| Today NHL jerseys are an important part of | | | | consider to be the greatest era in league |
| any ice hockey match because this is how fans | | | | history. |
| show their solidarity. This merchandise has | | | | |
| come a long way since the beginning of the | | | | The Chicago Black Hawks changed their NHL |
| NHL in 1917 as you will see how the uniforms | | | | jerseys in 1955 and went from black to red |
| have changed over the last century. | | | | uniforms which have since evolved into the |
| | | | shirts they still wear today. The Boston |
| The NHL began with only four teams all of | | | | Bruins also had a change of uniform and made |
| which were Canadian. However, the Montreal | | | | a statement by introducing gold jerseys. Five |
| Wanderers' ice rink burnt down in the first | | | | out of the six original teams still use the |
| season and they were never heard from again. | | | | same designs for their uniforms even today |
| It was hard to produce NHL jerseys in this | | | | which has no doubt made it easier for fans to |
| time because the teams had an identity crisis | | | | follow their favourite teams. |
| over what there uniform should be and it | | | | |
| wasn't until the 1920s when official uniforms | | | | In 1967 the NHL expanded from six teams to 12 |
| were decided on. | | | | and it was because of this that the uniforms |
| | | | were never the same again. Whereas before the |
| Ice hockey didn't exist in the United States | | | | colour used were conservative such as reds, |
| until 1924 when the Boston Bruins became the | | | | blues and blacks, the new teams were using |
| first U.S based team. This was a proud time | | | | bold colours like orange, green and purple. |
| for America when their first NHL jerseys were | | | | It wasn't until 1970 however that teams |
| made because they could start showing their | | | | started experimenting with putting players' |
| support for their favourite team. | | | | last names on the backs of their shirts. |
| | | | |
| NHL jerseys came and went as did many teams. | | | | NHL jerseys have come a long way since the |
| One example of this is the Brooklyn Americans | | | | sport first started to become popular in the |
| who were formerly known as the New York | | | | beginning of the 1900s. No doubt this has |
| Americans. When they left the NHL there were | | | | been down to several factors including new |
| only six teams left which is how it stayed | | | | teams being introduced and more modern |
| for the next 25 years which many people | | | | concepts taking over. |