Prelude- I was in Canadian Tire yesterday and noticed they are just about to put up their Christmas decorations. Nov 1st and 'tis the season! As your hockey fan starts to put together his/her Christmas list, you may want a heads up on one item in particular.
Sport - Hockey
Event - Christmas Present for the Hockey Fan
Issue - This year, all NHL teams have new jersey designs. If you have a hockey fan that must have his team's jersey, and the real one only, well, the one he had last year won't do anymore.
The new NHL jerseys issued at the beginning of the season are not receiving favourable comments from the players and may in fact be changed. So if the real deal needs to be the real deal, then heads up, the one you are about to buy may not match what his favourite player is actually wearing!
Point to Say - "What do you think of (insert favourite team's here) new jersey?"
Follow up point - "I hear that players are complaining about the jerseys and that the jerseys might be changing again."
Backgrounder
It is true that nothing says Christmas Present like a new NHL jersey. Pure Canadiana. The industry knows this and that's why they cycle out new jerseys all the time.
Starting in the mid 1990's, it started to get a bit silly, with NHL teams having 3 jerseys each (home, away, alternate).
Reebok owns the rights to design and manufacture all NHL jerseys. In order to increase sales all jerseys were redesigned. A casual fan likely won't notice too much of a difference. Ottawa is still red and white, the Toronto blue and white, and Montreal red white and blue. But there is a difference.
Sometimes there is quite a noticeable difference (check out Dallas last year; Dallas this year). But the subtle differences introduced by Reebok this year include a new fiber that is supposed to be better at wicking away moisture, and a lighter fabric that isn't as heavy as past types. All in the name or progress. But wait.
Recent complaints from the players postulate that the wicking isn't working: sweat isn't coming off the body and is staying trapped under the equipment. Reebok is indicating that the material might change.
In short, if you're in the game of keeping up with the regulation jerseys, you'll never win. Jerseys will always be changing in order to generate revenue for the team and the league. But be a savvy shopper and ensure that the jersey you buy this year has at least one year of life in it before the league changes it again.
Merry Christmas!
Links
Article update on the jersey situation from the Globe and Mail.
Have a fan that is obsessed about jersey's. Let him know about this fantastic site all about jerseys. How about retro jerseys?
See the history of all NHL Jerseys over the decades here.
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