Pandas Get New Duds

I've always struggled with the Alberta Pandas wearing green and gold simply because, as "pandas", they should be wearing black and white. The colours of the University of Alberta are green and gold, so I get why the women's sports teams follow the colour scheme, but it's one of those things where an animal that's recognizable for its colour scheme should be used in the same way if a sports team adopts that name. In saying that, the Pandas had announced a couple of weeks ago that they were going with a new look, so perhaps we'll see them adopt the colours of their namesake?

Let me put this to rest here and now: NO. The Pandas are remaining in their traditional green and gold colours, but they did get a new home uniform that they debuted in their game against UBC tonight. They also released a video of the new uniforms that they'll be wearing, however, so let's take a look at the new look for the Alberta Pandas women's hockey team.

Game Day is finally here. Join us at 7pm Clare Drake to cheer on the new Home Green and Golds. Preview them here: pic.twitter.com/XzeTJt3B8F

— UofA Pandas Hockey (@PandasHockey) October 4, 2019

I'll give full marks to the Pandas for this fun video introducing their new look, but this isn't really a new look as much as it is completing the uniform set as you'll see.

The Pandas, as seen to the left on Alex Gowie, wore the yellow Capital-A jerseys on the road last year. While these jerseys do stand out as the Pandas can wear them at home or on the road being that no other team wears yellow or gold, it seems the Pandas have pushed those jerseys exclusively to being road jerseys with the introduction of the green Capital-A jerseys in the video above. While the green jersey is simply the reversal of the colours on the gold jersey, the uniformity in the Pandas' uniforms brings a little happiness back to the world. Alberta's green diagonal jersey - like the New York Rangers - that they wore as home jerseys can remain as alternates while their white jerseys - which haven't been seen for some time - will likely remain mothballed until further notice.

If you listened to The Hockey Show this week, you'll know that it was unanimous consensus that Alberta will win the Canada West Conference. There may not be an equal for them this season in Canada West when it comes to offence, defence, goaltending and depth, and we'll have to see who the other conferences throw at Alberta at the U SPORTS National Championship if they aren't upset along the way.

The good news is that if they do go to Nationals as the top-ranked team from Canada West, it's likely that a lot of people will have seen these green jerseys with Alberta having home-ice advantage. That isn't a bad thing as the Pandas look good in their identical home and road uniforms. Good job on keeping these uniforms simple and timeless, Alberta.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!