Decision-making tips when ordering hockey uniforms.

Organizing a team can be a challenging task. After weeks of chasing players and parents to prepare for the upcoming season, you're finally ready to start playing - but you still need to order the team jerseys. This can be a daunting task, but taking control of the process can make things easier for everyone involved. While input from teammates and parents can be valuable, too much input can lead to chaos. As the organizer, you should take the lead on the uniform ordering process to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Start by setting a budget for the new uniforms. Allow feedback from teammates or parents and come up with a number that works for everyone, then stick to it. Once you have a budget in place, get input on a basic color theme. From there, it's best to take the lead and make decisions on the jersey style, customization, and ice hockey socks.

 

Selecting a Jersey Style

Selecting a jersey style can be challenging. It can be difficult to move forward when different members of the team have different preferences. For example, Bob might want Chicago-style jerseys because that's his favorite team, while Jim is from St. Louis and hates the Blackhawks. Sully likes Boston, but Pierre insists on Canadiens sweaters. If this sounds familiar, a generic league-style jersey might be the best option. Many high-quality styles are available in popular "team" colors without being associated with any particular NHL team. Visit the League Style Jerseys page to view the many options available in traditional team colors, as well as unique offerings like Vegas Gold, Pro Blue, and Lime Green.

 

Choosing Jersey Customization

Another challenging aspect of ordering uniforms is choosing customization options. Screen print, sewn twill, sleeve numbers, and player names are just a few of the many choices available. Setting a budget and sticking to it can make the process much easier. There is a significant price difference between different printing options, so once you've selected your jersey style, the rest should be easy. To maximize the value to your team, make a list of the "need to haves" vs. the "nice to haves" for your uniforms. Does your league require sleeve numbers and player names on your jerseys? If not, perhaps skip those extras and select higher quality printing or multi-color logos and numbers for your jerseys, which will certainly make everyone happier in the long run. Remember to send us your artwork and logos in vector format.

 

Ice Hockey Socks

Ice hockey socks are another area where sticking to your budget should help. It's important to know whether or not your league requires matching socks. More choices are available in the older knitted style hockey socks, but many people like the newer pro-style hockey socks, too. If the color combination you choose is available in both styles, we recommend budgeting for the lower cost knitted style and then allowing your team to upgrade to the matching pro-style socks at their own cost out-of-pocket.

We know that organizing a team can be a thankless job, and as hockey people ourselves, we completely understand and appreciate everything that you do. None of that really matters now because hockey season is starting soon, and it's time to start shopping for your next set of jerseys! Good luck and Godspeed!