Islanders Unveil 'Navy Lighthouse' as Fan-Designed Third Jersey

The New York Islanders have announced that the "Navy Lighthouse" design is the winner of the organization's first-ever fan-driven Third Jersey design contest, as Sports Illustrated first reported. The initiative marks the first time an NHL franchise has allowed its fanbase to assist in designing an official on-ice sweater.

Following a process that began with 80,490 design submissions, the "Navy Lighthouse" concept secured 51.8% of the final vote, defeating the "Navy Islanders" option, which received 48.2%, as reported by Sports Illustrated. The winning design features a navy blue jersey with a lighthouse crest and teal and orange stripes on the sleeves and bottom. Earlier rounds of the contest saw the elimination of orange-based designs, including a submission from contestant Adam Barcia.

Kelly Cheeseman, President of Business Operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena, stated that the contest aimed to remove traditional barriers and give fans a direct voice in the franchise's visual identity. Forward Mathew Barzal announced the victory in a team social media video.

While some fans praised the selection, others criticized the design on social media as "generic," with some comparing the navy blue to the colors of the Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers. Some supporters suggested the addition of shoulder patches, similar to those from the 2024 Stadium Series, to improve color balance.

The Islanders will now work with Fanatics to turn the digital submission into a complete, NHL-ready kit. The organization will also review additional fan ideas submitted during the voting process to enhance the final version. The jersey is scheduled to debut at UBS Arena during the 2027-28 season. The winning designer, who will receive tickets to the debut and a team-signed jersey, is expected to be announced soon.