Design Rink

Fashion Forward: Alex Ovechkin’s Designer Streetwear Collection

katiekmack — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:52:51 +0000

You may only know Alex Ovechkin as the world’s greatest hockey player, the first in history to win the Hart Trophy (most valuable player), the Lester B. Pearson Award (outstanding player as voted by his peers), the Art Ross Trophy (most points) and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (most goals) just last season. What you might not know is that he has also launched his own streetwear collection. Created by designer Roger Edwards in conjunction with Ovechkin and CCM, the collection is available at Pro Hockey Life and Kettler Capitals Iceplex Proshop.

Ovechkin's Designer Streetwear Collection

From the press release: “The Collection, which includes short and long sleeved tees, fleece and assorted headwear, was designed to capture the passion and style of this year’s NHL top scorer. All garments will feature Ovechkin’s signature ’8′ logo embedded in custom graphics, and will be finished with a CCM by Roger Edwards label. “I am very excited to be launching this line and I love it’s uniqueness and style”, said Alex Ovechkin. Roger Edwards adds, “Ovechkin’s distinctive style of play and dynamic personality really inspired me in designing this collection.”

Ovechkin introduced the collection in Montreal last June, as this video of the launch party shows, but the collection has grown since it’s inception, to include apparel such as jackets and accessories. I like the CCM Ovechkin zip front jacket:

CCM Ovechkin Jacket available at Kettler Proshop & Pro Hockey Life

Ovechkin continues his trendsetting ways, by offering a Limited Edition Great 8 Silver Chain and Pendant, similar to the gold version that Ovie always wears. But Alex has sweetened this deal, as a portion of the proceeds from the necklace sales will benefit Ovechkin’s Crazy 8’s program supporting underprivileged youth in the Washington DC and Moscow areas:

Limited Edition Great 8 Silver Chain and Pendant

Ovechkin's Crazy 8's Program

From Ovie’s Official Website: “Ovi’s Crazy Eights is a program Alex established in 2006 to give back to the Washington, D.C., community. Alex purchases eight tickets to every Capitals home game and donates them to Most Valuable Kids (MVK). MVK, in turn, distributes the tickets to needy children and soldiers in the Washington, D.C., area. The group sits in a special section at Verizon Center and Ovechkin regularly meets with them personally after the game. Alex continues to translate the same passion and energy he exhibits on the ice to his off-ice initiatives with his Ovi’s Crazy Eights program. Since it’s inception in 2006, Alex has also donated $30,000 through Ovi’s Crazy 8’s and the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams Fund to ‘Right to Play’ and Russia’s Children’s Orphanages.”

If you are interested in getting involved with Ovi’s Crazy 8’s please send an email to info@hallpassnetwork.com with ‘Ovi’s Crazy 8’s’ as the subject line.

Follow the Signs to Hockey Town: Graphic Design

katiekmack — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:50:15 +0000

If anyone had a doubt about whether or not DC is a Hockey Town, they should have attended Games Six and Seven of the Capitals first playoff round (like I did). Caps fans were out in full force in NYC for Game Six this weekend, and yesterday’s Game Seven was the pinnacle of cowbell-ringing, horn-blowing, Goat-screeching joy. Ted Leonsis called Capitals fans “creative, hockey sophisticated, loud, proud and passionate.” Amen, Uncle Teddy. You just had to see those poncho-clad Caps fans out in full force behind Tortorella and the Rangers bench to see what top shelf fans we have. While I wasn’t clever enough to bring my Torts Umbrella to the game, I did make these two signs for our team using Photoshop and Illustrator:

My "Bruce is Money" Sign

My "Sniper Semin" Sign

My “Bruce is Money” sign turned up in Dan Steinberg’s D.C. Sports Bog after Game One:

"Bruce is Money" in Washington Post's D.C. Sports Bog

The coach is money, the team is clutch, the owner is epic, the fans are in it to win it–hold on to your seats, Hockey Town!

Game 7 at "The Bruce" (Verizon Center)

You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby—Stylish Gear for Female Caps Fans

katiekmack — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:49:13 +0000

Imagine it: Sportswear for women in the actual team colors, with flattering cuts and up-to-date styles. No longer marginalized in pastels or swimming in oversized men’s sizes. These new designs from The Official Capitals™ Shop are just the ticket for real Capitals fans, and just in time for the playoffs!

Reebok Washington Capitals Women’s Premier Home Jersey:
I have this jersey (mine is an Alexander Semin) and it is a beauty—great fit and quality construction.

Reebok Washington Capitals Women's Premier Home Jersey

Majestic Threads Washington Capitals Women’s Double Layer Thermal with Swarovski Crystals:
This is a sweet way to Rock the Red—I’ve picked one up for the playoffs.

Majestic Threads Washington Capitals Women’s Double Layer Thermal

Littlearth™ Washington Capitals Jersey Scarf:
This scarf is such a clever accessory—it has a hidden zip pocket to hold your tickets, cash and keys, leaving your hands free to clap wildly for the Caps or properly greet a Flyers fan!

Littlearth™ Washington Capitals Jersey Scarf

Original Retro Brand Washington Capitals Women’s Vintage Long Sleeve Thermal:
This is a cute shirt to wear anytime—I have one and it is warm and comfy. Now you can show your Caps pride even when it’s not a game day.

Original Retro Brand™ Washington Capitals Women's Vintage Long Sleeve Thermal

Antigua Washington Capitals Women’s Inspired Zip Front Fleece:
Do you love a great fleece? This zip front looks sporty and polished. Game over!

Antigua Washington Capitals Women’s Inspired Zip Front Fleece

Here’s to our female Capitals fans–hope to see you all rocking your look while you’re Rocking the Red! LET’S GO CAPS!

Two Rinks are Better than One: Kettler Capitals Iceplex

katiekmack — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:45:39 +0000

If you have never visited the Washington Capitals practice facility in Arlington, Virginia, you have been missing out on both some great hockey and some impressive architecture. Kettler Capitals Iceplex was the winner of the 2007 NAIOP Award for Best Building in the category Build to Suit over 150,000 sf. The architects for this project were Architecture, Incorporated of Reston, Virginia and the contractors were SIGAL Construction Corporation. The NAIOP judges cited the “soaring architecture” of this LEED certified building, and granted Kettler the award because “this creatively designed facility added to the urban community with very little land through the very innovative use of adding a world class facility to the top of an underused parking garage.” And probably because it looks really cool.

Kettler Capitals Iceplex

Kettler is located on the roof of Ballston Common Mall parking garage

Sadly, one of the leading forces behind bringing Kettler into existence recently passed away. Tom Newman, an Arlington County economic development official was a “lifelong hockey fan and player.” According to Mr. Newman’s obituary from the Washington Post: “[Newman] spearheaded the county’s efforts to build a pair of skating rinks on top of a parking garage, eight stories above the Ballston business district at North Glebe Road and North Randolph Street. They are the only full-size ice hockey rinks inside the Capital Beltway in Northern Virginia. The $42 million project was completed in late 2006. Since then, the Capitals have used the facility, called the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, as the team office and practice site. They had previously practiced in Anne Arundel County. “It’s the finest practice facility in the NHL,” Capitals General Manager George McPhee told The Washington Post in 2006.” Indeed it is.

The public entrance to Kettler is a composition of glass and metal

In 2006, before Kettler had even opened it doors, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis (the finest owner in sports) stated the following to the Washington Post: “It’s nice to have the best of something — and hands down this is going to be best training facility in the NHL, maybe sports,” Leonsis said. “It’s going to rally the fans, the players and help us attract free agents.” Done, done and done.

The lobby of Kettler echoes the airiness of the building's rooftop perch

Finally, a few other features that make a trip to Kettler Capitals Iceplex worth your while: a fully stocked Capitals Proshop, where you can get your customized Caps jersey just in time for the playoffs, a snack bar with delicious illy espresso AND beer, and two full sized ice rinks, so you can take part in a public skate after you watch your favourite hockey team hone their craft. Hope to see you there soon–I’ll be the one in the Semin jersey with the espresso.

The Other Great One: Wayne Gretzky’s Palatial California Estate

katiekmack — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:50:44 +0000

All hockey fans are familiar with Wayne Gretzky, hockey legend and current managing partner and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. But they may be less familiar, as I was, with the estate built in 2002 by Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones in Sherwood Lakes, California. Designed by architect Richard Landry, this 7-acre property features a seven-bedroom Georgian-style main house, three other buildings, a pool and a tennis court. The listing for the estate reveals that the home “sits atop a secluded promontory with mountain and golf-course views, includes verandas for outdoor entertaining; a pool, a spa and a championship tennis court; servants quarters; and manicured lawns and gardens. The main house has 12,713 square feet of living space, including a receiving parlor and an opulent formal dining room. There is also a paneled study, a professional kitchen and a state-of-the-art screening room.”

So, really, just the bare necessities of life. The Gretzkys have five children, and apparently, looking at the photos, these kids know how to use coasters under their Sunny Delights.

The Gretzkys sold their estate in the fall of 2007 to retired major leaguer Lenny Dykstra—and now Dykstra has re-listed the home for $24.9 million. Any takers? (cricket noises)
As for what Gretzky has been up to lately, he recently entered the wine business. Wayne Gretzky Estate Wines carry his number 99 on the label and a portion of the proceeds benefit youth hockey programs. In Gretzky’s own words: “Having my own estate vineyard in Niagara gives me new roots in an area that’s close to my heart and to my hometown. I’m pleased with the quality of this vintage, and especially proud of the fact that it has been created in the service of my foundation – which means every bottle you enjoy helps less-fortunate kids participate in playing, watching and learning from the world’s best game.” Good wine for a good cause–brilliant!
http://www.gretzky.com/wine/

Timeline Fun with The Great One: Interactive Web Design

katiekmack — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:34:09 +0000

I am working on an upcoming post about the palatial California estate built by NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and architect Richard Landry, and I happened across this cool interactive timeline of Gretzky’s life.

Pretty impressive, eh?

http://www.gretzky.com/main/timeline_popup.php#/article/41

Frock the Red: Deconstructing the Design of the Caps Jersey

katiekmack — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:05:36 +0000

With the playoffs fast approaching, and visions of “Red-Outs” dancing in Caps fans’ heads, I thought it would be a good time to explore the design of the Capitals jersey.

Evolution of the Capitals Logo:

All Images by Revisit

The Capitals introduced their newest uniform design on June 22, 2007. It marked the third branding effort in the history of the franchise. The Capitals entered the league in 1974, sporting a red, white and blue color scheme, and this remained the Caps identity until 1995. A dramatic re-branding took place in 1996, with strong emphasis placed on the eagle and capitol icons. The stars remained part of the design, but the color scheme shifted completely to black, blue and gold.

The newest jersey debuted at the same time as a league-wide adaptation of the Reebok-designed uniform system for the 2007–08 season. The new primary logo is reminiscent of the original Capitals design in several ways, from its return to the patriotic color palette, to the hockey stick formed by the letter “t.” The design also retained the eagle and capitol images from the ’96 jersey, combining the new eagle with a silhouette of the Washington Capitol dome. One new feature the original logo didn’t have: 3 stars representing Maryland, Virginia, and DC. These stars are also a reference to the flag of DC, based on the shield of George Washington’s familial coat of arms.

All Images by Revisit

When the Capitals unveiled their new jerseys at a draft party in June 2007, the Caps Public Relations Department presented the following handout to attendees, explaining the philosophy behind the club’s updated design:

Washington Capitals brochure explaining the team's new uniform design

Personal opinions about the merits of all three designs are varied and passionate–which only proves how seriously Caps fans take their hockey. I have given only a quick overview of this subject, so if you are interested in learning more about uniform design, be sure to check out Uni Watch, a blog devoted solely to the topic. No matter which of these jersey designs you choose to don during the playoffs, we will all be united as Caps fans when we cheer: “LET’S GO CAPS!” Cue Horn Guy.

Lord Stanley’s Crib: Mike Green’s Penthouse Loft

katiekmack — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:15:32 +0000

Mike Green is not only a record-breaking defenseman for the Washington Capitals—he is also the proud owner of a sleek new penthouse loft in Virginia. Mike’s residence was designed by Leslie Rose of Jenkins/Baer Associates of Baltimore, Maryland. The impressive multimedia automation which permeates the loft was provided by NGenius of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Green’s personality is evident in every aspect of the design. As Green explains, “I wanted to make it my own. I told Leslie I want it to be very modern, clean and simple, yet a little bit ‘rock and roll.” Light the lamp, Mike.

Washington Capital's Mike Green in his penthouse loft

Stairs to Green's private rooftop terrace

Rose on Green: "Mike has really good taste. He won't take as much credit as he deserves. He pushed me a lot, keeping it a little edgier than I typically do."

Who Wants to Rock the Party?: Green's terrace features a large hot tub, video screen and outdoor speakers

Room with a View: Green's rooftop terrace "living room"

Green's new Blanco kitchen faucet has temperature sensitive LED lights: blue for cold, and red when hot

Green's guest bedroom has an inviting chocolate and orange color scheme

Green requested the water feature that graces his entry wall. Green's study can be viewed on the right

The guest bath features a fun wallcovering from Flavor Paper, one of my favourite design resources

Green's master bedroom furniture was crafted from reclaimed wood from Brazil, and the wall texture was created by the application of concrete and paint

Reclaimed brick, exposed ductwork, and Green's own dragon sculpture add character to the loft's industrial feel

All photography by Lydia Cutter, Home & Design Magazine

Technology was also an important element in the design for Green’s loft. Scott Thomas of NGenius explains the features throughout: “Touch panels on the walls allow Mike to control every aspect of the home: heating, cooling, home security, every light in the house, all the TVs, satellite radio, music, blinds, MP3, Internet and temperature. Everything is controlled through one single system that he can access anywhere—even on the road.”

Green has also put out the welcome mat to his Capitals teammates. “I made it clear that any time they’re ready to play, they can just come here,” he says. Washington has embraced Green, and he is returning the love. “The city’s getting into hockey. And we have such a good group of guys,” says Green. “You get on a lot of teams and guys don’t care that much. Here, it’s a lot different. The guys are my family.”

Mike and Leslie recently gave a video tour of the loft on the Caps new television show, Capitals Red Line Monday–check it out here:

http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=16&id=36731

Welcome to Design Rink.

katiekmack — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:41:15 +0000

Welcome to designrink.wordpress.com. My name is Katie Kelly McCormack and I have created Design Rink to bring together two of my passions: design and sports (especially hockey). The relationship between design and sports has become increasingly more symbiotic with the passage of time. Design has impacted sports in many powerful ways, from the equipment used by the athletes, to the multimedia fans use to watch games from home, to the venues where competitions are held. Athletes are having a definite impact on design as well–from creating their own signature lines of products, to becoming increasingly design-conscious when creating their personal dwellings. I have created Design Rink for devoted fans of both design and sports–and hopefully, to create some new fans of both! Welcome to Design Rink.