Mathew Barzal backs "ISLANDERS" logo in fans' third-jersey design contest
The two finalists for the Islanders' fan-designed third jersey contest. Credit: New York Islanders
Mathew Barzal not only revealed the two finalists in the Islanders’ fan contest to design their third jersey for the 2027-28 season on Monday night, but he also disclosed his choice for the team’s future alternate uniform.
The Islanders star picked the navy blue sweater with “ISLANDERS” across the chest over the navy lighthouse-themed jersey. He recognized that he and his teammates liked both designs, but he lauded the one he chose for its “Winter Classic, third-jersey energy” and its secondary cream and orange colors.
Barzal is far from alone in his preference, too.
“That one, ironically, is almost exactly the one that I put in, except I didn't have the numbers on the arms,” said Medford’s Kelly Breslin, who likes the design for its “old-school” feel and similarity to the Islanders’ 2024 Stadium Series jersey.
The Islanders received 80,490 jersey submissions, and the two final options emerged from an eight-jersey bracket that was created by a committee of players and members of hockey operations. The final round of voting began at noon Tuesday and will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, with the winner to be announced at a time to be determined. The Islanders said they also are providing fans a chance to “tell us more about how you would evolve these concepts to the final design.”
Islanders fans are split on which design is better, as the lighthouse jersey had a slight edge over the “ISLANDERS” one (50.6% to 49.4%) as of 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. Households of Islanders fans are divided, too, as Breslin’s fiance, Joseph Cascardi of Sound Beach, favors the lighthouse design.
“The first one I designed was relatively similar, just different color schemes, to the lighthouse one, so I'm really into that one,” he said. “Partly because I've never seen that tertiary logo used as a main logo, and I want to see it. I've seen the Islanders wordmark across the chest when they did it back in like 2006 or ‘07 or whenever it was.
“I really like the Islanders' lighthouse. I think that looks really good.”
Cascardi noted that the lighthouse logo’s newness and uniqueness stand out.
“Hopefully it's a close vote,” he said. “But I also hope that the lighthouse actually wins because I've never seen it before. I've seen every jersey. I’ve been an Islanders fan since longer than I can remember . . . To have a primary logo that there has never been before, I think [that] would be a step towards maybe doing something different in the future.”
The creator of the winning design will receive a team-signed third jersey and tickets to the game in which the jersey makes its on-ice debut. The contest, which began on July 8, marks the first time that an NHL franchise has allowed its fans to create an official team sweater.
“As far as the first effort to actually get the fans more engaged, we're seeing how well it worked with over 80,000 submissions,” Cascardi said. “It shows that there's a market for it, whether it's a small market or a large market. I watch podcasts about hockey from all over the place, and one in particular is SDP, which is The Steve Dangle Podcast, and even they were talking about it.
“So you see how far it reaches and how far it goes to actually engaging any fan base and allow the fans to really feel like they own a part of the team and they are a part of the team.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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