Ever Wonder What Hockey Jerseys are Made Of?
As with most any sport, as the game evolves so too does the player’s equipment. Hockey has had a long and fascinating history and it has changed a lot over the years. The equipment has grown and shrank, the players have developed new techniques like one timers and slap shots, and the rinks they play on have been significantly improved. The same is true for their hockey jerseys. The hockey jersey has evolved with the game and has gone through many changes.
In the olden days of hockey, when people thought skates were simply sharp razor blades attached to their boots, the game was mostly played outdoors on frozen ponds. Pond hockey was fun but it had its draw backs. The weather could often get incredibly cold, especially in the more northern areas of America, and if you weren’t wearing the proper clothing you couldn’t play for very long. Thus the wool hockey sweater was born. Players would decorate their house hold sweaters with team insignia and get out there and play.
When the hockey game moved inside and out of the cold the venue changed but so did the player’s equipment. No longer was it a good idea to wear hockey sweaters made out of heavy wool. The indoor rinks just weren’t cold enough for that kind of insulation so the hockey players began to strip down a bit. Companies began developing linen jerseys and jerseys made of similar materials that were lighter and airier than wool. Unfortunately these fabrics wouldn’t last long with sweat pouring into them. Once they got wet it took forever to dry off.
Today hockey jerseys are made out of synthetic materials. Polyester is an incredibly light fabric that allows for the skin to breathe underneath it. The breathability of these synthetics is perfect for the indoor hockey player. The jersey is light so it doesn’t encumber him and it dries quickly so that he doesn’t catch a chill from his own sweat. Also, new design techniques have allowed for some really cool emblems and embroideries on modern hockey jerseys that couldn’t happen before on the old fabrics.
If you’re out there hitting the rink on your own in pick up games or in youth leagues you probably want to wear something to distinguish your team from the other. In pick up games it is common for everyone to bring two different t-shirts. One dark t-shirt and one light t-shirt will allow for the teams to be split up evenly and easily visible. When you have a hodgepodge of colors on the rink it gets kind of tough to know who you’re playing with.
Hockey jerseys have evolved with the game of hockey. They have been made in different ways and with different patterns and styles but their function remains the same. Hockey jerseys are designed to protect and insulate the players while still distinguishing them from the others on the ice. A player’s hockey jersey tells a lot about them. It gives us their number, their team, and their last name.
Doug loves hockey but he especially loves hockey jerseys. He discusses hockey and hockey practice jerseys at his blog.
categories: hockey jerseys,hockey memorabilia,sports memorabilia,hockey collecting,hockey equipment,sports equipment,clothing,ice hockey,roller hockey,hockey,sports history
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