New Storm?

The new Carolina Hurricanes home and away jerseys | Photo: Carolina Hurricanes

I've prided myself on sticking to my boycott of the Carolina Hurricanes and NHL Hockey since the ridiculous lockout happened, which caused the season to be very short. 

I wasn't going to support these greedy, selfish players and owners after they showed no regard to the fans by locking out for the second time in just seven years. So I decided to conduct my own lockout - along with many other disgruntled fans I might add. I didn't watch a game, didn't buy any merchandise. Heck I didn't even play my NHL Hockey video game or buy the latest version, like I've done every year before.

I'm still in boycott mode and will probably never go back to the game of hockey. Despite that, I had to get out of boycott mode to talk about this...

The Carolina Hurricanes, fresh off yet another lackluster season, decided to "impress" its fans - who'll also see a hike in ticket prices this coming season - with the unveiling of new jerseys (pictured above).

It apparently took two whole years of creative brainiacs putting their heads together to arrive at this concept; unfortunately with the finished product looking like it was created in two minutes rather than two years.

The jerseys scream "we're a bland, ordinary team" everywhere you look. Luke DeCock of News & Observer wrote that the jerseys "sever a link" the team had with the Stanley Cup which it won in 2006.

The biggest change?

The classic, storm warning logo has been completely erased from the front of the jersey and is now stuffed inside the neckline where no one can see it. Other than that, there's just a lot of red, white and stripes. That's about it.

In fact, take away the colors and the fundamental jersey designs are completely different. The home jersey (pictured above, left) has two thick stripes arms and legs with that stupid tie thing on the neck from the Dark Ages of hockey. It looks like someone is trying to lace up a shoe without really tying it. 

The away jersey (above, right) has a series of two thin stripes and one thick stripe in the middle on the arms and legs with no tie thingy on the neck. The team said its current black, alternate jersey - which looks nothing like the two new ones - will remain in rotation but will rarely be worn. 

All I have to say is wow. I honestly didn't think the 'Canes could get any lower but they have. The new jerseys are horrible and, quite honestly, a disgrace to this so called "team" I used to love.

Most of my opinions as of late have been in the minority but not this time. From looking at Twitter and Facebook throughout the day of the unveil, the vast majority of people have voiced their displeasure with the change - but, of course, the 'Canes organization is completely oblivious to it. Just take a look at this conversation I found on Twitter last night:
  

@splattergrits Trending nationally and lots of debate is a great reaction. There will always be differing opinions!
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) June 4, 2013

@nhlcanes this isn't difference in opinion. Between twitter and fb it seems 70% are disappointed in the direction you chose.
— Chase Baldwin (@ChaseBaldw1n) June 4, 2013

This organization, with its fans clearly making their voices heard, has turned a deaf ear to it all. As far as I'm concerned these sucky jerseys match a sucky team! This relatively young franchise should have created two or three designs and let its fans choose which was best suited. Or, at the very least, let fans provide feedback before the "grand" unveil. 

The 'Canes encouraged fans to use the Twitter hashtag #NewStorm to voice reaction during the unveil. 

#NewStorm? I'd say more like #TropicalDepression - at best.