Jerseys and Hockey Love

ESPN just loves to talk about itself. If the worldwide leader isn’t doing it, it isn’t news. What could possibly be more entertaining than one of it’s own analysts in the news, this time in a positive way:

Former Los Angeles Kings coach Barry Melrose brushed aside a rumor he is in line to become the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, saying he is enjoying his life as an ESPN analyst.

“This is no different than any of the last 10 years,” Melrose said in response to a report in the Toronto Star. “I’ve been contacted by a handful of clubs every year since joining ESPN. My desire to coach again has never been a secret, but I love what I do at ESPN.”

I bet he sure does love what he does at ESPN. As the only face of hockey, he has to actually work somewhere around two hours a day (I would speculate). Why would you leave all the glory as one of the most recognizable faces of hockey in the US, and have so little to do?

Try this on your sports loving friends who don’t track hockey. Hold up a picture of Melrose, and let them guess who he is. Then hold up a picture of John Tortorella, and see how they do. Dollar to “Have another donut,” you know what is going to happen.

Classic ESPN narcissism. If the World Wide Leader doesn’t report on it, it doesn’t exist. And if they are talking about themselves, they are the happiest sports network on earth.

Technorati Tags: ESPN, Melrose, MSM

Yes, the tradition of turning nouns into verbs continues. Do you have an NHL jersey that just isn’t flashy enough for you? Do you need that little extra thing to set it off from the crowd? I am a patch hound. I love getting appropriate patches for my jerseys, such as all-star, Stanley Cup, and anniversary patches.

River City Sports (who are not a sponsor, as this is an ad-free zone) are having a sale on all sorts of patches right now, including the Stanley Cup patches. And they even have a patch for Canucks fans. Get something fun, and look back at some old photos, to make sure where the patch goes. Nothing as sad as a Stanley Cup patch going on the wrong side (I’m not telling).

Get ye to the sale!

Technorati Tags: Hockey, Jerseys

It’s more crazy marketing from the NHL, but it could have some interesting speculation. At the Winter Classic, the outdoor game in Buffalo you couldn’t get tickets to, the Penguins and Sabres are going to be facing off in brand new, “Vintage” jerseys, made by Reebok.

The Buffalo Sabres doesn’t look that far off the mark. I don’t think anyone is going to bat an eye at this. I wonder how many will be sold, if nostalgia will prevail, or if everyone who wants an older style Sabres jersey has one.

The Penguins on the other hand:

Now that’s a “Vintage” jersey. Or at least, a recreation of a vintage jersey. According to www.pittsburghhockey.net, the jersey this was based on was used from 1968 until 1972. This jersey was out in circulation, and being sold as recent as 2004, but I haven’t seen it lately. I really like the jersey, but it’s a new jersey from Reebok, right? We all know what happens to new jerseys from Reebok, they get EDGE-ified, right?

Well, yes, but look at that cut. That isn’t the new slicker, tighter, faster, never-gonna-go-back cut of the new EDGE jerseys. And how about this, from the NHL online store in the product description:

Patented mid-weight air knit 100% polyester

Air knit. If you don’t know what air knit is, go back about a year. Air knit is what NHL jerseys were made of before the EDGE system took over the world. So, let the wild speculation begin. Is RBK giving up on the new materials? Are they willing to let go of “years” of research that wound up being useless in the face of game situations? Are we going to get out beloved hockey jersey back?

I’m not holding my breath on that one.

Your shopping options are many, but I have always been a fan of River City Sports. They have great customer service, still have a bunch of the old (good) style jerseys, and decent prices. You can find the Sabres jersey here, the Penguins jersey here, and the Crosby version here. But there is no way I’m shelling out $133.99 for these jerseys. That’s a $44 markup. Good luck with that, RBK. I’m sure you will make a fortune.

Technorati Tags: Hockey, Jerseys, Winter Classic

Meigray.com is having a sale called Black Friday Reverse sale. From their site:

Beginning now and lasting all Thanksgiving Weekend 2007, except for a few exceptions, EVERY MeiGray-owned Game-Worn Jersey in stock at www.meigray.com that DOES NOT HAVE THE WORD BLACK IN ITS DESCRIPTION is 25% OFF.

Exceptions: Game-issued jerseys, 2007-08 jerseys, and jerseys priced at $5,000 or higher, are not on sale.

And except for a few exceptions, every NHL-MGG owned Game-Worn Jersey in stock at www.nhlgameworn.com that DOES NOT HAVE THE WORD BLACK IN ITS DESCRIPTION is 50% OFF.

Exceptions: Game-issued jerseys, and jerseys priced at $5,000 or higher, are not on sale.

Sale ends tonight at 11:59 PM. Boogie over there.

If you don’t know about Meigray, they have a ton a game worn jerseys, and are officially licensed by the team they deal with. There are some good jerseys to be had, and you can find some deals for players who may not be scooped up so quickly.

Technorati Tags: Hockey, Jerseys

This is almost a week old, but I think it’s important reading for anyone who is thinking about buying a new RBK EDGE jersey.

Mike Chen buys a new jersey: RBK=CRP

Always remember, especially with the new cut, new materials, and new prices… Try before you buy.

Technorati Tags: Jerseys, NHL

Three new jerseys to show you from the AHL. First up, the Portland Pirates:

I still don’t understand the amount of teams to put those white lines on the upper chest by the armpits. It must be some sort of seam, or was gently suggested by RBK or something. I think they look like a$$.

Next up, the Manitoba Moose:

Not bad, especially if they leave that stupid logo off the shoulders from previous years. (Zing!)

Finally, a favorite of mine, the Rockford IceHogs:

Up from the UHL, new to the AHL, they are certainly following the look of their new affiliate, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Yeah, I like the old ones better.

Technorati Tags: AHL, Hockey, Jerseys

The AHL continues to roll out the new jerseys at an alarmingly slow pace. Here are the Quad City Mallards Flames:

Wow. I mean, whoopee. That should take the sting of losing the Mallards, a team the Quad City area loved (Of course, the UHL has tanked faster than my career lately. Zing!).

Here are a better look at the Grand Rapids Griffins jerseys:

Wow, you guys look excited to be there. No, I wouldn’t be either.

As for the scooping, Brushback, serving out a poor retirement, has pictures of the new Wolfpack jerseys on sidearm delivery. Tell him I sent you, maybe we can get him back on board. In a landscape that has filled up with hockey blogs, his was is one of the best

Technorati Tags: AHL, Hockey, Jerseys

Just throwing this one out there. I found this one on a clearance rack in Appleton, WI. Yes, it was only $25 bucks.

That would be the Denver Pioneers. How do I know?

I have yet to see a DU game live, but I think it’s going to happen this year, if I get back to Denver in time.

The jersey is freaking huge. The collar is gigantic, and wearing it is like wearing a blanket. I put the skate lace in myself, because I like the look.

Feed readers: there are pictures in this post, and a lot of my posts lately. If you don’t see them, or a post makes no sense, go to the main blog. See what you are missing.

Technorati Tags: DU, Hockey, Jerseys, NCAA, Pioneers

The original title of this post was going to be Ryan Schmidt, Well Travelled, Virtually Unknown. That was until I got something in the mail:

Sometimes, you run across something that just blows you mind. I would have never known about Ryan Schmidt if it weren’t for a game worn jersey that came up on ebay. Ryan Schmidt may never have thought anyone would run into his stats, but after you see this, you may understand. This is the playing history from the Internet Hockey Database page for Ryan Schmidt:

1990-91 Sioux City Musketeers
1992-93 Waterloo Black Hawks
1992-93 Fort Worth Fire
1993-94 Dallas Freeze
1994-95 Roanoke Express
1994-95 Toledo Storm
1994-95 Utica Blizzard
1994-95 Detroit Falcons
1995-96 West-Palm-Beach Barracudas
1995-96 Wichita Thunder
1996-97 Amarillo Rattlers
1996-97 Dayton Ice Bandits
1997-98 Fayetteville Force
1998-99 Mobile Mysticks
1998-99 Macon Whoopee
1998-99 Fort Worth Fire
1999-00 Fayetteville Force
2000-01 Colorado Gold Kings
2000-01 Phoenix Mustangs
2000-01 Bakersfield Condors

Oh…My…God… That is staggering. I’m pretty well travelled, but I don’t have anything on this guy. And remember, half of his games were probably road games. If there is a minor leaguer who has stories to tell, it’s probably Ryan Schmidt.

Want to know what else is impressive? How about his penalty minutes? In 415 games, he had 1074 penalty minutes. As for scoring, he had 15 goals and 63 assists for 78 points. I think he had a job, knew his job, and did it often.

From the wear on the sleeve, it looks like he did that job in this jersey:

So, where is Ryan now? A look through the interweb brought up this. From the East Coast Eagles:

Ryan Schmidt returns a