History of Winter Classic sweaters

October 26, 3:35 PMDetroit Red Wings ExaminerMike Mouat

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2009 Winter Classic Logo

 The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks will turn back time for their 701^st meeting in the NHL’s Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago on January 1, 2009.

The Red Wings will wear a vintage Detroit Cougars sweater circa 1926-27, their first season in Detroit, while the Black Hawks will wear a sweater that is from 1936-37.

Chris Chelios in 1926-27 sweater

The 1926-27 Detroit Cougars finished last in the American Division with a record of 12 wins, 28 losses, and four ties for 28 points, which put them last in the new 10-team NHL.

The 1936-37 Chicago Black Hawks finished last in the American Division with a record of 14-27--7 for 35 points and finished seventh overall in the eight team league.

Toews and Kane in 1936-37 sweaters

The Victoria Cougars won the Stanley Cup in 1925, but the Western Canada Hockey League folded at the conclusion of that season and the rights to the players were purchased by an NHL expansion franchise in Detroit. The team was named the Cougars in honor of the team in Victoria, British Columbia.

 The 1925 Victoria Cougars would remain the last team from the West Coast to win the Stanley Cup until the Anaheim Ducks won the trophy in 2007, and remains the last non-NHL team to win the trophy.

Meanwhile the 1937-38 Chicago Black Hawks did not fare much better during the regular season than they did the year before finishing with a record of 14-25-9 for 37 points and just qualified for the playoffs. They went on to upset the Montreal Canadiens, New York Americans and the Toronto Maple Leafs to win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.