The PWHL announced home and away jerseys league-wide on Nov. 7. This comes following the names and logos which were released on Sept. 9. [photo courtesy Bauer/PWHL]

They’re finally here. After a full season played in generic, uniformly designed sweaters, and two months following the reveal of team names and logos, the PWHL’s six franchises unveiled their new looks in partnership with Bauer on Nov. 7.

“Players and fans alike have been waiting for this moment and we couldn’t be happier with the six unique looks each team will don moving forward,” said PWHL senior vice-president of business operations Amy Scheer. “These jerseys mark the latest evolution in our league’s history, and we can’t wait to see them showcased both on the ice and in the stands.” 

In a nice touch, each team’s jersey numbers feature a unique motif related to the team’s branding. The Boston Fleet sport a wave design, the Montréal Victoire rep the fleur-de-lis and the Toronto Sceptres tout their namesake in the form of mini sceptres.

Interestingly, all six teams’ uniforms feature players’ names at the top of their jerseys, above the numbers. Last season, PWHL jersey sponsor Molson Canadian ran the “See My Name” campaign, which shifted players’ names to the bottom of the jersey so they wouldn’t be obstructed by players’ longer hair. It remains to be seen whether this initiative, which garnered widespread support, will return for the PWHL’s second season.

But with all six uniforms out in the public eye, they’re asking to be compared. Here’s a breakdown of them all, in order of best to worst:

Montréal Victoire

Emanating from a classy burgundy base colour, Montréal boasts a timeless-yet-classic look. The navy blue shoulders and pants perfectly complement the burgundy and the simple off-white striping on the bottom of the sweater. The unexpected splash of bright blue spikes the whole design with a vivid contrast.

The Victoire logo looked great on its own when it was first revealed, but it looks even better splayed across the front of a jersey. Capping the design are the subtle fleur-de-lis on the jersey numbers, a proper nod to the team’s name and the city’s rich history.

New York Sirens

https://twitter.com/PWHL_NewYork/status/1854615829230535019

The Sirens’ logo probably wasn’t one of the most popular emblems two months ago, but the vision really coalesces with the league’s flashiest colour scheme.

The striking contrast of teal, navy, orange and grey pops in a way befitting the city that never sleeps. Beyond the colours, the effort to go outside the box with angular sleeve stripes pairs well with the loud, hexagonal logo. Trimming the white numbers with orange was the right choice, but it would’ve been even better if that carried over to the name bars.

While the linework on the jersey numbers, meant to represent “sound vibrations, echoing the city’s constant hum and buzz,” falls pretty flat, it doesn’t bring anything else down with it.

Toronto Sceptres

Carried by an appropriately royal colour scheme, Toronto’s logo looks particularly dignified stretched down a sweater. It catches the eye and is instantly recognizable from up close and at a distance. The confidence of the design is apparent, from the yellow, medal-like collar to the clean lines across the waist and socks. 

However, for an otherwise classic look, the sleeves look out of place with the half-wrap design above the wrists. A couple of solid, continuous stripes wrapping all the way around would be preferable. Additionally, the away jersey numbers would pop if they were yellow instead of blue.

Boston Fleet

https://twitter.com/PWHL_Boston/status/1854517029631377719

It makes complete sense that the Fleet rolled with a “B” crest to honour the city of Boston and its NHL counterpart, but the wave design inside the crest was uncertain. The minimalist effort resembles a collection of squiggly lines.

But now standing against a deep green base, the logo fits much more comfortably. The ocean blue shoulder accents are pristine and the decision to use four bands of striping down low is a great nod to the team’s maritime theming.

Even so, the classic hockey design still leaves the feeling that something was left on the table here. With a theme as strong and varied as the ocean, the possibilities are endless and it would’ve been intriguing to play with more wave imagery on the jersey’s waist rather than a simple and orderly striping.

 Minnesota Frost

https://twitter.com/PWHL_Minnesota/status/1854901700894867852

The only team to feature any purple, Minnesota sports a cool and clean look to pay homage to their chilling winters. The diagonal “F” logo creates a sense of movement and speed, while clean white and purple lines adorn the waist. 

The white accents on the shoulders, arms and waist capture the feeling of a frozen landscape, and their icy contrast with the dark and light purples plays well. 

However, there’s some concerns and missed opportunities. First, the “F” design leaves an enormous swath of the jersey’s front completely empty, creating an unbalanced look that might become more obvious in game action when players’ arms obstruct the logo. 

Second, is the black pants and gloves. With one of the boldest and most modern colour schemes, Minnesota had a perfect opportunity to blind opponents with white or light purple pants and gloves. It would be flamboyant in the best possible sense for the defending Walter Cup champions.

Ottawa Charge 

Ottawa came forth with easily the most confusing and vague nickname and logo, and that general lack of identity has carried through into the jersey design.

The Calgary Flames and Cleveland Cavaliers mashup logo looks slightly better on a jersey, but the colour scheme is expanded with two shades of grey that drag the uniform into generic blandness. The grey bands are said to add “depth and a sense of momentum,” but they really just pollute the electric yellow accents that the uniform sorely needs. 

Like most of the teams, Ottawa opted for a rather traditional jersey template that experiments very little with the “Charge” name and spirit. Rather than leaning into the electricity elements that could really spark life and excitement, it’s Ottawa’s conservative and bureaucratic nature that rears its head here.

However, the jersey numbers feature small electrical charges that do add intrigue to the design. 

Featured image courtesy Bauer/PWHL

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