On Tuesday, the St. John’s IceCaps unveiled their alternate jersey for the 2016-17 season which pays tribute to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R).
ICYMI: The IceCaps unveiled the design for new Royal Newfoundland Regiment tribute jerseys earlier today
Details: {https://t.co/BBtbKv74Eo} pic.twitter.com/YcB21HJ6Sn
— St. John’s IceCaps (@IceCapsAHL) October 11, 2016
The tribute jersey will be worn on Military Appreciation Weekend from November 25th to 26th when the IceCaps play against the Providence Bruins, and is directly inspired from the hockey jersey worn by the local St. John’s hockey team, “The Crescents,” who were some of the first people to enlist to the Regiment in 1914 when the First World War broke out.
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division‘s 37 Canadian Brigade Group.
Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal Newfoundland Regiment has been a unit of the Canadian Army. During the First World War thebattalion-sized regiment was the only North American unit to fight in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. Later in the war the regiment was virtually wiped out atBeaumont Hamel on July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Since then July 1 has been marked as Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. (Source: Wikipedia)
This is the second year that the IceCaps honour their local military. Last season the club also unveiled a jersey dedicated to the R NFLD R, replacing their traditional logo with a logo inspired by the unit (see lead photo). The jersey commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Somme where scores of Newfoundlanders paid the ultimate price for their country.
The IceCaps are no strangers to honouring their local community with special jerseys. They also wore their Sports Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame alternate jersey last season, inspired by the colour scheme of the organization that recognizes achievement in sports for the province. This was the second season that this jersey was used. It is unknown if they will wear it again this season.
The IceCaps also wore a jersey that celebrated a more festive occasion: St. Patrick’s Day. This was also the second season where the jersey was worn.
