Capitals Copycats – Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

The Lethbridge Hurricanes of the CHL may be the most well-known of the so-called copy cats.  In 2010, the team introduced new home and away uniforms that seemed VERY familiar.  By 2013, the Washington Capitals had apparently had enough.  Yahoo Sports Canada reported on March 21st, 2013 that the Washington Capitals didn’t like that the fact that the two sweaters looked alike, and that “the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been handed a timeline to change their uniforms by the Washington Capitals; Complained likeness.”

The Story also notes that the practice of “borrowing” NHL team designs is quite common among Canadian minor league hockey teams.  Some teams seem to be allowed to continue to use the Capitals uniform style. For example, the Cowichan Capitals in the British Columbia Hockey League continue to use the Capitals uniform style to this day.  In 1993, a large group of people from within the community purchased the team out right with the vision of bringing the hockey club back to the Cowichan Valley. As a result, the team’s name changed from the Whalers to the Capitals.

The somewhat common practice of copying the Capitals uniform design should be taken as a complement, but for many, the copying just waters-down the Washington Capitals brand.