Starting his second season as head coach of the Illinois hockey team, head coach Nick Fabbrini continues to leave his mark on the program.

The Illini head man announced the team would be sporting new jerseys in the 2013-14 season, something that hasn’t happened since 2010. According to Fabbrini, the team debuted its previous home white jerseys in 2010, the navy blue away jerseys in 2007 and the alternate orange set in 2006.

Fabbrini actually designed the jerseys himself, wanting to alter the team’s look to a more classic style.

“I worked with the company, SP, and told them we were looking for more of a classic look, and having a little bit of a different logo than in the past,” Fabbrini said. “We borrowed an idea from the Boston Bruins, in their style, and our logo is reasonably similar to theirs without the spokes.”

Along with the new jerseys on the ice, Fabbrini said that these new jerseys will be available to purchase at Illinois home games.

“We have nine or 10 extra (jerseys) right now that we’ll sell, and we’ll roll that money over into getting more jerseys,” Fabbrini said.

The team will open up with the new sweaters on the road against the Springfield Junior Blues on Sept. 13. Illinois fans will get their first look at the Illini in the team’s home opener Sept. 20 versus Southern Illinois.

“I think they look great,” Fabbrini said. “A couple of the guys have seen them, and they’re all excited about them, too.”

Stephen can be reached at [email protected] and @steve_bourbon.