The New York Islanders have narrowed down their fan-designed alternate jersey contest to eight finalists from more than 80,000 submissions. A "March Madness-style fan vote" is now set to determine the winning design for the team's 2027 season.
Islanders president of business operations Kelly Cheeseman stated that numerous players and alumni were involved in the selection process. Among those who actively participated were players such as Matthew Schaefer, Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, Ondrej Palat, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ryan Pulock, Mathew Barzal, and Alexander Romanov, as well as alumni Bryan Trottier and Matt Martin.
The eight finalist designs feature four primary logo styles: a lighthouse, a fisherman, and the words "Isles" or "Islanders." These are in addition to an "NY" hockey stick logo without the traditional Long Island backdrop, which was used on the team's previous alternate jerseys retired in 2024.
Specific design details include a navy fisherman jersey with teal trim, an orange version with lighter blue accents, and a navy lighthouse design with electric teal drop shadow numbering. The "NY" options are either navy with white accents or orange with a blue logo. Both "Isles" and "Islanders" wordmark designs are presented in navy, orange, and cream white colorways.
Fans will participate in a quarterfinal vote from August 12-14, pitting similar jersey crest types against each other. The semifinal and final voting rounds will occur from August 15-17 and August 18-20, respectively.
Cheeseman expressed surprise at the volume of entries, having initially anticipated between 3,000 and 5,000 submissions. The lighthouse logo was the most popular choice among fans, appearing on 26% of submitted designs. Navy and orange colorways, reminiscent of the team's early to mid-2000s look, accounted for 19% of entries, while traditional Isles blue comprised 21%.
Cheeseman voiced a personal preference for an orange jersey, believing it would be a strong brand addition. However, he noted that predominantly white or cream-colored jerseys present logistical challenges for away teams on road trips, potentially limiting their usage during games.
Approximately 30,000 submissions were immediately disqualified for being "different colors and irregular, off-brand." This left about 50,000 submissions for consideration, with many fans submitting designs through channels other than the team's designated website, including physical mail and emails. While these submissions could not be officially used, Cheeseman highlighted the passion and creativity demonstrated by the fanbase throughout the process.