Hartford Courant, June 3rd 1992

Whalers owner Richard Gordon didn't like it when Quebec owner Marcel Aubut once said the Whalers looked little in their green road uniforms.

If the Whalers look little next season, blame it on new general manager Brian Burke. Because it won't be the uniforms anymore.

After two years of planning, the Whalers unveiled their new blue, silver and green uniforms at a press conference Tuesday.

Instead of green, the base color is navy blue. Home jerseys will have a white sweater with green numerals trimmed in blue with the borders of the uniforms green, blue and silver. The Whalers will use the same green as the current uniforms.

The change in the road uniforms is most dramatic, with a navy blue shirt and green numerals on the back with white trim.

The logo remains virtually the same, except it will have a silver background and a blue lining. The blue Whalers tail will change to navy blue as well.

The Whalers will wear their old uniforms in exhibition games and dress in the new uniforms opening night. They also will hold a reverse jersey night to show fans their road uniforms.

"I think we spent the past couple of years trying to figure out how to get into the 1990s," Gordon said. "We tried to create our own identity and our own image. I think we tried to keep some of the past and also show some of the future."

Image aside, the Whalers hope the uniform color change helps spur national sales of merchandise. The San Jose Sharks, in their first year of existence, rose to the top of the NHL in sales with their shark logo and teal and black uniforms.

"Licensing is now a big fashion business," said Judy Salsberg, assistant director for the retail licensing division of NHL Enterprises Inc. "From a fashion standpoint, this is much stronger. ... The retail appeal of deep blue is substantial."

As part of the Whalers' season-ticket sales push, they will offer "WhalerBuck$," coupons for season ticket holders to purchase new design merchandise at reduced prices