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Most American hockey moms know what a hockey sweater is because back in the 1990s we say Doug give Kate his beloved Bobby Hull game sweater in The Cutting Edge. But why does he call his jersey a sweater?
Many Canadians call their jerseys sweaters because they were originally made from sweater material. Stalwarts continue the tradition because you sweat in it. The term jersey, however, is rapidly overtaking sweater in Canada. This change is not without controversy. In fact, back in 2011 when the Ottawa Senators introduced a “heritage jersey,” they unleashed a great controversy.
Part of the passion for the term sweater is due to a favorite Canadian short story called The Hockey Sweater—a story so popular that it’s quoted on the Canadian five-dollar bill.
In the United States, however, we’re hooked on jersey. Search “sweater” on TotalHockey.com and you get, well, not really hockey jerseys. But you can find the Mad Brothers 1980 Team USA Hockey Jersey shown here!
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Anton, Executive Editor of Grow the Game, for this story.
