Toronto Maple Leafs reveal new warm-up jerseys ahead of Indigenous Celebration game
CTV
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be sporting special new jerseys on Saturday night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be sporting special new jerseys on Saturday night.
Tyler Tabobondung Rushnell, a 23-year-old Anishinaabe artist, designed the practice jerseys for the Leafs to wear ahead of their game against the Detroit Red Wings.
“I took inspiration from my culture, the Ojibwe people and the Anishinaabe,” Rushnell said in a video shared by the Maple Leafs.
Rushnell, a Beaver Clan from Wasauksing First Nations in Parry Sound, practices Woodlands-style art. His redesigned jerseys feature a shoulder patch of a thunderbird and a Tkaronto Maple Leafs logo.
“Thunderbird represents strength and being able to talk to the creator in a good way,” Rushnell said.
The worn warm-up jerseys will be up for auction through Real Sports Auction, with all of the proceeds being donated to the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre. Fans can also buy the limited-edition collection at Real Sports Apparel where 20 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the same Indigenous-run cultural centre.
Outside of the new jerseys, the Indigenous Celebration game will also have live music, dance performances, and some Indigenous fusion cuisine like bison poutine and smoked maple sage drumsticks.
