Bandwagon Jumpers!

Bandwagon-Jumpers

     This entry goes out to all of the TRUE old-school NHL fans out there. I want to address an issue that most of us are thinking, but never talk about… That subject is BANDWAGON-JUMPERS! We all hate them; come on, admit it! Don’t you just hate it when you go to a game in person, or even just to a sports bar to watch a game, and when you look around you see them everywhere…??? They stick out like a sore thumb too! Most, if not all of them will either be wearing a RBK piece of garbage, or some cheesy Asian Sweatshop rag they picked up on FEEBAY! You know the crowd I’m talking about, the tourists, and wannabe fans who want to look like real fans but don’t know how…

     Let’s get a few things straight… First, friends DON’T let friends wear Reebok hockey sweaters, THEY SUCK! Just look back through my blog entries and you will see evidence of just how poor quality they really are, and yes, I’m talking about the authentic jerseys too! When was the last time you saw a player put his head through the back of a jersey? That’s right THROUGH the back of the jersey, right between the numbers! If you want to see the video, just see my entry appropriately entitled “Reebok Hockey Jerseys SUCK!” There you can see the proof for your self! If the real Authentic On Ice Game Jerseys are that pathetic, what must the replica jerseys be like…??? I don’t even want to know…

     Secondly, the next time you see someone wearing what is CLEARLY a counterfeit jersey, let him or her know about it! Tell them straight up that their jersey is a cheesy counterfeit, and that they should be ashamed for buying and wearing it! You know the people I’m talking about… Picture the TOOL at a Penguins game who is wearing a Crosby jersey with letters and numbers made of two-layer / two-color tackle twill (or some other material) instead of the correct three-layer / three-color Glacier Twill! (See Counterfeit Crosby Jersey in pic #1 below). Those are the worst! Now, compare the Asian Sweatshop Counterfeit's lettering and numbers to that of the real / correct lettering and numbers (see pic #2 below). The next time you see that TOOL with the FAKE jersey, call him out in front of the crowd, laugh at his rag, and tell him to send it back to China and get his money back!

     Counterfeit jerseys destroy honest businesses like mine! One of the main reasons I left FEEBAY was because it has been overrun with Asian Sweatshop counterfeits, and FEEBAY simply turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the problem and ignores it! Why…??? Because they are GREEDY! They don’t give a rat’s rear-end about anyone or anything except the all-mighty dollar! The only way for fans and business owners to fight back it to speak out! If you see a counterfeit jersey on FEEBAY, call the seller out! Then notify FEEBAY! If you see a bandwagon jumper at a game wearing a counterfeit rag, CALL HIM OUT! As a collector of 20 years, I’m sick of seeing low-quality garbage out there on the streets and at games! Thus the Jersey Jihad continues!

     In closing this rant, just let me remind you of one thing… It’s true; you get what you pay for! If you want a lame jersey that everyone else has (RBK), or one that everyone will laugh at (an Asian Sweatshop Counterfeit), then go ahead and buy one, FEEBAY is full of them… However, if you want to be the envy of your friends and all of the other fans, buy something that nobody else has! Buy something that you cannot find in any store! Separate yourself from all of the bandwagon-jumpers and wannabe fans! Buy an old school, HIGH-QUALITY CCM or KOHO jersey, or a Pro Player jersey! While the other fans are sporting their pathetic RBK garbage, you could be wearing a 1992 Stanley Cup Finals Chicago Blackhawks Ultrafil, or a 91-92 Sharks Arturs Irbe rookie jersey, or a 91-92 Hextall Flyers (2 Patch), or even an ULTRA-RARE 1987-88 NY Rangers jersey! The choice is yours… Look like the rest of the Sheeple at the game, or MAKE A STATEMENT and show the world that you are NOT a bandwagon jumper, but a LIFE-LONG OLD-SCHOOL FAN who knows his business! For those who are interested in finding the RARE and VINTAGE NHL jerseys (NOT cheesy Vintage Series Reproductions), visit my store at http://webstore.com/~goongear If you have a special request for a certain jersey / player, let me know. If anyone can find it, I can! There is also a link to my store at the top right corner of this blog.

     Lastly, I want to give a shout-out to all of my wonderful sponsor affiliates located at the very bottom of this blog! Please be sure to visit them for more great deals on fantastic NHL merchandise!

The Jersey Jihad Continues! / Devils CHOKE!

     Spring is almost here, and the NHL Playoffs are just around the corner! Soon every bandwagon-jumper on the planet will be rushing to gobble up every available old school authentic they can find (so they can hide the fact that they are bandwagon-jumpers). Others will simply be taken to the cleaners by investing in an Asian Sweatshop-Quality Reebok rag… (See my entry “Reebok Hockey Jerseys SUCK!”). Either way people, please pay attention to what you buy… That brings me to the first order of business in today’s rant… The Jersey Jihad continues!

     The other day while cruising FEEBAY looking for Scammers and Frauds, I ran across this gem (LOL!!!), a counterfeit / FAKE, 1991-92 Detroit Red Wings, Bob Probert jersey. (See pics below). Now, before I even start laying into this HOAX, see if you can figure out for yourself what is wrong with it… (Insert Jeopardy music here)… Ok, time is up! For starters, take note of the back of the jersey. Notice that the name and numbers are of shall we say, an incorrect font… In addition, the name runs straight across instead of in an arch as it is supposed to be. Lastly, the front of the jersey is missing the Alt Captain’s “A.” This just goes to show you that this person is not very good at being a scammer or fraud, and would be better off sticking to his day job… OR, perhaps he had been taken for a ride by another FEEBAYer, and is simply trying to pass on the love and recoup some funds at the same time. Who knows…??? Either way, the moral of the story is, DON’T BE THAT GUY!!! 

     Now, while this next item is relatively unrelated to “jerseys” in particular, I just need to vent on my favorite team for a minute… The New Jersey Devils had an excellent opportunity to close the gap on Buffalo, and Toronto on Tue night, as the Sabres lost in regulation, and the Leafs picked up only one point. Instead, the Devils decided to CHOKE, and lose to the Senators! WAKE UP NEW JERSEY!!! YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS!!! I know, they have been on an unbelievable run lately, but come on, losing to the lowly Sens, the last place team in the league! Especially when you are trying to make a playoff push… I can see losing to a good team, there is no shame in getting beat by a top ranked team, but the LAST PLACE team…??? After all of the hard work the Devils have put in to creep as close to the playoffs as they are now, and to fall short in the end will be more than I can stand. Remember, the Devils were 27 points out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break. Now they are just 8 points out! No team has EVER come back from more than 12 points out to make the playoffs! The Devils have a chance to shatter that record! Come on Devils, you can do it! HERE WE GO DEVILS, HERE WE GO !!!

Collecting Hockey Sweaters / Jerseys

Collecting Hockey Sweaters

     I have received roughly the same question, through various channels (my blog, Twitter, etc…), asking if any or all of the hockey sweaters that appear in the right margin are for sale. In short, yes and no… Let me explain.

     All of the jerseys (sweaters) that appear in the right-hand margin were for sale at one time or another. Some of them are still for sale, while others among them were sold in the past. I keep the pictures posted so readers can see examples of the collector quality jerseys I sell in my web store http://webstore.com/~goongear . As I stated in my very first blog posting last fall, I have been buying, selling, collecting, trading, and customizing rare and vintage NHL sweaters since 1991. What started out as simply purchasing a replica sweater of my favorite NHL team (NJ Devils), quickly turned into an obsession. Or something else, depending on one’s perspective… However, words like “hoarder” and “packrat” carry with them a negative connotation, so I prefer to be called a “collector.” At one point, my personal collection exceeded 200 sweaters, all of them NHL authentic.

     While amassing my huge collection of authentic NHL sweaters, I began to take notice that there was an actual market for hoarders, I mean collectors like myself. As I was watching the hockey sweater market develop, CCM did the unthinkable and discontinued the production of Ultrafil sweaters in the mid 1990’s and went to Air-Knit. As luck would have it, I had hoarded, I mean collected MANY Ultrafils over the years. Once Ultrafils were discontinued, every serious collector on the planet made a mad dash to gobble up as many as they could find, within their budget of course (LOL)… (Now, CCM, KOHO and Pro Player Air-Knit jerseys are on the collector list as well, since Reebok took over and started producing the Asian Sweatshop-quality garbage you see today!) On the down side, I am one of those collectors that also likes to wear his sweaters. That is until some (insert expletive) who was not paying attention, burned a hole right through the sleeve of my Whalers Ultrafil. I will spare you the rest of the story. However, it was at that moment I hatched a plan to turn my jersey hoarding illness, I mean jersey-collecting hobby into a for-profit venture.

     Now I must warn you, some of you may cringe at what I’m about to tell you, but keep in mind that I had just watched my favorite jersey take a direct strike form some clown’s smoke, and I like to wear my jerseys. Now with those things in mind… Over time, I gradually sold off my collection of “authentics,” and replaced them with “replicas.” That gave me the ability to wear my jerseys without having to worry about taking a $300, $400, $500 loss or more, if the unthinkable happened again. This way, I would only be out $200 at worst. For the record, I keep my personal collection “timeline accurate.” i.e. I do not slap a name and number, or patch on just anything. For example: I ONLY use the same brand of jersey worn by the player, and only place letters (“A” / “C”), and / or patches on that jersey if they were actually worn by that player, and during that specific timeframe. In other words, I match the player, team, season, jersey brand, appropriate “A” /”C”, and special patches that go together and are legit, PERIOD! As a collector, I laugh every time I see some TOOL wearing a bogus jersey! In short, if the player was not even playing in 05-06, when the league went to RBK garbage, don’t put his name and number on the jersey, PLEASE! When I see MAKITA 21 on an RBK rag, I laugh. When I see a 1992 Stanley Cup Finals patch on a Starter jersey, I laugh. When I see a 2010 Stanley Cup Patch on a CCM jersey, I laugh! I can go on and on, but I’ll stop there, I think you get the point. I really hate the frauds that slap jerseys together and try to pass them off as legit, i.e. sell them to unsuspecting fans.

If you take the time to read some of my other entries, you will see that I point out specific examples, including photos of the fake garbage they try to pass off, mostly on FEEBAY, go figure.

     Now, back to the original subject… If you want to know what jerseys I have for sale, including some that appear in the right margin, either you can click on the link I provided earlier in the entry, or, up in the top right corner of this page you will see a link to purchase “Rare and Vintage NHL Jerseys.” Just click on that and it will take you there. There is also another link below that one if you want to follow goon-gear on Twitter (Goon24). There I post “Tweets” whenever I’m putting items on sale. I usually run a sale or two each week, so if you follow on Twitter, you will be the first to know what is on sale! I love to help new hoarders, sorry, I mean collectors get their collection going. I am always happy to help in any way I can. If you have a question regarding the timeline accuracy, or actual authenticity of a jersey (sweater), please feel free to contact me. I can tell you in seconds if the jersey is bogus or not, and tell you why it is or is not! I also have vast resources (other collectors) at my disposal (in my network), so if you have a special request for a certain jersey, please do not hesitate to ask! If anyone can find it, I can! Happy hoarding, (sorry, there I go again), I mean collecting!  

Jersey Jihad !!!

     One thing that spending 20+ years in the military taught me, was that one should not approach one’s boss with a complaint without also being prepared to offer a solution… With that thought in mind, we here at goon-gear have had it with fraudulent jersey sellers, especially on FEEBAY! As we have a forum here (this blog), and plenty of loyal readers, it is time to wage a “jersey jihad” against scammers who sell and / or produce fake / counterfeit jerseys! As there are literally too many to count, we will attempt to limit our targets to the most egregious violators; primarily those selling bogus authentic jerseys (sweaters for my Canadian friends)… While we will not openly name violators, we will provide pictures and the web site information for you to follow to the source. Why, you ask…??? Because we are sick and tired of seeing people get screwed by frauds, especially on FEEBAY!   

     First up: Today while I was surfing FEEBAY, I noticed a rather nice looking Vancouver Canucks, Ed Jovanovski, CCM Authentic for sale (See pic below). This particular jersey features the 1998 NHL All-Star Patch, and Alt Captain’s “A.” There are only two problems here… One: The 98 All-Star Patch was worn during the 97-98 season, and Jovanovski was not even acquired by the Canucks until late in the 1998-99 season (Jan 17th 1999 to be exact). Two: Jovanovski was not named Alt Captain (“A”) until October 5, 2000. Therefore, the “A” is bogus as well… The prosecution rests…

           

     If the seller of this bogus jersey would have simply made a mistake, or did not know anything about hockey jerseys, we could probably let this one go… However, this particular seller has given a long-winded sermon about how rare his jersey is, and that you can only get one of them from him, etc… Yes, it is rare, because the jersey is a FAKE! That is why you can only get it from him, and that is why he has the only one in existence! In fairness to the seller, I politely contacted him via FEEBAY e-mail and informed him of the inaccuracies in his auction listing claims. I received no reply… I wonder why…??? 

EBay, jerseys, and BED BUGS...???

                             EBay, jerseys, and BED BUGS…???

Bed bugs are not a subject that most people enjoy discussing, but for today’s jersey collectors they are a real concern. It is becoming widely understood that America is in the midst of a bed bug epidemic. Bed bug infestations are rampant all across this country, and great care should be taken by jersey collectors to safeguard against importing these nasty pests into their homes.

Not only is EBay the single greatest source of consumer fraud on the internet (Laudon & Traver, 2010), but it is also one of the largest sources for new bed bug infestations. You have to remember, eBay only cares about lining their pockets, PERIOD! Every nasty trailer park seller is welcome to pedal their garbage, as long as they can pay EBay’s hefty seller’s fees… Your health and safety are of little or no concern to FEEBAY…

I want to tie things together for everyone using an example. There is a hockey jersey seller on Feebay that refers to himself as a jersey pro… or something to that affect… However, he flops his high-priced hockey jerseys down on his filthy bed sheets to take his pictures. NASTY!!! If there was ever a chance for you to import bed bugs into your home, there it is! Whether it is the aforementioned Feebay nasty, or someone else, if you see a Feebay item of interest, take note of how and where the pictures were taken. If the jersey (for example) is presented in a lazy and sloppy fashion, and / or the pictures were shot on a bed, couch, floor, etc… STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!

Bed bugs can hitch a ride on almost anything, and a jersey that has been lying on an infested bed will do just fine… Just in case you do not feel that the bed bug threat is real, I have included some nice bed bug, and bed bug bite pics that I found on the internet for your enjoyment… Do not let those pictures become a reality for your home and family! Now, more than ever, jersey collectors need to be careful of where they buy! If an EBay jersey is carelessly presented in a sloppy or lazy manner (i.e. in a wad on the floor, etc...) like its garbage, it probably is garbage! If the jersey is in nasty surroundings, it probably is nasty! STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!

If you are looking for collector quality replica and authentic jerseys, and cleanliness and quality are important, look no further… goon-gear has been in the rare and vintage NHL hockey jersey business for 20 years! We only sell top quality new and gently pre-owned collector grade NHL sweaters (jerseys). We are happy to ship anywhere in North America, and Pay Pal is welcome! Please be sure to visit our jersey sales sites (listed below) for some great finds! As always, if you have a special request for a certain jersey, please let us know!

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As always, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great rare and vintage authentic and replica finds!  

 http://webstore.com/~goongear

http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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Hockey Jersey U – Lesson 4 – Scammers and Frauds on Ebay

Fake Jerseys

     After a restful vacation, I have returned! Ready to hit the blog once again. As one of my primary reasons for starting this blog was to combat counterfeiters, scammers, and frauds on Ebay, today’s lesson is very important! Some of the usual suspects are still scamming unsuspecting buyers. While I will not give you the names of the scammers right here on my blog, all you have to do is conduct a search on eBay and you will find the exact items I have posted pictures of in this update.

     If you have read any of my previous postings, you will recall that I specifically mentioned that the Blackhawks wore ultrafil jerseys through the 1993-94 NHL season. Thus, any special patches such as the NHL 75th Anniversary Patch (1991-92 season), Stanley Cup 100th Anniversary Patch (1992-93 season), or 1992 Stanley Cup Finals Patch (End of 1991-92 season) were only worn on Ultrafil jerseys, NOT AIR-KNIT! Are you following me so far…???  

     Below you will find pics that I have posted of Air-Knit Blackhawks jerseys that have had the previously mentioned patches added to them and are being sold as authentic! Let me make this crystal clear. If you see an authentic Hawks jersey with any of the patches I have listed, it had better be a CCM Ultrafil jersey. Otherwise, it is a worthless FAKE, PERIOD! While the actual jersey itself is in fact an Authentic On Ice Game Jersey, it is NOT any older than 1995, therefore the patches do not belong. In addition, the seller is falsely stating that these Hawks jerseys are from the early 1990’s. THEY ARE NOT! The seller’s claims are a bald-faced lie, PERIOD! Do not get burned! If you do business with scumbags like this Ebay scammer, you get what you deserve.

     Now, let us look at a FAKE 1994 Stanley Cup Rangers replica jersey (See pics below). This jersey is also posted on Ebay and is claimed by the seller to be a timeline correct 1994 jersey. IT IS NOT! IT IS A FAKE! Anyone who knows anything about Rangers jerseys knows that the Rangers did not wear lace-up jerseys during that timeframe. This seller has taken a late model Indonesian-made CCM replica jersey from 2003-04 season and placed a 1994 Stanley Cup Finals Patch on it, and is claiming it to be exactly like the ones the players wore on the ice! LOL!!! You would have to be stupid to fall for that one. However, the point here is that, the seller is a fraud and is knowingly misrepresenting a product! If you want to see what a real AUTHENTIC 1994 Rangers Messier Cup Jersey looks like, visit my jersey sales sites, I have one listed for sale right now. Again, do not get burned buying this fake garbage! If you are on Ebay and run across fake jerseys, send the scammer an e-mail letting them know that you know their jersey is a fake!

     As always, I hope this lesson has been valuable and will keep people from being ripped off by Ebay scumbags like the ones I have just exposed. If you are looking for quality NHL jerseys from a reputable seller, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great finds! I do not sell counterfeits! I have been in the NHL sweater business for 20 years, and take great pride in selling only top quality, hard to find jerseys. If you have a special request, please ask. I will be happy to see what I can do for you. My jersey sales sites are listed below.

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As always, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great rare and vintage authentic and replica finds!  

http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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Hockey Jersey U - Lesson 3 - Timeline Accurate Sweaters

Timeline Accurate Sweaters

     As promised in the previous post, dated 10 Oct, today on “Hockey Jersey U” we will be discussing timeline correct (historically accurate) jerseys (sweaters). If you want to show-off a hockey sweater that people will envy and respect, you will want to make sure it is timeline correct. For collectors like me, few things make us laugh harder than seeing someone sporting a timeline incorrect jersey. We have all seen someone wearing one at one time or another, you know, that person with Reebok Blackhawks jersey that has #21 Makita on it… Or, an Authentic Air-Knit Devils jersey with a 1995 Stanley Cup Patch on it… Or, an Authentic Air-Knit Hawks jersey with an NHL 75th Anniversary patch on it… You get the idea.

     In short, whether you are buying a jersey that has already been customized, or you are going to have it done after the fact, there are a few rules you should follow (if you do not want to be laughed at). First, DO NOT put a player’s name and number on a jersey he did not wear. I.e. Makita #21 on a RBK jersey. Second, make sure the brand of jersey and the jersey material are correct. Third, do not slap patches on a jersey that they do not belong on. For example, do not put an NHL 2000 patch on a CCM, KOHO, or Starter Rangers jersey. The Rangers wore Pro Player brand during the 99-00 season (as did many other NHL teams). Lastly, for God's sake, PLEASE do not put your own name on the back on an NHL sweater!!! Only a complete TOOL does that!!!

     If you are going to customize a sweater, know what you are doing, otherwise you will end up looking like a complete idiot. With just a few minutes of time on Google, you can find out what seasons a particular player was with a team, the brand of jersey they wore, the material they were made out of, any special patches they wore, and whether the player was a Captain or Alt Captain. Spending a few minutes to research will save you a lifetime of being laughed at.

     When buying or customizing an authentic sweater, you had better be darn sure you are doing it 100% timeline correct, if not you are wasting your money, because in the end your jersey will be worth absolutely SQUAT. If you are lucky enough to acquire… lets say, an early 1990’s Blackhawks Ultrafil jersey, and you want to get it customized… First, look at my previous post so you can be sure of what you have, and then start doing your research. You would want to know that the Hawks only wore Ultrafil through the 1992-93 seasons. If the hem has the CCM logo, AND the black and orange NHL Shield, then you know that the jersey was made / worn after 1990. Now you have roughly a 3-year window to work within. Find out what players were on the team during that timeframe, what their number was, if a “C” or “A” was worn, etc… For early 1990’s Ultrafils (excluding a couple of teams and years), you will also need to make sure the name is stitched on to a matching Ultrafil Name-Bar. Regardless the year or model of an authentic, if it has a name-bar, the name-bar will always be made of the exact same material as the jersey. Air-Knit jerseys have Air-Knit Name-Bars. Ultrafil jerseys have Ultrafil Name-Bars, period.

     Now that you have the basic understanding of what will fly, and what will not, let us talk about what not to buy / do. There are a couple of frauds on Feebay for example, who will slap just about anything on any jersey, and insist in their auction ads that the jerseys are authentic. For example, there is one particular seller that goes by locker room… something or other, who likes to slap NHL 75th Anniversary patches (1991-92 season) and / or Stanley Cup 100th Anniversary patches (1992-93 season) on Air-Knit Chicago Blackhawks jerseys, and call them “Authentic.” While the jersey itself may be authentic, once a patch that does not belong on that particular jersey is added, it renders the jersey timeline incorrect, period! The Hawks, as discussed earlier, wore Ultrafil jerseys until the 1993-94 season. Get the picture…??? Do not get burned! No matter how cool and polished their auction ads look, it does not mean they are honest sellers, or even know what they are talking about in the first place for that matter.

     Bottom line… If you are customizing an “Authentic,” do it right. If you are customizing a “Replica,” you have a little less control over the accuracy, remember I said a LITTLE less. i.e., you cannot always find an Ultrafil replica all of the time (although they are out there). Otherwise, at least make sure the rest is correct. Make sure the jersey brand is correct, the patches are correct, etc… Do not spend money on a worthless jersey that everyone will laugh at! Class dismissed!       

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As always, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great rare and vintage authentic and replica finds!  

http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.ioffer.com/selling/goongear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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Hockey Jersey U - Lesson Two (Authentic vs. Replica)

Authentic vs. replica

     Critical to today’s lesson here at “Hockey Jersey U” is one item in particular. I would like to remind everyone (place into context) per my initial post, I only deal in pre-RBK jerseys. That is, I only deal in CCM, KOHO, Pro Player, Starter, Bauer, etc… RBK jerseys are paper-thin, low-quality, poorly constructed pieces of garbage, PERIOD! RBK jerseys are for bandwagon jumpers and children. No self respecting old school fan would be caught dead wearing a Reebok rag. You would be better off buying an Asian sweatshop counterfeit. Now that the introductory rant is out of the way, let us get down to business.

     Believe it or not, there are those among us who do not know, or cannot tell the difference between a replica NHL sweater and an authentic on ice game jersey, thus the subject of today’s lesson. As I like to use the counterfeit-ridden cesspool that is FeeBay as a teaching tool, I will continue to do so for this class as well. One thing that makes me laugh is when I see a listing for a hockey jersey that says “Authentic Replica”… There is no such thing as an authentic replica, period. A hockey jersey (sweater) is either an authentic, or it is a replica. It is not, and cannot be both. Today we will discuss some of the differences between the two.

Authentic On Ice Game Jerseys

     Authentic On Ice Game Jerseys are identical in every way to the jerseys players actually wore on the ice (I use past tense as I only deal in pre RBK garbage, remember…???). Jerseys in which I specialize, i.e. up to and including the 2003-04 NHL season, will be used as today’s example.

There are several common characteristics that all authentic jerseys share, and a few they do not. The ones they do not share are largely due to the year of manufacturing, and the different brands, which we will discuss shortly. 

     Let us start with the shared characteristics… First, virtually all on ice game jerseys have the following: Double-layered shoulders, double-layered elbows, double-stitched seams, 2 inch hem, a tie-down strap (aka a “fight strap”), and the manufacturer’s logo and / or NHL Shield embroidered all of the way through the material of the rear hem. There is one exception to the latter; The NHL Shield was not place on the hem next to the manufacturer’s logo until the 1990-91 season. Just to be clear, before the 90-91 season, the only thing on the hems of authentic jerseys was the manufacturer’s logo. As Authentic jerseys are concerned, that is one easy method to identify the age grouping of your jersey. Most will also include a tag inside of the collar area that says “Authentic On Ice Game Jersey” or “Authentic Collection” if the jersey was made after 1990. Before 1990, there was usually only a single manufacturer’s tag with a handwritten numerical size on it.  

     Not all teams wore the same type of jersey either. For example, in the early 1990’s some teams wore Heavyweight Ultrafil jerseys (a collectors favorite kind), and some teams wore Air-Knit jerseys. Montreal was the last team to give up their Ultrafils, as they wore theirs into the early 2000’s until the switch to RBK. Some teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, wore Ultrafil jerseys through the 1992-93 season, then switched to Air Knit. Yet other teams like the Sharks, who entered the league at the start of the 1991-92 season went straight to Air-knit jerseys, even though Ultrafil jerseys were still widely available and in use. Whether we are talking about Air-Knit or Ultrafil, virtually all of the characteristics that allow one to identify an “Authentic On Ice Game Jersey are the same.” Two differences regarding the NHL Shield and manufacturer’s logo on the hem took place for the 1999-00 season, and again for the 2000-01 season.

    

     While many teams in the league opted for the use of “Pro Player” brand jerseys, there were still some teams that stayed with the CCM brand. Regardless the brand, the start of the 1999-00 NHL season brought with it a new NHL Shield. Next to the manufacturer’s logo would now be a silver and black NHL Shield, which replaced the traditional orange and black one. The 1999-00 season would also be the ONLY season that the new NHL shield would share space with the manufacturer’s logo on the hems on NHL jerseys. Beginning with the 2000-01 NHL season (to the present), the new silver and black NHL shield would stand alone on the hems of NHL jerseys. The manufacturer’s logos are no longer present. (See examples below).

 

Replica NHL Jerseys

     All of the manufacturers that made Authentic On Ice Game Jerseys for the NHL also made replica versions so fans could have a less expensive alternative to the real thing. It is important to note that some replica manufacturers really went out of their way to make their replicas as close to authentic as possible. For example, Starter and Pro Player brand jerseys incorporated double elbows, official “Authentic On Ice” size logos (cresting), and heavyweight construction into their replicas, giving them an “On Ice” look and feel. However, no manufacturer incorporated fight straps into their replicas. (I personally feel that Pro Player jerseys are by far the best replica jerseys ever made). With the exception of today’s RBK replicas, and the multitude of CCM Vintage Series counterfeits on the market (Feebay), replicas do not have fight straps, or an NHL Shield on the hem. Replicas will usually have a manufacturer’s logo on the hem, along with one of a variety of other logos, i.e. a puck logo or small team crest. In addition, excluding early 1990’s replicas, virtually all replicas were made of Air-Knit, and were just a lighter weight than their “Authentic On Ice” cousins.

Sizing

     Keep in mind that there are scumbags out there (mostly on Feebay) that doctor up replicas to make them look like authentic jerseys so they can sell them to unsuspecting customers. In fact, there are several sellers in the Vancouver B.C. area that make a living faking jerseys and selling them on Feebay. Just remember, adding a fight strap and / or some patches and logos does not magically turn a jersey into an authentic. Remember this, authentic jerseys are sized numerically, i.e. 48, 52, 56… The two-digit number refers to the chest size. Replica jerseys are sized as follows: M, L, XL, XXL, etc… (Some hoaxers will incorporate numerical size tags into their fakes though, so be careful). If you are ever unsure of what you are buying, contact me through this blog and I will be happy to take a look at the item for you. As a collector of 20 years, I have seen every type of counterfeit and fake there is. 

     As always, I hope this post was helpful in further education some of the novice jersey collectors. My intent is to combat frauds and help honest collectors and fans everywhere. Next time on “Hockey Jersey U,” we will discuss customizing. If you want your authentic, or replica jersey to be timeline accurate, you will want to attend the next class.   
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Please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great rare and vintage authentic and replica finds!  

http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.ioffer.com/selling/goongear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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Hockey Jersey U - Lesson One (Fit)

One of the biggest turnoffs for buyers of pre-owned hockey jerseys is fit. Most of us (collectors), have early on in our pursuit, purchased a jersey or two that arrived in worse than described condition. As indicated in my first post, Feebay as I like to call it, is rampant with garage sale quality garbage that is advertised as being in stellar condition. While most discerning veteran collectors are relatively adept at weeding out garbage, for less experienced collectors, potential issues regarding fit may be less obvious; thus the subject of today’s lesson at “Hockey Jersey U.” Gather around students, class is in session.

Fit:

While auction ads paint a pretty picture of the jerseys you are thinking of buying, and the pictures raise no obvious concerns, remember, most sellers make it that way on purpose so their jerseys will sell. Take it from me; you should approach every potential pre-owned jersey purchase with the same skepticism you would employ against a used car salesperson. Some used jersey sellers are simply clueless, and to them their jerseys looks fine. Others are just slimy, and knowingly misrepresent their offerings because that is the only way they can get someone to buy them. In either case, descriptions and pictures are not to be trusted on their own merit, period. If you do not want to get burned, you must ask questions. Doing so will greatly reduce your chances of ending up with something that will not fit correctly (if you wear your jerseys).

Ask this question: "Lying flat, what is the actual measurement from armpit seam to armpit seam (excluding any gussets)?" This is in my opinion the single most important question to ask, assuming the jersey is worth asking questions about. The reason is simple; jerseys should NEVER, EVER be dried in a clothes dryer, PERIOD! One time in a dryer (at ANY setting) and its ruined. Hockey jerseys shrink like no other, and MUST be air dried on a hanger! No, it is not ok to use the air / fluff setting on the dryer for the same purpose. We will discuss the reason for that another day… A jersey that has been ruined i.e. shrunk in a dryer will in most cases exhibit a distinctive bell-shape to the body of the jersey (See examples below).

If there is a huge difference between the measurement across the bottom of the jersey and the measurement from armpit seam to armpit seam, the jersey has probably been ruined in a clothes dryer. If the aforementioned measurements are not the same or VERY close to it, the jersey has shrinkage. Picture it like this… If you buy a pre-owned adult size XL jersey that normally measures 27” across the chest (total chest size 54), but it has been ruined in a dryer, it may now for example measure 24” across the chest (making it an actual total chest size of 48)! That is a total shrinkage of 6 inches! Just because the tag still says XL, do not assume that the jersey was cared for properly, most are not. In addition to having a pit-hugging fit, the shrinkage also means that the sleeves are now half way up your forearms, and the body length of the jersey is two or more inches shorter than it is supposed to be. Just remember, a jersey can be spotless and snag free yet still be ruined! A Hockey jersey should fit you roughly the same as a long sleeve shirt that is 2 or 3 sizes too big. Wearing one that fits like a regular shirt will get you laughed right out of any hockey rink in North America, so don't do it!

***TIP*** Wash each jersey by itself (i.e. alone), inside-out, in cold water, on a gentle cycle, and with light amounts of laundry soap. Following the spin cycle, turn the jersey right-side-out, grab the jersey by the shoulders and give it one sharp shake (like you would if you were shaking the dirt out of a small rug). This will remove any serious bunching. Then immediately place the jersey on a clothes hanger to air dry, out in the open (not in a closet). If you follow these instructions your jerseys will remain bright, fit correctly, and last forever! I practice what I preach. I have many jerseys in my personal collection that are 20+ years old, yet each one still looks like new!

As always, I hope this post was helpful. Please stay tuned for more lessons and tips on “Hockey Jersey U” brought to you by goon-gear.

Please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites (links below) for some great finds!
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http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.ioffer.com/selling/goongear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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