Uniform Evolution

Over the past two decades, the San Jose Sharks have been trend setters when it comes to their sweaters. The Sharks have used three different looks for their home and road togs and now regularly wear what is known as the "black armour" for their third jersey.

Here’s a history of the Sharks sweaters.

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1991 - 1998

TEAL: On the road the Sharks wore teal with black and white V-neck. Body stripes at bottom are white, black, gray, black and white. Sleeve stripes are white, black, gray, black and white. White with black trim on sweater numbers and name on back. Round “fin” logo on each shoulder. Triangle crest logo on front. Manufacturer’s logo and NHL crest embroidered on lower right back tail. Manufacturers: CCM (1991-92 to 1996-97), Nike (1997-98).

WHITE: At home the Sharks wore white with teal and black V-neck. Body stripes at bottom are teal, black, gray, black and teal. Same design on lower half of each sleeve. Teal with black trim on sweater numbers and name on back. Round “fin” logo on each shoulder. Triangle crest logo on front. Manufacturer’s logo and NHL crest embroidered on lower right back tail. Manufacturers: CCM (1991-92 to 1996-97), Nike (1997-98).

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1998 - 2007

TEAL: Worn as the road sweater from 1998-99 until 2003-04, became primary home sweater from 2005-06 to 2006-07. Description same as the third sweater for 1997-98 (NOTE: starting in 2000-01, the sleeves returned to the mesh material like the rest of the sweater). Manufacturers: Nike (1998-99 to 1999-00), Koho (2000-01 to 2003-04), Reebok (2005-06 to 2006-07).

WHITE: Worn as the home sweater from 1998-99 until 2003-04, became primary road sweater from 2005-06 to 2006-07. Like the teal sweater, the white had white porthole mesh on the sides. The sleeves used a teal, gray and black shimmer sheen fabric (NOTE: starting in 2000-01, the sleeves returned to the mesh material like the rest of the sweater). The flared V-neck collar was black with teal trim. Sleeve numbers were white with black trim. Numbers on the back were teal with white and black trim. The name on the back had teal arched lettering. Manufacturers: Nike (1998-99 to 1999-00), CCM (2000-01 to 2003-04), Reebok (2005-06 to 2006-07).

THIRD: This solid black sweater debuted on Oct. 27, 2001 and was worn at selected home and road games. The sweater included the round “fin” logo on each shoulder, teal and white stripes on each sleeve, the flared V-neck collar in black with white trim, white numerals with teal and gray trim, black porthole mesh on the sides and the name on back in arched white lettering. Manufacturers: Koho (2000-01 to 2003-04), Reebok (2005-06 to 2006-07).

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2007 - PRESENT

These sweaters debuted at a time when the entire National Hockey League changed over to the Rbk EDGE Uniform System. This was the first time an entire North American professional league embraced a uniform innovation. These sweaters utilized technologically advanced materials and fabrics that are more breathable, more water-resistant, more comfortable and more compatible with equipment.

But the major change came in the look, starting with the crest. The primary crest still had the shark chomping down on a hockey stick, but the updated look incorporated more Pacific Teal (the primary color) and emphasized speed, strength and determination. The eight supporting marks (with most of them making their way onto each of the sweaters) also utilized the same characteristics – right down to the showing of the shark tail.

TEAL: Worn as the home sweater, which featured a “white-orange-black-orange-white” stripe sequence on the mid-arm and below the main crest on the tail. The player’s number, which is white with orange and black trim, is located on the sleeves, above the main crest on the front and on the back of the jersey. The shoulders are black with white trim. Each shoulder has the full jumping shark logo. The V-neck collar is composed of a black-orange-white stripe sequence. The name on the back, located above the numbers, is white with black trim.

WHITE: Worn as the road sweater, which featured a “black-orange-teal-orange-black” stripe sequence on the mid-arm and below the main crest on the tail. The player’s number, which is teal with orange and black trim, is located on the sleeves, above the main crest on the front and on the back of the jersey. The shoulders are teal with black trim. Each shoulder has the full jumping shark logo. The V-neck collar is composed of a black-orange-teal stripe sequence. The name on the back, located above the numbers, is teal with black trim.

THIRD: The alternate sweater made its debut during the 2008-09 season. The all-black sweater combined the classic tradition of previous Sharks sweaters with the updated look that debuted in 2007-08. The full-body Shark logo was used as the crest. The sleeve stripes featured two white stripes bordering a thicker swatch of Deep Pacific Teal. The shoulder patches displayed a shark fin in a diamond with the letters “SJ.” The sweater numbers on the sleeves and back were white with teal trim. The name on the back was on white letters. Finally, the third sweater had a “tie-string” neck, a subtle homage to hockey sweaters of the past.