The Senators yesterday confirmed their new heritage jersey was prematurely revealed at a retail outlet in Buffalo after Reebok mistakenly sent the retailer the jersey prior to its official release to other stores. The new jersey pays tribute to the early Senators teams that won 11 Stanley Cups and helped found the NHL in 1917. Fans will see Senators players wear the jersey for the first time when the complete uniform is formally unveiled Saturday, Oct. 1, at Puck Drop presented by Scotiabank (Senators). The new jersey "features a barberpole design, with red, white and black horizontal stripes across the front and a stylized 'O' in the middle, a tribute to the original Senators franchise." The third sweater "will also feature shoulder patches," and the left shoulder "reads, 'Senatuers d'Ottawa,' the right shoulder 'Ottawa Senators.'" Senators VP/Marketing Jeff Kyle chose to keep "many other details secret until the official launch Oct. 1, but he did elaborate on the novelty of the shoulder patches." The new patches are the same shape as those worn by the original Senators, but the new writing is a "testament to the current club being based in a 'bilingual city in a bilingual country.'" Kyle said that the Senators "had spent two years on the new design, working closely with a fan before finalizing the look" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 9/19). Fans can "pre-order the new jersey on the Senators website, as part of the Heritage Hockey Package." Those who order the "adult heritage jersey from any Sens Store will receive a vintage scarf and toque, plus a voucher for a pair of tickets to the regular-season game between Ottawa and the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, Oct. 13, the first game the team will wear the heritage jersey" (OTTAWA SUN, 9/19).
