Patch It Up - Part Two

Part One of this series of patches brought some good looks at patches and patch placement that may have surprised some people. I'll tell you right now that the number of patches worn by the teams for something specific to them is large. It took me a long time to find some of these patches, but I have searched high and low on the web to find these. That being said, I don't doubt that I am missing a few, and am aware that teams have worn more. I am really only interested in patches that teams have worn post-1990 since this is when the epidemic of a patch for everything started. If you want to read Part One of the look at patches, please click here. Part One deals with patches worn by all teams.

I’ll run through this section in alphabetical order for the teams. If they’ve worn a patch, I’ve tried to find it. If there isn’t a picture out there, I’d be happy to have anyone submit one or many and I’ll give credit for the find on this blog.

Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks: The Mighty Ducks wore the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals patch when they advanced to the Cup Finals. They also wore an inaugural patch during their first game in the NHL, and followed that up with a patch commemorating the rest of their inaugural season. The Ducks also participated in the Game One promotional series in Japan in 1997. Thanks to Scott who directed me to the Frank G. Wells patch, in honour of the long-time Walt Disney President and CEO. On April 3, 1994, Frank Wells died in a helicopter accident in Nevada.

Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers wore a Dan Snyder memorial patch in memory of the late Dan Snyder. They were supposed to host the 2005 All-Star Game, but that was cancelled due to the lockout. They never wore this patch. They did, however, commemorate their 5th anniversary with a patch. The Thashers did get to host the 2008 All-Star Game in place of the 2005 game missed due to the lockout.

Boston Bruins: The Bruins have many patches. They held Johnny Bucyk night this season, and wore a patch to honour Johnny Bucyk and all his contributions over the 50 years he’s been with the team. The team wore a number 9 on the right shoulder for the game. The Bruins also celebrated their 75th anniversary by wearing a patch for the anniversary on all their jerseys, including the teddy bear alternate during the 1999-2000 season in place of the 2000 NHL patch. As a bonus, the Bruins wore a 50th anniversary patch in 1974, and a Massachusetts bicentennial patch in 1976. The Bruins also sported an All-Star patch for the 1996 All-Star Game in Boston, and wore the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals patch when they made it to the Finals. The Bruins wore two patches in memory of the closing of the Boston Gardens: the "Thanks For The Memories" patch, and the "Last Hurrah" patch on the final night of the Gardens.

Buffalo Sabres: The Buffalo Sabres wore a 20th anniversary patch on their jerseys during the 1989-90 season. Five years later, they celebrated their 25th anniversary. Five years after that, they celebrated their 30th anniversary, but were forced to remove the patch due to the NHL mandating the 2000 patch be on all jerseys. They wore a Lake Placid Olympics patch in honour of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The Sabres also wore a #16 patch in honour of Pat Lafontaine’s retirement ceremony, and #1 patch in honour of Roger Crozier, and another patch in honour of Seymour Knox III, the former owner of the Sabres. The Sabres also wore the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals patch.

Calgary Flames: The Calgary Flames have worn a couple of patches in their time. The Flames celebrated their 10th anniversary with a patch, and their 25th anniversary with a patch. They wore the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals patch when they played against the Lightning. The Flames participated in the 1998 Game One promotional series in Japan against San Jose. They wore a patch to commemorate the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The also wore a patch to celebrate the city of Calgary's 100th anniversary in 1984. In 2007-08, the Flames added the Alberta flag and the Canadian flag to their sleeves.

Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers: The Hurricanes have used a few patches in their short existence. The 2006 Stanley Cup champions wore the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals patch, but also participated in the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals. They remembered Steve Chiasson who passed away after the 2002 Finals in a car accident. They honoured Ron Francis in a retirement ceremony. They also commemorated their inaugural season by wearing a Raleigh Arena patch. The Whalers wore a patch commemorating 10 years of hockey in Hartford in 1982. They also held the 38th annual All-Star Game in Hartford. Carolina wore the 10th anniversary patch for their ten years in Carolina in 2007-08. The Hurricanes honoured Glen Wesley in a retirement ceremony on February 17, 2009 by wearing his name and number on their chests, as well as a #2 in the hurricane on their left shoulder. You can see both clearly here.

Chicago Blackhawks: I am proud to say that the Blackhawks have rarely slapped a patch on their jersey for anything. They have used a few, though, during their time. They wore the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals patch when they played the Penguins. They held the 1991 All-Star Game in the old Chicago Stadium. The Blackhawks also celebrated their 75th anniversary with a patch. Here's a close-up of the 75th anniversary patch. In 2007-08, the Blackhawks wore a Bill Wirtz Memorial Patch after their longtime owner passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Blackhawks hosted the 2009 Winter Classic which saw them wear this patch.

Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques: The Avalanche have used a few patches during their short existence as well. They wore the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals patch and the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals patch, winning the Cup both times they’ve been to the finals. They hosted the 2001 NHL All-Star Game, and wore the All-Star patch to commemorate it. They have recently celebrated their 10th anniversary by wearing this patch. The Avalanche also wore a memorial patch for the tragedy at Columbine High School. The Nordiques wore one patch that I could find. Quebec City hosted Rendez-Vous '87, and the Nordiques wore a patch to commemorate the event. Rendez-Vous '87 was a two-game series between the NHL All-Stars and the Soviet stars that replaced the All-Star weekend that season. The Nordiques also wore an all-french patch for the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.

Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets have only worn one patch to my knowledge, and that was to commemorate their inaugural season. Columbus wore a patch in 2008-09 in memory of their first owner and the man that brought the NHL to Columbus in John H. McConnell.

Dallas Stars/Minnesota North Stars: The Stars franchise has participated in three Stanley Cup Finals – 1991, 1999, and 2000. The North Stars also celebrated their 25th anniversary with a patch in 1991-92. Dallas hosted the NHL All-Star Game this year. The Dallas Stars also celebrated their 10th anniversary in Dallas with a patch. I found two patches for John Mariucci worn on the Minnesota North Stars during the 1987-88 season: a home patch and a road patch. Mariucci is regarded as the man who revived a dying sport in the state of Minnesota, leading it to the hockey hotbed it is today. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders Category in 1985, won the Lester B. Patrick Trophy in 1977 for his contributions to hockey in the United States, and was one of the charter members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings have worn the Stanley Cup Finals patch in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2002. The Red Wings celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1975-76, their 60th anniversary in 1985-86, and 75th anniversary with patches. The honoured the Norris family with a patch for 50 years of ownership. They honoured their long-time captain, Steve Yzerman, with a patch during his retirement game this season. The Wings also remembered two people on a patch honouring their efforts in winning the 1997 Stanley Cup – Vladimir Konstantinov and masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov, who were critically-injured in a limo accident six days after winning the Cup. The Detroit Red Wings participated in the 2009 Winter Classic in Chicago, and wore this patch to reflect their involvement.

Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers have worn two Stanley Cup Finals patches that I could find – 1990 and 2006. The Oilers also celebrated their 10th anniversary with a patch, and their 25th anniversary with a patch. The Oilers honoured Mark Messier this season by raising his number to the banners in a retirement ceremony, and by wearing a patch to commemorate the event. They honoured Paul Coffey by wearing his number on their jerseys. The celebrated Wayne Gretzky's career by wearing a patch during his Edmonton retirement ceremony. The Oilers also celebrated Alberta's 75th anniversary of becoming a province in 1980, and the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 with patches on their jerseys. They also celebrated the city of Edmonton's 75th anniversary with a patch in 1979. In 1989, the Oilers hosted the NHL All-Star Game. The Oilers wore a patch in 2008-09 commemorating their 30th anniversary as a franchise.

Florida Panthers: The Panthers have one Stanley Cup Finals patch to their name, and they wore it in 1996. The Panthers also celebrated their inaugural season with a patch, their 5th anniversary with this patch, and their 10th anniversary with a patch. The Panthers hosted the 2003 All-Star Game, and wore a patch to reflect that. The Panthers honoured Scouts in America by wearing a patch in their honour in 2001. The Panthers also have the distinction of being one of the two teams to play an exhibition game in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They wore the Puerto Rican flag on their right shoulder.

Los Angeles Kings: The Kings have worn a number of patches in their time. They played in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals where they wore a special Finals patch that commemorated the Stanley Cup’s 100th anniversary as well. They wore a patch to commemorate the hosting of the 2002 All-Star Game. They celebrated Wayne Gretzky’s career and retirement by wearing this patch. They celebrated their 20th anniversary with a patch, and 25th anniversary with a patch. They also wore a special patch as a memorial to “Ace” Bailey and Mark Bavis who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy. They honoured long-time owner Jack Kent Cooke with a patch after he passed away in 1997. The Kings also wore a patch to celebrate Gretzky's 802 goals, the most by any player. In 2007, the Kings wore a patch to honour the brave men and women of the California Firefighters Association in their battle with the wildfires in southern California. While it's hard to see on Brown's jersey, the patch was actually the logo of the California State Firefighters' Association.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild have worn three patches in their short existence. They commemorated their inaugural season, and celebrated their 5th anniversary with patches. Thanks to "Sammy Sosa" who reminded me that the Wild also hosted the 2003-04 All-Star Game. The 2007-08 season saw the Wild don the "Team of 18000" patch to honour their fans on the final home game of the season.

Ok, so those are the first 15 franchises. The other 15 franchises, plus some other patches, will be soon to come. Until then, keep your sticks on the ice!