Everything to Know About Oilers’ Hometown Remix Uniform

The Oilers will wear their Hometown Remix for the first time when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday (Nov. 5). Here’s everything to know now about the newest addition to Edmonton’s NHL wardrobe.

Logos and Colours

Edmonton’s Hometown Remix jersey is black with orange stripes. It includes three familiar logos that have been “remixed” in tonal black with grey and orange outlines.

The sweater crest features Edmonton’s primary logo that has existed since the Oilers joined the NHL in 1979. On the left shoulder is the relatively new “Oil Country” logo that made its debut last season on Edmonton’s current alternate jersey, while the right shoulder features the beloved “rigger” logo that was part of Edmonton’s home and away jerseys from 1996 to 2007.

Design Symbolism

As stated in the Oilers’ news release about their Hometown Remix, “it’s more than a design; it’s a representation of the grit and determination Edmonton is built on, even today. This is a city that’s never been afraid to get its hands dirty—and still come out shining.”

Essentially, this is the same blue-collar, workmanlike theme that the Oilers almost always draw on, including with their aforementioned alternate jersey.

One subtle element of the jersey can be found on the hem, which features “This is Oil Country” surrounded by warning bars, symbolizing that opponents should “consider yourself warned”. (the jersey’s orange is being referred to as “warning-sign orange.”)

Uniform Schedule

Appropriately, the Oilers will only break out their Hometown Remix uniform for games inside the friendly confines of Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton.

In addition to Thursday against the Ducks, those match-ups include versus the Washington Capitals when NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin makes his final visit to Rogers Place on Dec. 3; against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 17; versus the Florida Panthers on Jan. 7; against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 28; versus the Nashville Predators on March 11; and against the St. Louis Blues on March 18.

Notably, there are only nine teams that will wear their Hometown Remix uniform fewer times than Edmonton. Meanwhile, the Oilers will face an opponent wearing its Hometown Remix on seven occasions: Nov. 21 at the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes; Nov. 22 in St. Louis; Nov 28 at the Seattle Kraken; Dec. 12 at the Ottawa Senators; Dec. 27 at the Columbus Blue Jackets; Dec. 28 in Washington; and Jan. 2 at the Detroit Red Wings.

Early Reception

A scan through social media reveals a seemingly mixed reaction from Oilers fans to their favourite team’s Hometown Remix.

On their Hometown Remix rankings, ESPN slotted Edmonton’s jersey at No. 20, and offered what might be the most accurate assessment of its aesthetic: “Having a jersey that looks like it was dipped into a barrel of crude oil is either the greatest evocation of the Edmontonian aesthetic or a flimsy excuse to join the black jersey parade.”

Jersey’s Future

If history is any indication, Oilers fans shouldn’t expect to see Edmonton’s Hometown Remix jersey beyond this season.

In 2020-21 and 2022-23, the NHL ran a league-wide “Reverse Retro” program, which also saw every team get a special jersey. Not only have none of those jerseys been seen again, but there wasn’t a single team that brought back the 2020-21 version of its Reverse Retro jersey for a second go-round in 2022-23.

If the Hometown Remix is well received, it’s very possible the program could return in future seasons. But in that case, it’s a safe bet that teams will be getting new “remixes.”

At any rate, the Oilers will look to have more success in their Hometown Remix uniform than they did in their Reverse Retro unis four seasons ago, when they had a record of just 1-3-1. Pretty much anything looks better in victory than in defeat.