Hockey Canada recently gave a glimpse of the jerseys that will be worn during the upcoming Olympics in Milan. The teaser immediately set off a wave of fan reactions, many of them critical of the color choices.
Even though the final roster submission is still over a month away, the jersey preview sparked debate online. Many fans expressed confusion and disappointment about the inclusion of black in the design.
“I’ve never seen black on a Canadian flag,” tweeted @CalderSnub22 on X.
“I’ll never understand the obsession of adding black to our color scheme,” wrote @kjc_2599 on X.
The jerseys appear to include thick black stripes on the sleeves and possibly a black maple leaf, reminiscent of the look from Team Canada’s Beijing appearance. That version of the team, without NHL players, lost to Sweden in the quarterfinals, which may explain why some fans were hoping for a fresh look.
“So basically the same as the previous Olympic jerseys? Logos and stripes look the same. Disappointing,” commented @curmudgeonaf.
The full design was unveiled on Thursday, confirming the earlier speculation. This new style marks a shift from the red and white jerseys worn at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where Canada claimed victory.
“It’s a shame because the 4 Nations jersey was elite,” shared @DrCrackOfficial on X.
Fans are divided over Hockey Canada’s new Olympic jerseys, with many questioning the choice to bring back black elements instead of the classic red and white design that recently brought success.