(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.