Reference

The jersey collector's glossary

Every term you will run into while buying, dating or identifying a jersey — in plain language. Pair it with the identification method and the collector guides.

Construction and fabrics

Fight strap: A fabric strap inside the lower back of a hockey sweater that ties to the pants, so the jersey cannot be pulled over a player's head in a fight. Present on authentic on-ice styles; absent on most replicas.
Air-Knit: CCM's lightweight double-knit polyester fabric used on NHL sweaters from the 1980s onward. Its texture and weight help date a sweater.
Ultrafil: A heavier, shinier knit used for on-ice NHL sweaters, especially through the 1980s and 1990s. Game-issued ultrafil pieces are prized by collectors.
Durene: A heavy cotton-blend knit used on hockey sweaters before polyester took over. Common on 1960s–70s sweaters; a good sign of genuine vintage.
Chain stitching: A looping embroidery stitch used on crests and numbers, especially on older and higher-end sweaters. Distinct texture compared with modern tackle twill or printing.
Tackle twill: The standard material for sewn-on names and numbers: a durable twill fabric cut, layered and stitched to the sweater.
Crest: The team logo on the front of the sweater. On authentic pieces it is usually stitched twill or embroidery, never screen-printed.
Jock tag: The manufacturer's label on the lower front hem, showing brand, size and often season coding. One of the first things to check when dating a jersey.

Collector terms

Authentic: The on-ice specification sold at retail: same cut, fabric, fight strap and construction as the players wear. More expensive and boxier than replica cuts.
Replica: A fan-version jersey with a looser fan cut, lighter fabric and no fight strap. Current NHL replicas are the Fanatics Breakaway line.
Game-worn (gamer): A jersey actually worn by a player in a game. Should come with team or league documentation; photo-matching raises confidence further.
Game-issued: Prepared for a player but not worn in a game. Legitimate, but worth less than game-worn.
Pro stock: Equipment or jerseys made to professional specification but never issued to a team — often sold off by manufacturers or teams.
MIC (Made in Canada): Shorthand for Canadian-made authentic NHL sweaters, particularly the Reebok Edge 2.0 (style 7287) made in Canada versus the retail 'Indo-Edge' made overseas.
Indo-Edge: Collector slang for the first Reebok Edge retail authentics (style 7187) made in Indonesia — different cut and materials from the Canadian on-ice version.
Edge 1.0 / 2.0: The two Reebok Edge authentic constructions (2007–2017). The 2.0, with its more traditional feel, is the on-ice style most collectors want.
6100: The CCM/Koho authentic on-ice style number from the early 2000s. 'A 6100' is shorthand for that generation of authentic.
Grail: A collector's most-wanted piece — usually rare, expensive, or tied to a specific memory.

Programs and events

Reverse Retro: The NHL's Adidas-era program (2020 and 2022) where teams revived a historical design with colours inverted or remixed.
Third / alternate: An additional sweater beyond home and away, worn for selected games. Thirds are where teams take design risks — and where collectors find cult classics.
Heritage Classic: The NHL's Canadian outdoor game series, beginning with Edmonton vs Montréal at Commonwealth Stadium in 2003.
Winter Classic: The NHL's American New Year outdoor game, first played in Buffalo in 2008.
Stadium Series: The NHL's stadium outdoor games launched in 2014, typically with the boldest one-off jersey designs.
Barber pole: Jerseys with diagonal or horizontal striping around the body, nicknamed after barber shop poles. The original Ottawa Senators are the famous example.

Manufacturers

CCM / Maska: The dominant NHL supplier of the 1980s and 1990s. The 'Maska' tag appears on early-90s CCM sweaters and helps date them.
Koho: An NHL supplier around the turn of the 2000s; some teams wore Koho-branded authentics alongside CCM.
Reebok: League-wide NHL supplier from 2005–06, introducing the Edge system in 2007. Vector and wordmark tags date pieces within the era.
Adidas: NHL on-ice supplier from 2017–18 through 2023–24 with the ADIZERO authentic line.
Fanatics: NHL on-ice supplier starting with the 2024–25 season. Breakaway is the replica line; Premium is the authentic retail line.
Starter: Licensed supplier of several NHL and NBA teams in the 1990s; Starter-tag jerseys are a distinct collecting niche.