hockey week Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 What if the Montreal Maroons never folded? Both Montreal franchises were owned by the same people, and as the depression wore on, they had to make a decision as to which team to keep. What if they found a partner to finance the team? This is a history of one of the NHL's Original Seven franchises.First, I lift directly from nhluniforms.com, so that the entire history is present and you can see my thought process. These are not my images, but those of The Hockey Uniform Database:1924-251925-291929-311931-351935-38Now here is where the real Maroons folded. Imagine if the team kept going. The following are my own images.1938-41The Maroons follow the rest of the league and switch from the old leather-colored pants. They adopt black, considering it to be neutral and fitting1941-45Following the lead of the Detroit Red Wings, the team of Quebec's English-Canadians adopts the poppy flower of Flanders' Fields and the Union Jack, which was featured prominently on all Canadian WWII posters. Supporting the War Effort of the Crown became a major selling point.1945-48As with all of the Original Seven teams, jersey tweaks happened often as new sets were bought. The Maroons would lose their white cuffs, as well as the serifs on the logo, when they lost their wartime patchesTo be Continued... I'll respect any opinion that you can defend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockey week Posted June 12, 2010 Author Share Posted June 12, 2010 Continued:1948-49With the Rangers dropping their front-numbered design, and the assurance that it would not be coming back, the Maroons ownership jumped on the idea. It would also be the first integration of black in the sweaters, though it did not turn out quite how the ownership wanted.1949-53The black would be better integrated in between the northwestern stripes on the sleeves.1953-58The last team to do so, the Maroons were forced to create a road white sweater. Though they had lasted so long with their unique color, television made a differentiation necessary. They would simply swap maroon for white in all cases.1958-61The Maroons get into a more classic groove, reaching into the past similar to what the Bruins were doing. The logos return, lace-ups are added, and the stripes on the white sweater change.1961-72White shoulders outlined by black, a unique trait to the NHL and beneficial for television, were added to the maroon sweaters.To be Continued... I'll respect any opinion that you can defend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockey week Posted June 12, 2010 Author Share Posted June 12, 2010 1972-74The Maroons obviously conform to the white-at-home and name-on-back rules1974-82The Maroons go wild, similar to the Leafs and Rangers at the time, adopting shoulder stripes, but kept unique ideas with stripes-on-shoulder-stripes, and try out maroon pants.1982-91Following the weight of the 1980s, more black is integrated into the uniform, the pants go back to normal, and the whole thing is toned down just a little bit...just a little.1991-92The NHL's 75th Anniversary celebration inspires the Maroons to go back to the classics, along with new classic sweaters, a throwback to 1929 is used for games against the Original Seven teams, just as those teams did.1992-95The team keeps its classic look, but drops the alternate like the rest of the Original Seven1995-96The third jersey rocks the NHL, and the Maroons wouldn't be left out. They introduce a black jersey with multiple fades, diagonal lines, and a skewed logo. It was panned by the fans, and hated by the players. They quietly drop it after the season.1996-2002The team drops the third jersey and keeps the classic look 2002-07Black-for-black's-sake is sweeping the league, and the Maroons give it a shot. A snazzy jersey, though not always appropriate for a team named "the Maroons", it sells well, and they use it until the Edge switchover. Also, lace-up collars are back in vogue, and the Maroons bring it back.2007-10The RBK Edge switchover takes the league, and the Maroons are rather apt to listen, just like the Leafs. They lose the hemline stripes, and add front numbers along the hem, as seen in past All-Star Games2010-The Maroons are noticing the league-wide cry for heritage, and are bringing back their usual look in the Edge format.So there you have it, my historical look at the Montreal Maroons in an alternate history. I tried to follow what the Original Six teams did, because they followed a slightly different drummer than the rest of the fast-changing league. I used the NHL Uniforms template to keep it looking consistent and add a bit more believability to it. C&C? I'll respect any opinion that you can defend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgesL Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 It's great, but on the maroon jerseys I can do without the white shoulder yokes. The white jerseys are fine.The addition of black? Not a big fan of the black.Otherwise, a very interesting journey. I wish Montreal still had 2 hockey teams. (And Quebec City kept theirs.) The 3-way Quebec provincial rivalry would be so epic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discrim Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 very interesting idea you got here...I was actually thinking about embarking on a similar project, though I have no idea who I'd do it for right now. A strong mind gets high off success, a weak mind gets high off bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generic Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 1958-61 is my most favorite era, I really find it a pleasure to the eyes. Great work over all, mostly a beliveable timeline. One error, 2007-2010 is lacking a nameplate on the away, it's part of the uniform rules that all jerseys a team wears must have nameplates and numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCap Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Just so you know, I would have to track down a maroon 1982-91 throwback. Very nice job. PotD 26/2/12 1/7/15 2020 BASS Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Regular Season Champion 2021 BASS NFL Pick'em Regular Season Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockey week Posted June 12, 2010 Author Share Posted June 12, 2010 1958-61 is my most favorite era, I really find it a pleasure to the eyes. Great work over all, mostly a beliveable timeline. One error, 2007-2010 is lacking a nameplate on the away, it's part of the uniform rules that all jerseys a team wears must have nameplates and numbers.Good catch, it must've gotten deleted somewhere along the line. Fixed. Thanks guys, I was thinking of the Americans next, but I don't know just how different it would be from a timeline like this, with how stoic the Original Six teams are. Perhaps I'll mess with the Oakland Seals, they were changing unis constantly. Thoughts or suggestions? I'll respect any opinion that you can defend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generic Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 The Americans would be the best one to do next. I see some really great possibilities out of that choice. Other cool choices are the Hamilton Tigers and the Montreal Wanderers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aci Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Possibly the Quebec Bulldogs, or maybe if the Pittsburgh Pirates, the original Ottawa Senators or the St Louis Eagles had never folded? Hamilton Eagles- 2012 and 2013 Continental Hockey League Champions! 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 CHL East Division Champions! Niagara Dragoons- 2012 United League and CCSLC World Series Champions! 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 UL Robinson Division Champions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illwauk Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 I love these "what if" scenarios with defunct teams. I think they would've gone with maroon pants in 1938, although I could see them trying to force black onto the uniform in the 90s and 00s. But aside from that, everything you've done here seems very believable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMW79 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Lots of fun, hockey week! I'd like to second aci's request for a Senators set--kinda bridge the gap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aci Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Lots of fun, hockey week! I'd like to second aci's request for a Senators set--kinda bridge the gap.That one's definitely my first choice. Hamilton Eagles- 2012 and 2013 Continental Hockey League Champions! 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 CHL East Division Champions! Niagara Dragoons- 2012 United League and CCSLC World Series Champions! 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 UL Robinson Division Champions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmac Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Wow, I really love this idea. I love how you connected these to the different eras. I can't wait to see more teams! https://www.behance.net/bmatukewic8043 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generic Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Ouu, another thing I caught was in the 2002-2007 era. The CCM logos at the bottom are supposed to be under the neck, and im pretty sure Koho did the dark jerseys that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger77 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Thats a clever 3rd jersey on the 95/96 set. PotD May 11th, 2011looooooogodud: June 7th 2010 - July 5th 2012 Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north dakota Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I like the 1995-96 alternate. Woah! You think I'm Cody? My name is Carl Scott Simone and we just happen to share a birthday. BIG DEAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockey week Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 Alright, so it seems that the Senators have the most interest. I'd say that first off, don't expect it to lead directly into the current franchise. Though they have tried to mate the two (retired numbers, the original shoulder patch's founded date, media coverage), there's nothing that would dictate that a franchise would go towards those logos. It would be like imagining that the Quakers became the Flyers, or the North Stars became the Wild. I can't imagine a 75 year old team radically changing logos. Maybe a little (see: Maple Leafs) but not much.I guess the big question that I'm going to leave up for debate while I contemplate this, is "Would the Senators lose their full-barber-pole stripes? If so, when?"I REALLY hope some people chime in with answers to that question. I'll respect any opinion that you can defend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Does Art Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I think they would significantly drop the amount of stripes pretty early I would think.I was planning on doing a series like this for the Senators as well. Looking forward to your interpretations. Hi, how are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aci Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 They probably would lose most of the stripes around the time teams stopped wearing actually wool sweaters. Hamilton Eagles- 2012 and 2013 Continental Hockey League Champions! 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 CHL East Division Champions! Niagara Dragoons- 2012 United League and CCSLC World Series Champions! 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 UL Robinson Division Champions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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