NEWMARKET — Newmarket NHL star Connor McDavid is leading the charge on a new campaign to donate jerseys to create one-of-a-kind patchworks that celebrate the game at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Rogers launched The Great Canadian Jersey initiative today, asking Canadians to donate their old hockey jerseys, which will be stitched together to create patchwork jerseys worn by Canada’s top hockey players as a symbol of national pride.
Newmarket native Connor McDavid and Montreal Victoire Captain Marie Phillip-Poulin will each donate a jersey from their personal collections to get the drive started.
Rogers' chief brand and communications officer, Terrie Tweddle, said the jerseys can come from anywhere, including minor league teams, beer-league squads, or retired NHL jerseys.
“With hockey’s deep roots in our culture, we are incredibly proud to launch this project as a way for Canadians to show their pride for our team and our game,” Tweddle said.
McDavid will be participating in his first Winter Olympics as part of the Team Canada men’s hockey roster announced in December.
Canadians will be able to drop off jerseys at participating Rogers stores across Canada until Jan. 15. All Canadians who donate will be entered in a draw to win a VIP hockey road trip to any Canadian NHL team's away game during the 2025-26 regular season.
The final patchwork jerseys will be revealed later this month and will be featured in a national advertising campaign.
The closest participating stores in Ontario include Vaughan at 9200 Bathurst St., North York at Fairview Mall, Markham at the Markville Shopping Centre and in Barrie at Georgian Mall. Entries can also be mailed in. Full contest details are available on the Rogers website.
The jerseys will be designed by former OHL player turned fashion designer Cameron Lizotte.
More information is available at Rogers.com/TheGreatCanadianJersey.