From “nearly the first moment” that the Bruins and Canadiens were tabbed for the NHL Winter Classic, Reebok’s jersey designers were "taking their cues from the teams’ management ... to coordinate uniforms that will be distinct, yet will be visually appealing together -- and will look good from a distance,” according to Amalie Benjamin of the BOSTON GLOBE. Reebok Design Dir Dominique Fillion said, "We try and really dig into the team and franchise history, meaningful eras in the franchise and the design markers and elements that can make this jersey unique. There’s always a great story behind the jersey that we build and the reasoning of how the jersey came about.” Benjamin noted it was the "Boston" that was "crucial." Fillion said it was “very powerful and definitely strong.” Bruins President Cam Neely said of the jersey design, “Playing another Original Six (team) played a factor. I wanted to go back further into our history and see what other options there were. I think it kind of made sense to look at the original jersey and try and take something from that.” Benjamin noted there are “echoes of the Bruins’ current third jersey in their Winter Classic sweater.” The Canadiens also "went all the way back" to '24-25 for a jersey design and, like the Bruins, "didn’t just want this to be a well-designed jersey." The club "wanted it to say something." Canadiens Exec VP & COO Kevin Gilmore in an email wrote, "This was the year where the team was coming off its first Stanley Cup won as part of the NHL (1924) and ownership decided to mark this by wearing a jersey with a globe design with the words Champions at the bottom, in honour of the 1924 World Champions" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/28).
