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Does anyone know why hockey teams at most levels (except for the NHL, who switched during the 05 lockout I believe) wear white jerseys at home?

I really wish this would change. I would much rather see a team in their color jerseys. Just think of some of the colors that are synonymous with a certain school: Grand Rapids Orange, Edina Green, Roseau Green, Warroad Black, Jefferson Blue.

Just think of how distinctive those jerseys/colors are as opposed to a generic white.

I actually think it would be cool if both teams wore color jerseys: with only using white if the two colors are too similar and you need to differentiate.

Thoughts?

I wish the NHL would go back to Whites at home. In the words of the Fiddler on the Roof, “TRADITION!!!”

Whatever you just said...I agree.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:I wish the NHL would go back to Whites at home. In the words of the Fiddler on the Roof, “TRADITION!!!”

I think they changed it because so many teams were wearing "alternate" jerseys that were colored and teams had to pack both sets of uniforms when travelling. Easier to pack 1 set of uniforms. And from 1955-1971 teams wore colored uniforms at home and white on the road.

I could be wrong, but I think the NHL switched to white on the road with an eye toward selling more jerseys, which for some odd reason are often referred to as "sweaters" by some in hockey circles. Most or all of the third jerseys are colored, so they expose home fans to two jerseys instead of one.

Just because a franchise has two colored jerseys doesn't mean that they have to take both sets on the road.

The MSHSL allows TV to require the home team to wear dark uniforms if they feel the home whites won't broadcast well for some reason. And those getting long in the tooth will recall a late 70's game when Edina East and Roseau both took the ice in green.

Can't exactly say why, but I prefer home teams in white. Seems like in most sports at most levels that's the case. I suspect it may be because the "good guys" are in the white hats.

My first thought was the home team wearing white came from baseball where all teams only had white and gray (flannel) uniforms and that road was grey due to lack of laundry facilities when on road and did a little research and that was the reason for this so I guess I fall into the old guy camp for knowing useless trivia.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:I could be wrong, but I think the NHL switched to white on the road with an eye toward selling more jerseys, which for some odd reason are often referred to as "sweaters" by some in hockey circles. Most or all of the third jerseys are colored, so they expose home fans to two jerseys instead of one.

Just because a franchise has two colored jerseys doesn't mean that they have to take both sets on the road.

The MSHSL allows TV to require the home team to wear dark uniforms if they feel the home whites won't broadcast well for some reason. And those getting long in the tooth will recall a late 70's game when Edina East and Roseau both took the ice in green.

Can't exactly say why, but I prefer home teams in white. Seems like in most sports at most levels that's the case. I suspect it may be because the "good guys" are in the white hats.

I THINK they are called sweaters because when hockey WAS an outdoor sport they literally were sweaters to help keep the players warm.(I could be wrong though)

paulsonj72 wrote:

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:I could be wrong, but I think the NHL switched to white on the road with an eye toward selling more jerseys, which for some odd reason are often referred to as "sweaters" by some in hockey circles. Most or all of the third jerseys are colored, so they expose home fans to two jerseys instead of one.

Just because a franchise has two colored jerseys doesn't mean that they have to take both sets on the road.

The MSHSL allows TV to require the home team to wear dark uniforms if they feel the home whites won't broadcast well for some reason. And those getting long in the tooth will recall a late 70's game when Edina East and Roseau both took the ice in green.

Can't exactly say why, but I prefer home teams in white. Seems like in most sports at most levels that's the case. I suspect it may be because the "good guys" are in the white hats.

I THINK they are called sweaters because when hockey WAS an outdoor sport they literally were sweaters to help keep the players warm.(I could be wrong though)

You may well be right on that. I just see it as an archaic thing. Like when people of my parents' generation would talk about someone "leaving all the lights in the house burning." Even though we'd switched from gas lights to electric lights about 70 years before that. Life's such a drag when you live in the past.

paulsonj72 wrote:
I THINK they are called sweaters because when hockey WAS an outdoor sport they literally were sweaters to help keep the players warm.(I could be wrong though)

This is exactly the reason they are called sweaters. Even when they first moved indoors, the arenas had natural ice, which means the arenas were dang cold as well. Imagine playing the game in thick, wool sweaters.

I have no problem with them being called sweaters, but I am a sucker for traditions.

White or light uniforms didn't travel as well, revealed more dirt and wear from the road thus the colored or darker uniforms were preferred for travel. May or may not be true, I'm not sure.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:I could be wrong, but I think the NHL switched to white on the road with an eye toward selling more jerseys, which for some odd reason are often referred to as "sweaters" by some in hockey circles. Most or all of the third jerseys are colored, so they expose home fans to two jerseys instead of one.

Just because a franchise has two colored jerseys doesn't mean that they have to take both sets on the road.

The MSHSL allows TV to require the home team to wear dark uniforms if they feel the home whites won't broadcast well for some reason. And those getting long in the tooth will recall a late 70's game when Edina East and Roseau both took the ice in green.

Can't exactly say why, but I prefer home teams in white. Seems like in most sports at most levels that's the case. I suspect it may be because the "good guys" are in the white hats.

I wonder if we'll see 45TV tell Tonka to wear there white helmets with there white sweaters if Tonka plays STA in the semis?2 blue and white teams both wearing blue helmets,and the team in white has a big blue strip through the middle of there sweater.It Could get a bit confusing for those watching on TV...Or at the X for that matter.Tonka wearing there White buckets would be a little more aesthetically pleasing one would think.

HSPuckFan wrote:

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:I could be wrong, but I think the NHL switched to white on the road with an eye toward selling more jerseys, which for some odd reason are often referred to as "sweaters" by some in hockey circles. Most or all of the third jerseys are colored, so they expose home fans to two jerseys instead of one.

Just because a franchise has two colored jerseys doesn't mean that they have to take both sets on the road.

The MSHSL allows TV to require the home team to wear dark uniforms if they feel the home whites won't broadcast well for some reason. And those getting long in the tooth will recall a late 70's game when Edina East and Roseau both took the ice in green.

Can't exactly say why, but I prefer home teams in white. Seems like in most sports at most levels that's the case. I suspect it may be because the "good guys" are in the white hats.

I wonder if we'll see 45TV tell Tonka to wear there white helmets with there white sweaters if Tonka plays STA in the semis?2 blue and white teams both wearing blue helmets,and the team in white has a big blue strip through the middle of there sweater.It Could get a bit confusing for those watching on TV...Or at the X for that matter.Tonka wearing there White buckets would be a little more aesthetically pleasing one would think.

Not to worry, STA will not make it to the semis.

elliott70 wrote:

HSPuckFan wrote:

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:I could be wrong, but I think the NHL switched to white on the road with an eye toward selling more jerseys, which for some odd reason are often referred to as "sweaters" by some in hockey circles. Most or all of the third jerseys are colored, so they expose home fans to two jerseys instead of one.

Just because a franchise has two colored jerseys doesn't mean that they have to take both sets on the road.

The MSHSL allows TV to require the home team to wear dark uniforms if they feel the home whites won't broadcast well for some reason. And those getting long in the tooth will recall a late 70's game when Edina East and Roseau both took the ice in green.

Can't exactly say why, but I prefer home teams in white. Seems like in most sports at most levels that's the case. I suspect it may be because the "good guys" are in the white hats.

I wonder if we'll see 45TV tell Tonka to wear there white helmets with there white sweaters if Tonka plays STA in the semis?2 blue and white teams both wearing blue helmets,and the team in white has a big blue strip through the middle of there sweater.It Could get a bit confusing for those watching on TV...Or at the X for that matter.Tonka wearing there White buckets would be a little more aesthetically pleasing one would think.

Not to worry, STA will not make it to the semis.

So a Hill-Centennial semi-final? Cool!