Islanders' fan-designed jersey contest down to 2 finalists
The two finalists for the Islanders' fan-designed third jersey contest. Credit: NY Islanders
The Islanders’ first-of-its-kind fan contest to design their third jersey for the 2027-28 season was narrowed down to two designs, both blue sweaters, on Monday night: a lighthouse-themed jersey and a jersey with “ISLANDERS” across the chest. In the semifinals of the eight-jersey bracket, the lighthouse design overwhelmingly defeated a blue jersey design with the controversial fisherman logo from the 1990s: NavyLighthouse: 68.7%, NavyFisherman:31.3%.
The sweater with “ISLANDERS” across the chest edged out another blue design, this one with a “NY” logo with the “Y” in the shape of a hockey stick: Islanders: 51.2%, Navy NY: 48.8%.
The news was announced in a video featuring Mathew Barzal shared to social media by the team.
Barzy reveals the final 2️⃣ jersey designs in the 27-28 Third Jersey Fan Vote… and gives his pick on what jersey concept should win it all! pic.twitter.com/eWvnp5octN
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 17, 2026
Barzal's choice? That would be the one reading "ISLANDERS."
"I like both. I would love to wear both," Barzal said. "Unfortunately, we have to pick one, and my choice is the Islanders jersey spelled out. It's got a third-jersey feel. I love the cream and the orange and the blue, and I love the idea of the logo being spelled out like that in the front. I think it just gives Winter Classic, third-jersey energy. So I would love to wear this one. I know the boys like it.
"The boys like both. Both jerseys would be great, but this is my pick."
The final voting will open Tuesday at noon at newyorkislanders.com/fanvote and end Thursday at 5 p.m. It is to be determined when the winner will be publicly announced.
The contest marks the first time in NHL history that a franchise has allowed its fans to create an official team sweater.
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 eight designs placed in the bracket were chosen by a committee that included Islanders players and members of hockey operations. A total of 80,490 designs were submitted by the July 24 deadline, just over two weeks after the contest began on July 8. The Islanders initially planned to have five finalists, but the staggering number of submissions prompted the switch to a bracket with three more options.
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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