How to Identify an Authentic Hockey Jersey
With retail prices of up to $400, authentic hockey jerseys are quite an investment for a die-hard fan. If you're spending that much of your hard-earned money on sports memorabilia, you want to be sure you're getting the real deal and not a cheap knock-off. While some fakes indeed look very similar to authentic shirts, there are a number of things to look for to help you properly identify an authentic piece that is truly worth your money.
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Instructions
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Compare the official team colors to the colors of your jersey of choice. Look for color vibrancy and for identical shades. If the colors seem washed out or too dark, the jersey isn't authentic. Also compare color details such as contrast stitching and piping, which is often missing or misplaced in counterfeit pieces.
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Take a good look at the numbers and letters. In the National Hockey League, each team has its individual choice of fonts and often bootleggers get the fonts wrong. Letters should be spaced evenly; they should be made from tackle twill and lay flat. Unevenly spaced letters, squishy cresting fabric and off-center number positioning may give you a good clue that you are looking at a fake. More importantly, none of the official manufacturers pre-crest their pro jerseys; instead, the customizing is done at the store, usually only after an order has been placed. If a store is offering pre-crested pro jerseys with the names of less popular players, the chances that this is an authentic jersey are very slim. Official replica jerseys -- the less-durable fan edition -- may be delivered pre-crested, though.
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Examine the logos. Most teams' logos should not be made from tackle twill; so, if the same material has been used both for crested letters on the back and the logo on the front of the jersey, the piece is probably a knock-off. The NHL logo stitched to the neckline should look very clean. All logos and other appliques such as shoulder patches should lie flat.
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Check all tags and straps thoroughly for quality, size and placement. The fight strap should be in line with the number on the back, and it should be stitched onto a wider piece of twill before it is attached to the jersey. Fake jerseys often come with smaller fight straps that are placed off-center. The manufacturer's tag needs to read "Made in Canada" on all official NHL pro jerseys. The words "my NHL" on the hologram that is attached to the hang tag need to appear and disappear, as you rotate the tag. Official replica jerseys must sport a so-called jock tag with the NHL shield, the manufacturer's logo and the jersey size on the bottom left-hand side of the jersey front.
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Tips & Warnings
Get a list of officially authorized retailers in your neighborhood from the jersey manufacturer. Buying from a licensed store is your best bet at getting authentic goods.
If after checking the jersey you just purchased you're still unsure about its authenticity, take it to an authorized retailer and ask a sales associate to take a look at your piece.
Keep in mind that official jersey manufacturers may change. As of 2011, the official NHL jersey manufacturer is Reebok with its Rbk brand for pro jerseys, which is what the players wear during games (also known as "Rbk Edge"), fan replica jerseys (also known as "Rbk Premier"), practice jerseys ("Rbk Practice"), along with CCM replica jerseys.
Always use common sense: Brand new jerseys that are offered to you for less than the regular retailer's purchase price are usually fake. This is especially true when you don't have the possibility to personally inspect the piece for authenticity when buying from auction websites or unauthorized dealers over the Internet. Also keep in mind that counterfeiting brand products such as sports memorabilia is a criminal act.
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