The Ottawa Senators unveiled their new heritage uniform on Saturday — with a big assist to one Sens fan from Gatineau, Que.

Chris Neil acknowledges fans as he models the Ottawa Senators heritage jersey prior to a practice in Ottawa on Saturday.(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Graphic designer Jacob Barrette designed a retro jersey before the 2007-08 season and posted it online, getting overwhelmingly positive feedback from fellow fans.

A Senators marketing official became aware of the good reaction and commissioned Barrette to come up with a uniform. Barrette worked with the Senators, hockey historian Paul Kitchen, and Reebok through several revisions before coming up with the final uniform revealed on Saturday.

In a video on the Senators website, Barrette said seeing the team, including his favourite player Daniel Alfredsson, wearing the jersey he designed is "surreal."

"Just working on the jersey was an honour enough and to have the team wearing it and me seeing that is going to be great," he said.

A large O on the front of the jersey is a tribute to the O that was often on uniforms warn by Senators teams before the team left Ottawa in 1934, and a shoulder patch is inspired by the "World Champs 1926-1927" crest that was worn after the Senators' 1927 Stanley Cup.

The heritage jersey will be worn 12 times this season, including for the first time on Oct. 13 in Ottawa against the Colorado Avalanche.

Alfredsson said he likes the design and that it pays tribute to the club's past.

"They had some really good years and being in a hockey-crazy city like this people appreciate that," he said. "They want to know the history."