For any long-time Minnesota sports fan, this was a welcome style to see worn by the hometown NHL club again. When they were sold to the public, both the replica/authentic jerseys and the game worn jerseys were immediately gobbled up, with the latter disappearing deep into collections, seldom to ever be seen again. So highly coveted have they become that the collectors who own them will not even entertain offers for their sale. While they sold very well at auction (the Kirill Kaprizov went for $20,100, for example), the ones that have been made available since then have commanded a premium even beyond the auction price.
A few factors lead to this jersey being a great style-representation for this collection:
1. It was on the ice for some good times, none better than the contribution of the 3rd goal's 2nd assist in Kaprizov's first NHL hat trick:
A few factors lead to this jersey being a great style-representation for this collection:
1. It was on the ice for some good times, none better than the contribution of the 3rd goal's 2nd assist in Kaprizov's first NHL hat trick:
2. In the 1978-79 season (the year the Minnesota North Stars wore the style that this style was modeled after), the number 21 was in use by a beloved homegrown hero named Jack Carlson. Jack is from Virgnia, Minnesota and is one of three Carlson brothers who went on to play for the Minnesota Fighting Saints' farm club, the NAHL Johnstown Jets. While with the Jets, the Carlsons became the real-life basis for the 'Hanson Brothers' characters in the movie Slap Shot. Jack actually was not able to be in the movie because (since he was arguably the best player out of the three) he had been called up to the big club for the playoffs. Here's a look at the original style, Jack wearing that style, and Jack later wearing a newer style in a North Stars alumni game. Jack now lives in Savage, Minnesota, has thankfully now recovered from a fight with cancer, and still referees hockey games. He is an absolutely beloved hockey legend in the state of Minnesota.
The only great departure that the Adidas jerseys took from the 78 shirts is that the number colors were reversed from green on gold to gold on green. It looked bizarre to me at first but they've grown on me.
Is it possible that I've missed an intended joke though?:
REVERSED? The colors were REVERSED? REVERSE retro? Pun intended...hmmmm...maybe.
The only great departure that the Adidas jerseys took from the 78 shirts is that the number colors were reversed from green on gold to gold on green. It looked bizarre to me at first but they've grown on me.
Is it possible that I've missed an intended joke though?:
REVERSED? The colors were REVERSED? REVERSE retro? Pun intended...hmmmm...maybe.
And 3. Carson is a pseudo-adopted Minnesotan, having been drafted by the Wild and subsequently playing four years at the University of Minnesota Duluth. In his senior season, he wore an A and lost to the Denver Pioneers in the NCAA Championship game. The Championship game was on 4/8/2017 and Chuck Fletcher signed him on 4/10/2017. The Wild never got rid of Doctor Soucy; they just ran out of protected spots and he was plucked by the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft.
Come for a visit anytime, Carson. Go 'Dogs!
Come for a visit anytime, Carson. Go 'Dogs!