Washington Post, June 23rd 1995

 In a week when their expansion partners of 21 years ago, the New Jersey Devils (then the Kansas City Scouts) are playing for their first Stanley Cup, the championship-less Washington Capitals are seeking to update their image with a new look.

The red, white and blue uniforms the Caps have worn since their inception in 1974 have been discarded in favor of a metallic blue, bronze and black color scheme.

In a news conference at the Planet Hollywood restaurant near the club's expected 1997-98 downtown home, the MCI Center, the Caps introduced their new look, which also features a diving eagle with an outstretched claw and "CAPITALS" on a black background sandwiched between thin bronze and white stripes.

"It's a very exciting day," said owner Abe Pollin, whose Caps have advanced as far as the conference finals only once in their 13 straight playoff trips.

"It's a new era. We've got a new

logo, a new uniform and a new spirit. The logo is what we're all about - an aggressive, young, spirited organization with a great bunch of young players. We're excited about the future. Next year at this time, we'll be playing in the playoffs {the Cup finals}. That's a promise."

Captain Dale Hunter was joined at the news conference by eight teammates, including league-leading goal-scorer Peter Bondra and goalie Jim Carey, a finalist for the Vezina (top goalie) and Calder (top rookie) trophies to be awarded July 6. Hunter was not quite as bold as Pollin.

"The players are really excited about the new uniform, especially the eagle," Hunter said. "Maybe next year we'll fly like them all the way to the Stanley Cup."

General manager David Poile said with the recently revamped roster, the state-of-the-art arena on the way and the new look, the Caps are ready "to more thoroughly establish our sport and our team in the Washington sports market."

A quick, unscientific survey showed the Caps may be off to a flying marketing start with the new uniforms which went on sale yesterday at USAir Arena's CAPFEST '95 and local Sports Authority stores.

"I like the eagle," said nine-year-old Robbie Voigt of Bethesda. "This uniform is better designed than the old one."

Brian Munday of Jefferson in Frederick County agreed.

"It was time for a change," said Munday, 23. "The gold {bronze} really sets it off."

And then there was a trio of soon-to-be Walt Whitman High School hockey players. Nick Ozeki, 15, likes the new logo but wished the Caps had kept their old colors. Kensy Copperrider, 14, says the team should have a new look for their new building. But John DeBakey, 14, said the old uniform was fine.

Caps vice-president of marketing Lew Strudler said the club and Sean Michael Edwards Design paid close attention to Chicago's distinctive logo and to the modern color schemes of San Jose and Florida.

"One thing we kept coming back to was the eagle," Strudler said. "It says Washington to the world."

Still, Caps president Dick Patrick, said the new shoulder emblem, which features the Capitol dome, a pair of crossed hockey sticks, two stars, a puck and the team name almost became the main logo.

"We started looking to make a change several years ago, but we didn't see anything we liked," Patrick said. "We started the process again last fall without any color requirements or even having our name on the uniform."

Including the New York Islanders, who also unveiled a new look yesterday, and the recent expansion clubs, 15 of the 26 NHL teams now have uniforms that weren't on display five years ago.

"I like the new uniforms," Bondra said. "They're aggressive and that's the style of game we play."
Illustration

Photos (A, color), A) Dale Hunter (left) and Kelly Miller don the Caps' new home jerseys at a news conference yesterday at Planet Hollywood.; B) Caps owner Abe Pollin (left) has some famous cardboard company as the teams' new logo is premiered., Both By Kenneth Lambert/The Washington Times