Should the flying skate become the Canucks’ third jersey?

Vancouver Canucks fans have a strong connection with the Flying Skate jersey. Here, we debate if the team should make it an official third.

Many people would love to see the Flying Skate as a permanent fixture in the Vancouver Canucks wardrobe, but is that the best choice for the franchise?

Myself and Bailey Broadbent discuss our thoughts on the matter in a for and against style article.

Pro-skate: Bailey Broadbent

1. It’s different

Just take a quick look across the leagues wardrobe, and it’s easy to see that most teams opt for quite different designs when it comes to their third jerseys — and that’s precisely what the skate jersey is.

The beautiful uniform set features an aggressive combination of black, yellow and red — a stark contrast to the royal blue and green that have become synonymous with the Canucks off today. By pulling the skate jersey into the consistent rotation as a third jersey, the team would be treating fans and players alike with a beloved set that provides a completely different look than the typical gameday uniform, the entire purpose of a third jersey.

2. It’s beloved

Connection to the skate jersey in Vancouver is hard to ignore. While met with mixed reviews in its unveiling during the late ’80s the skate rose in popularity after the team’s Stanley Cup run in 1994. Since then, the jersey has gained a cult like following among Canuck fans.

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By bringing back the skate as an official third jersey, the Canucks would be paying homage to the fan base of the ’90s, while also resonating with a newer, younger generation of fans that have longed to see the skate jersey in action regularly.

3. It’s popular

While Canucks fans have been able to see the skate jersey front and centre on the ice two times this year, it’s become increasingly difficult to see it in stores on the shelf. On many occasions, the jersey has sold out, both online and in-person.

In a seasons with the team unveiling three other “new” jerseys (new to varying degrees), it’s safe to believe that the previously worn Skate jersey has arguably outsold the rest.

And while this may be a stretch, by seeing insane demand in store and an increasing number of spaghetti jerseys at games, it’s a no brainer for the team to capitalize and bring back the skate jersey to the regular rotation once and for all.

Anti-skate: Jacob Calvert

1. The marketing

There is a reason that the Flying Skate jerseys are always sold out, and I believe that there is a conspiracy at work here (or at least a hidden agenda).

The Vancouver market is so divided on everything that introducing more division will only cause trouble, a sea of blue with a splash of green is what everyone wants to see when they look at the stands. The popularity of the skate is undermining what the Canucks have done with the blue and green brand.

They have come full circle now with a reimagined heritage jersey and the blue and green together as one. To flash backwards and undo all of the marketing and branding that has been done would be a huge misstep.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the skate and am planning on getting a jersey myself, but the Canucks are doing this right by paying tribute to their past and allowing fans to get an updated jersey without flooding the market.

2. No word-marks

Words on a jersey that aren’t names or signatures are fouls for me; its why I loved the word-mark being erased and why I’m a huge fan of the heritage jersey.  While the word-mark on the Flying Skate is minimal and includes “Canucks” instead of “Vancouver” like that of last year’s primaries, its still a very messy logo, and as the nickname describes, doesn’t look like much more than a plate of spaghetti to the average onlooker.

3. The Flames connection

Black, red and yellow: Three colours that represent the Flying Skate jersey and that of the Calgary Flames. Rivals at key points in both of these teams history, the Flames are going to be a rival of the Canucks once again come playoff time.  I don’t want there to be any confusion when we look at the arena and see what colours are more prevalent.

There is no way to look past the history of the Flying Skate jersey, but it’s 2020 now, and 2011 was nine years ago. There’s history with the blue and green, too. The Canucks need to keep on trucking forward and win with a fresh set of threads that have nothing but the present associated with them.

We love the jerseys. Us folks at The Canuck Way  are so happy to see them back, even for only a couple games down the stretch. Fingers crossed that the Canucks keep them for next year.