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(Montreal, Quebec) – Team Canada will take to the ice Tuesday against the United States in Montreal wearing Team Canada replica vintage jerseys from the storied season of 1920. This vintage ‘antique gold’ jersey manufactured by Nike, not only pays tribute to the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons, Canada’s first gold-medal winning team in Olympic ice hockey, but also signifies a celebration of Canada’s rich hockey history and tradition.

The Team Canada 1920 jersey is one of many jerseys that Hockey Canada, in partnership with Nike, has launched as part of its Team Canada Classics Program line-up, honouring the teams and the vintage jerseys of past Canadian hockey  teams.  Last season, Hockey Canada launched similar classic jerseys for Canada’s national teams from the 1970’s.

“Canada has a long-standing history of great success in International competition and we are again honouring the past by wearing this vintage jersey of the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons, a team that defied the odds and earned gold,” said Bob Nicholson, President, Hockey Canada. “These historic jerseys honour not only the 1920 team, but also every past Canadian international hockey team, men’s and women’s, and every player, coach and fan that has ever been a part of Team Canada’s tradition of hockey excellence.”

Hockey Canada will allocate the royalty proceeds from each jersey sold to a name fund within the ‘Canadian Hockey Foundation’, recognizing the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons.  The Canadian Hockey Foundation provides secure, sustainable, long term funding to support the future development and delivery of Hockey Canada programs, projects, and activities.

The 1920 Winnipeg Falcons were a team of Icelandic immigrants that had to create their own league to play the game they loved. The Icelanders quickly developed as a skilled and rugged hockey team and handily won the Manitoba and Western finals before advancing to the Allan Cup final in Toronto, where they faced the heavily favoured University of Toronto for Canada’s senior hockey championship and a right to represent the country at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. At Antwerp, the Falcons defeated Czechoslovakia, the United States and eventually Sweden in the final game by a lopsided 12-1 final to earn gold.

“Every Team Canada jersey is special, but I expect the Team Canada players will be especially proud to pull on the Falcons jersey in Montreal, against the United States,” said Chris Zimmerman, Bauer Nike Hockey. “The 1920 Winnipeg Falcons made believers out of Canada’s hockey fans and as we celebrate the strong history of Canadian hockey, there is no better example of the determination and tradition that has made Team Canada so successful.”

Hockey Canada in partnership with Nike has launched a full line of apparel to accompany the vintage 1920 Winnipeg Falcons jersey, including head wear (caps and toques), T-shirts, jackets and sweatshirts. Nike is the official manufacturer of Team Canada jerseys for the men’s and women’s hockey teams for the last two Winter Olympics, including the 1998 Nagano Games and the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, where both the Men’s & Women’s teams captured gold.

The entire Nike line is currently available at sporting good stores, licensed product retailers and specialty shops across Canada. The 1920 Winnipeg Falcons jersey is listed at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $130.

About Bauer Nike Hockey

Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. is one of the world's most recognized designers, marketers and manufacturers of ice and roller hockey equipment, fitness and recreational skates.  A subsidiary of Nike, Inc., its mission is to inspire athletes with innovative products, while continuing to invest in programs that will ensure the growth of hockey and related sports worldwide.