McDavid makes colourful debut, sporting new orange third jersey
Oilers’ first new sweater since 2011 is throwback to team’s WHA days
It was no mystery who the Edmonton Oilers would draft with the No. 1 pick Friday. But when Connor McDavid stepped on stage at the NHL entry draft in Sunrise, Fla., he became the first player to pull on a new third jersey introduced by the team for the special occasion.
“It seems like a symbol of a new reality,” said 15-yearold lifetime Oilers fan James Thomas. “To me, it represents a new future for the franchise.”
The orange jersey features the classic Oilers’ logo in the centre with blue and white trim on the shoulders and sleeves. It will be worn for seven select home games during the upcoming NHL season, including the home opener on Oct. 15.
The jersey is a throwback to the sweater the Oilers wore when they were one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association.
Immediately following McDavid’s selection, the Oilers announced that all current season-ticket and suite holders will receive the new jersey as a gift from the team.
“The passion and loyalty of Oilers fans speaks for itself. They have proven time and again to be the best fans in the NHL, if not in all of professional sports, and this is our way of saying thank you,” Oilers owner Daryl Katz said in a news release.
“It is truly an exciting time to be an Oilers fan and we look forward to celebrating both our past and our future together this season in an orange wave of support.”
The team said the jersey was introduced to launch the Oilers’ “farewell season” at Rexall Place. The Oilers will play in the new downtown arena in the fall of 2016.
“This new orange jersey is an exciting addition to the roster of jerseys worn by the Edmonton Oilers over the last 40 years,” Oilers Entertainment Group CEO Bob Nicholson said in a news release.
“It is both contemporary and fresh while also paying homage to the great history of the organization.
“The wave of orange is going to look great during our farewell season at Rexall Place and beyond.”
This is the eighth time in franchise history the Oilers have introduced a new jersey. The last time was in 2011, with the team bringing back a vintage jersey from the early 1980s as its permanent away jersey. That new jersey was also introduced at the draft, when the team used its No. 1 pick to select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
The fans mirrored the franchise’s excitement for the future.
“I like them,” said Oilers fan Hazen Howe. “New look. New player. New coach. New GM. New scouts. New arena next year. I’m pumped.”
Fans can pre-order the new jersey by visiting oilers.nhl. com or the Oilers’ store in Kingsway Mall. The jerseys will be available for purchase in other retail locations this fall.