Devils Suit Up in Reverse Retro Gear For Practice | NOTEBOOK

The Devils sported a new look today at practice today, working in the Reverse Retro gear that they'll wear in a game for the first time this coming Saturday in Philadelphia.

Marino Missing

John Marino did not participate in practice today, officially out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
"Day-to-day, I kept him out of the practice, we'll see how he's doing tomorrow," Ruff said Wednesday. "He's got an upper-body issue he's dealing with and we'll see how that feels tomorrow."
Over the weekend the Devils called up Kevin Bahl from the Utica Comets although he did not play against the Rangers as the Devils defense core was healthy. Today at practice Bahl slotted right into Marino's spot with Ryan Graves.
"Bahl is really comfortable playing the right side, so we really don't have a lot of concern with him going over there," Ruff said.

RR Gear

The first time we'll see the Devils Reverse Retro jersey in action at Prudential Center is Fri. Dec . 9. On top of seeing the Reverse Retro gear in action at Prudential Center for the first time, the first 9,000 fans in attendance will also receive a limited edition, "Chico & Nico"dual bobblehead, courtesy of Pepsi to commemorate the night.

Of the gear, Ruff said: 'Retro colors, that's just where hockey was, back to the original colors, wooden sticks. Technology for shooting pucks now is so much better."
Mercer is also a big fan of the Reverse Retro jersey: "I loved the jersey. Obviously the bright colors are a little different from the red and black. I think it looks really good, the retros. I think it's a pretty cool thing this year with all the teams. I just like the match of our colors and I'm excited to see the jersey and the full outfit together but today was a sneak peak at what it looked like on us out there at practice and it was really cool."
"In the past we've had the green pants and jerseys," Wood said. "I actually really like these. They're super cool. It's an unique look and I can't wait to wear them."

Heating Up

Miles Wood learned very quickly the art of using a flame to create a curve on a wooden stick."It was flat when they handed me the stick, and I wanted to put a little curve on it," Wood shared after practice. "So I took a blow torch to it and I lit the stick on fire.
"You have to keep it at the right spot and I was a little too close to it. So yeah, the wooden stick is flammable."
Wood said his dad used wooden sticks growing up and after his own experience with one at practice, it put a lot of thing into perspective.
"It was super flex-y, the flex was not right at all. The blade was weird, I broke the blade off of a slapshot," said Wood. "Back then that's the technology and that's all that they knew at that point so they thought it was great. When I look back on it and tried to use it I don't just get how my dad played with it, or Chris Taylor, or all those guys, or Coach Ruff played with those sticks. I just don't know how they did it. But it was nice to put it in perspective and I'm just thankful we have great technology now."

In Case You Missed It:

WRITTEN:
WATCH:
- COMMUNITY: 2022 Hockey Fights Cancer - 3-ON-3: Starting Over - REWIND: River Runs Red - COMMUNITY: Military Appreciation Night - GALLERY: Photos From November 20 to 26