The Avs Hockey Podcast

Two Fan's Perspectives on Colorado Avalanche Hockey...and jerseys too.

The Avs Hockey Podcast, Episode #66

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In this show my partner James “Tapeleg” Gralian (from The Rink Podcast) and I discuss sad times and exciting times.  We talk about the Avs we lost this off season, pre-season Avs hockey, head shots, Twitter and the “Shanaban”, Peter Forsberg night, why our jerseys are “Worn With Pride”, how close we got to being sponsored by our favorite pre-podcast meal provider, and all kinds of other Colorado Avalanche stuff.  Welcome back for season number five of The Avs Hockey Podcast and thanks for allowing us to be your home for almost everything Avalanche!  Let’s Go Avs!

Peter Forsberg, 2008-2009 Euro-Tour Game Issued Jersey

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I have two other Peter Forsberg game issued jerseys in my jersey collection, but the one featured in this post may just be my favorite.  It’s unique, it has quirks, it has a story, and it’s international.  That’s a good combination.

This is a jersey made for Peter Forsberg to wear during the 2008-2009 Euro Hockey Tour.  Details about the Euro Hockey Tour can be found on Wikipedia here.  As any hockey fan knows, Forsberg’s health seems to come and go quite quickly, so I’m sure this jersey was made by the team “just in case.”  Again, it’s not game used, but was made for him to wear on the ice.  That keeps the price lower while still being uncommon.

Here’s the front.

And here’s the back.

The name below the numbers is always an interesting look.  Here’s a closer look at the nameplate.

Hemma, by the way, is a Swedish appliance store.  Their prices are very competitive too!  (I have no idea about that, just thought it would be entertaining to add.)

Each sleeve also has a Svenska Spel patch above the numbers.  This company is big in the regulated gambling business in Sweden.

The other advertising patches on the jersey feature a company called DnB NOR.  This is Norway’s largest financial service group.

Enough about the patches already, let’s talk a little more about the jersey itself.  One thing about international jerseys is that they have similar construction for the most part.  One, the numbers are made of a felt-like material.  Here’s a closer look.

Another thing is that these numbers aren’t stitched on the jersey at all.  I’m not sure whether it’s because the fabric is so light that stitching is not needed or because the jerseys won’t get quite as much as use as your normal NHL jersey, but this is seen often on international jerseys.  The letters on the nameplate are only heat pressed as well.

Another thing I noticed right away was the use of different fabrics.  There is a mesh material, a traditional Air Knit nameplate, and another Air Knit-like material that makes up most of the jersey.  Check out the specifics in this close up.

One thing that’s fun about my collection is that I can attempt to wear a jersey to a game that I’m positive no one else will be wearing.  Sometimes the difference in my jersey is just a patch or an alternate captain’s “A”.  Saturday night, October 8th, 2011 (opening night against the Detroit Red Wings as well as the night the Avalanche retire Peter Forsberg’s number 21) I’m 100% positive that they’ll be other gold Tre Kronor (Three Crowns) Peter Forsberg jerseys at Pepsi Center.  I am also 100% that no other gold Team Sweden jersey will be just like mine.

Thanks for the jersey, your injuries (which led to this jersey being much more affordable), and the memories, Peter Forsberg.  Next stop for you, if many Avalanche fans had an actual vote, would  be the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Clutch…

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Clutch…

It’s not a word that’s thrown around when it comes to sports.  It’s a name that’s undoubtedly earned.  Chris Drury earned being called clutch, ask any Avalanche fan and they’ll tell you.

Here are some examples as to why no Avs fan will ever hesitate in calling Chris Drury clutch.  There are some HUGE playoff goals in here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko2Zf2q0cKA[/youtube]

 

If that montage doesn’t bring back some good memories Avs fans, I really don’t know what will.  That Forsberg/Drury combination was lethal to the Avalanche’s opposition.

Chris Drury created great memories and brought the Avs faithful, including myself, to our feet many, many times.  And it can be argued that the Avs haven’t been quite the same since he left.  Many fans will never forgive Pierre Lacroix for trading Drury to the Flames back in October of 2002.

Chris Drury will never have his number hanging in the rafters of Pepsi Center and he won’t be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but those two facts won’t keep Avs fans from having a special place in their hockey hearts for him and his uncanny knack of scoring big goals in big games.

Thanks for the memories Chris Drury.  You have always been missed here in The Mile High City for all of the right reasons.

Sandis Ozolinsh 2000 All-Star Jersey: Poppin’ My Collar One Last Time

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I popped my (hockey) jersey collar once, and then I popped it again, so naturally I’d like to pop it one more time because poppin’ collars is just plain fun.

I ran across a rare 2000 World All-Star jersey blank on eBay a while back and knew there was at least one more Avalanche player, besides the players on the jerseys in the posts above, that would look great on it.  That someone turned out to be Latvia’s own (check out the left sleeve below)  Sandis Ozolinsh.  Ozo was known as one of the premier offensive defenseman of his day and had five great seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.  I won the jersey on eBay, bought a red Air Knit nameplate from a buddy of mine, and had Denver Athletic work their magic to create this jersey.

Why number 18 rather than his usual number 8?  Ozolinsh must have had a small discussion with then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim right wing Teemu Selanne prior to the game.  It’s the player with more career goals that usually gets to keep their jersey number if there are duplicate numbers for the game.  That was the case here.

Quick!  What’s the only thing better than one All-Star patch on an All-Star jersey?  Answer: Two commemorative patches.

The NHL 2000 patch, in various team colors, was worn by every team in every game throughout the 1999-2000 NHL season.  The All-Star patch was worn by the Maple Leafs all season as the All-Star game was played in Toronto at Air Canada Centre (I love spelling things that way) on February 6, 2000.

Ozolinsh’s claim to fame in this game didn’t come by way of a multi-goal MVP performance or even a large handful of assists, it came by taking the only penalty of the game, a hooking call, at 5:51 of the third period.  Oops.  You have to work VERY hard to get called for a penalty during an All-Star game.  Way to go Ozo!  Nicely done!

Based on the rosters from the 2000 and 2001 NHL All-Star games I believe I’m done poppin’ my collar when it comes to this style of jersey.  Only the World style of jerseys from those two games had collars on them.  I guess I could always venture outside my favorite team’s jerseys, but that would be a dangerous move for my collection, the extra space in my jersey closet, as well as my bank account.  That’s definitely not the plan for right now, but I guess you never know.  Stranger things have happened, like someone taking an actual penalty during an NHL All-Star game.  Thanks for the memories Ozo.