On Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes will embrace nostalgia by wearing classic jerseys that pay homage to their respective franchises’ storied histories. The Avalanche will don the uniforms of the Quebec Nordiques, while the Hurricanes will revive the Hartford Whalers’ iconic look.
This season, the Avalanche will honor their roots in Quebec by sporting Nordiques jerseys in seven games. This isn’t the first time the team has paid tribute to the Nordiques, as they wore similar jerseys during the 2021 season. The current designs feature the classic blue, red, and white color scheme, which not only is reminiscent of the French flag but also celebrates Quebec’s rich French-Canadian heritage.
The Nordiques were founded in the 1972-73 season as part of the World Hockey Association and joined the NHL in the 1978-79 season following the league’s merger with the WHA. During their tenure in Quebec, the team reached the conference finals twice before relocating to Colorado in 1995-96, where they claimed the Stanley Cup in their first season as the Avalanche.
On the other hand, the Hurricanes have maintained a tradition of wearing Whalers throwback jerseys in recent seasons. The Whalers, like the Nordiques, were originally part of the WHA before merging with the NHL. They transitioned to the Hurricanes upon relocating to Carolina in 1997. While the Hurricanes have not yet specified how many games they will wear the Hartford sweaters this season, their nostalgic approach continues to resonate with fans of both franchises.
This celebration of history not only connects current players with the past but also creates a festive atmosphere for fans, making these matchups even more special.