Understanding Hockey Jerseys – The History and What to Look For

Hockey jerseys have been around for centuries. In fact right back in the beginning, they were simply sweaters, purchased in a store to match with the number sewed onto the back. This is why even today in some parts of the world, they will refer to hockey jerseys as hockey sweaters.

The earlier designs all looked very similar, with a simple striped pattern. It wasn't until the 1930's that solid colors were introduced. Of course up to this point, there was no television, so how the players were identified on screen did matter, which is why a red and white, blue and white or even black and white stripe made absolutely no difference as long as spectators could see their team when attending matches.

The bottoms remained neutral colors until the 1930's as well, it was at this point team colors were introduced so the bottoms started changing along with the hockey jerseys. From 1942 to 1967 all the jerseys were either blue, red, gold, white or black, unlike today where they can vary considerably with each panel being a different color if that is how the team wants to identify themselves.

During the 1970's teams started getting a little bolder with their color choices when it came to their hockey jerseys with 1975 being the Washington Capitals adding white bottoms to highlight their red jerseys. This was very short lived after a lot of ridicule from spectators and opposing teams.

The name of the player on the back of the jersey was also reintroduced in the 1970's, with the first arched name above the number being introduced in 1982.

Today teams have complete control over the color and design of their hockey jerseys. Of course jerseys vary from ice to field hockey, though they remain similar in some respects. The material needs to be the highest quality. Speak to the manufacturer and see what they recommend to ensure that the material can be pulled and tugged without ripping or tearing.

The fabric used should be breathable, making it comfortable for the players to move around freely and enjoy the versatility the hockey jerseys provide. The jerseys should be able to be washed without wear or shrinking, offering a long lasting solution for any team, saving them money in the long run.

It is imperative that any hockey jersey you choose is made to each players specifications. Some players are taller than others, some are smaller in size, but they will all wear protective gear, often worn under their jerseys. The jersey should never be too big or too small, it should be comfortable and not restrictive in any way.

Further it is important to choose your colors right the first time. Working with an experienced manufacturing specialist who has experience making sportswear, you will find that they can make recommendations and office advice to ensure your team pops in their hockey jerseys when out on the ice or on the field to ensure that spectators can identify them with ease .

Ensure that you only order your hockey jerseys from a reputable company. They should provide you with a complete service from helping you with the initial design based on the teams needs and requirements to the manufacturing of the jerseys. You want to ensure that they will also assist you with the printing of the number and name of the player, always using the latest print techniques to provide the best results.