By ANDREW CHONG
With all the unrestricted free agents available this summer, it’s officially shopping season for NHL general managers. But for the rest of us, summer is shopping season for new hockey gear. And trust me, both tasks have never been more important.
Some franchises like the Rangers, Avs, and Flyers have gone on free agent shopping sprees to improve the look of their team. Likewise, many hockey players will be looking to improve their on-ice appearance with an investment in new equipment.
Hockey fashion sense has never been more important to players. Most hockey players have at least glimpsed into the reflection of the glass to check themselves out and make sure everything looks right. I’ll admit to putting on new gear in front of the mirror at home or in the bathroom of the dressing room to see how sweet I look.
Washington Capitals sniper Alexander Ovechkin is a prime example of a hockey player who cares about style.
With his yellow skate laces, his jersey sleeves pulled up to his elbow pads, a gold chain with a cross hanging from his neck, and his trademark tinted visor, you might wonder why he makes such flamboyant fashion choices.
“Because that's my style,” said Ovechkin on NHL.com. “I used to wear a clear visor in practice. I wear a tinted one in games because that's my style. It's just fashion.”
In some ways, looks can define the player: Wayne Gretzky’s side-tucked jersey, Kelly Hrudey’s baby blue headband, and Ryan Smyth’s mullet.
And for us hockey loving Canadians who are often trying to emulate the pros—their moves, their strategy, their technique—why would we be any different when it comes to fashion?
My teammate from spring league insists on wearing his non-CSA approved old school Jofa helmet so he can look like The Great One, even though he has a perfectly good Bauer lid in his bag.
Last week, hundreds and hundreds of people lined up at General Motors Place in Vancouver for the Canucks annual equipment sale. Forget simply trying to emulate the pros, how about wearing their actual equipment?
And even if ex-backup Dany Sabourin’s plain white pads fit you better than Roberto Luongo’s shiny Reebok’s, you’d still buy Luongo’s. Let’s be honest, here. You’d look so much better.
Even the NHL is updating its look for next season with new jerseys for every team.
Are these new slimmer fit, moisture wicking uniforms a scientific measure taken to reduce wind resistance and increase mobility, or do you think this has anything to do with looking cooler and selling more jerseys?
Even an old school guy like Brent Sutter wants his team to look a certain way. He made his Canadian juniors get short, layered haircuts if they wanted to play on his team. No sideburns or long hair coming out of the back of the helmet.
Some young players can’t wait to get to the higher ranks so they don’t have to wear neckguards or full cages and they can look like the guys in the NHL.
Though we know it probably won’t elevate our game that much, most hockey players still care about looks.
From that guy with the shiny silver Eagle gloves, a sparkling red Synergy stick, and a glossy white helmet with a tinted visor, to that guy with blue pants, his friend’s old CCM Tacks, and a red helmet he’s had since he was a kid, hockey fashion certainly leaves an impression.
Have fun shopping for gear this summer, and don’t be ashamed to check yourself out in the mirror before buying. |
