You will find a number of completely different kinds of ice hockey jerseys whether you're a collector, an aficionado or a player. When ice hockey was still new, players used to put on sweaters as their team colors and to identify them as team members. With the progress of the game, sweaters were changed to jerseys manufactured from nylon or polyester, very similar to the apparel in the other team sports. Old-timers and traditionalists however continue to call jerseys sweaters.

One way of knowing the difference between the types of hockey jerseys is to categorize them as genuine, replica or practice. They've got completely different construction and sizes, though they're all available for team followers and recreational players alike. Genuine jerseys are the real thing, the actual jerseys which players put on during games. They have to be officially licensed. At the moment, genuine ice hockey jerseys are solely licensed by the National Hockey League to the giant sporting equipment maker Reebok Hockey.

These genuine jerseys are made of two layers. The outer layer is created to protect the player versus bumps and scrapes whereas the inner layer is fabricated from a breathable material that doesn't retain moisture. The player is therefore both warm and dry. These jerseys could be customized to accommodate any player or number who's presently playing with that team. Additional features of authentic jerseys are elbows which are double stitched to give extra padding in addition to a "fight strap". This strap is hooked up to the tail of the jersey so that when it's tightened, opposing players cannot, in a fight, yank the jersey over the head of the player.

Practice jerseys are a plainer form of authentic jerseys and are used by players in drills so they do not call for the flamboyant trimmings. These jerseys come in quite a lot of colors which are not necessarily the team colors and players can choose their very own colors. They normally come in both light and dark colors so that players could be divided into squads by the coach in practice. They are less expensive compared to authentic jerseys.

Reproduction jerseys fall somewhere between genuine and practice jerseys with regards to selling price. Reproductions look similar to authentic jerseys but do not have the distinctive characteristics, like the two layers or the fight strap. These jerseys are worn by numerous enthusiasts because of their affordability and are also used by recreational players, especially kids who wish to appear like their heroes.