys, the Penguins re-introduced
the word “Pittsburgh” diagonally across the front.
1995-97
The
Penguins introduced a brand-new alternate jersey, which has been one of the
most unique uniforms in teams history. The jersey would feature different
stripping patterns on the arms and middle of the jersey.
1997-2000
The
alternative jersey would become the primary road uniform as their prior road
uniform would be retired.
2000-2002
The
Penguins welcomed back the skating penguin logo & was featured in their new
alternative jersey. The new alternative jersey would feature Vegas Gold instead
of the gold colour.
2002-2007
The
new skating penguin jerseys would become the primary jerseys as they introduced
the brand new white uniform.
2007-Present
The
Reebok era would begin for the entire National Hockey League. The jersey would
remain the same with only difference being the stripes.
2011-13
The
Penguins introduced a vintage style uniform to wear in the Winter Classic. This
uniform primary colour is navy blue with the penguin in the logo wearing a scarf.
The jersey would feature similar stripes from what they wore in their inaugural
season.
2014-Present
The
club brought back the championship jerseys that became one of the most popular
selling uniforms as it brings back tradition and the glory era of Pittsburgh
hockey.
Labels: Brad Maunder