Simple NHL Jersey Etiquette

Every hockey fan has likely seen Puck Daddy’s infamous “Jersey Fouls” series of posts. In case you have been living under a hockey blog rock, Jersey Fouls features fan captured photos of various hockey fans committing various NHL jersey related infractions at arenas throughout the NHL.

While throwing on your team’s favorite jersey may seem like a simple task, there are many rules to consider when customizing or selecting which jersey to wear to the game. Since it is the off season, and many sites are about to have their summer clearance sales, I thought it would be a good time to list the various jersey related infractions that you should avoid, lest you end up among Yahoo’s Jersey Fouls.

1. Don’t Tuck The Jersey

This one should be a no brainer. Even the NHL created a rule to dissallow the players from tucking in their jerseys. It has been against the rules for fans to do this since people stopped wearing suits to games. I could go on about why a hockey jersey should never be tucked in, but I think this PSA from the Boston Bruins sums it up better:

2. 69

Jay Baruchel may disagree, but slapping 69 and a witty sex pun on the back of a jersey is not hilarious. It is cliche and the lowest form of jersey related humor.

3. Controversial Players

This one in itself may be a bit controversial, as I understand that hockey jerseys are not cheap. When Rick Nash decides to depart to New York City, throwing down $150 for a new hockey jersey is not something every fan is able to do, and I don’t blame someone if they continue to wear the jersey. However, when a player leaves under bad terms, sporting his name on the back of the jersey is like opening a fresh wound for all of the fans around you. You are better off leaving that #7 Jeff Carter Blue Jackets jersey at home and wearing a t-shirt instead.

4. Old Players on Reebok Edge jerseys

This one may seem nitpicky to some, but I got into a debate with a friend about this one. Bobby Orr retired from hockey in 1978, aka nearly 30 years before the Reebok Edge jersey was introduced. Also in this category is putting 80’s era Devils on the modern Edge throwback jerseys. Double points from Gryffindor for those, as these are fake jerseys as well. Reebok never sold the Edge Devils throwback, CCM makes the ones for sale in the team shop.

Do not throw former players on modern templates / uniforms. If you must have a Rocket Richard Canadiens jersey, the NHL produces a vintage line of apparel.

 5. Frankenjerseys

If you don’t know what these are, they are those awful jerseys that mash two teams or players together on one jersey. The bad ones typically feature a 50/50 split of a team’s home and away jersey. The kind that should be torn of and immedietly set on fire feature things like a 50/50 Lundqvist – Brodeur Rangers / Devils hybrid. Just thinking of that makes me retch a little. Seriously. If you see something like this, make the owner remove it and set it on fire.

6. Non-Related Teams / Sports

Why would you wear a Rangers jersey to a Devils / Islanders game at the Rock (other than to be a giant jerk)? The same goes to fans wearing NFL or MLB jerseys to hockey games. A pass could be granted if said teams are involved in a playoff game at the time. Another pass should be granted to jerseys of minor league teams and some pop-culture jerseys (Slapshot Hanson jerseys never get old).