Game-worn jerseys. Collectors love them, replica jerseys want to be them. But how can you tell if a “game-worn” jersey was actually worn in a game?
The easiest thing to do is look for a game-worn tag.
What’s a game-worn tag, you ask? Well you came to the right place, because this week I’m taking a closer look at game-worn tags — what are they, what do they tell you, and which teams’ are the most unique?
Let’s go!
What is a game-worn tag?
A game-worn jersey tag is a specialty tag that is either sublimated or sewn onto a jersey that has been worn in an NHL game. This is not to be confused with game issued jerseys, which are jerseys that were made for game play, but didn’t see any action.
These days game-worn tags can typically be found on the inside back hem of the jersey, but they have been placed inside the neckline and behind the team crest, too. Back in the olden days, game-worns were identified with nothing more than the year written in the neckline with a felt pen.
Today, game worn hockey sweaters are identified with official tags that are forged less easily than felt pen.
What does a game-worn tag tell you?
A game-worn jersey tag can have all sorts of information on it. Not all game-worn tags are the same, and some have different info than others, but pretty much all of them will include the year worn, set number, and the head equipment manager’s name. A lot of them will also include the name of the on-ice jersey customizer (someday you’ll see Keener Jerseys on one…someday).
If the jersey was worn in a notable game, like a Stanley Cup final game, that might also be indicated on the game worn tag.
Now that you know what a game worn tag is, let’s look at the five coolest game worn tags from over the years!
the five coolest game-worn jersey tags
Jerseys didn’t really become a hot commodity among hockey fans until the mid-1990s — look at any photo from the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals and you won’t see very many jerseys in the stands. Because the jersey market was still in its infancy, game-worn tags were fairly rudimentary. Check out this Oilers game-worn from the 1987-88 season. It’s just sharpie!
Since then jerseys have become big business, and demand for game-worn jerseys has exploded. Teams needed a tag that wasn’t easily counterfeited, and these tags have become yet another easter egg for hockey jersey collectors to salivate over.
2016 pittsburgh penguins
The Pens have done a great job of honouring the team’s hockey heritage overall, and that even extends to their game-worn tags.
Each game-worn Penguins tarp from the 2016 Stanley Cup Final is adorned with this tag verifying that, not only is it a game-worn jersey, but it was, in fact, worn in Stanley Cup Final competition. On top of that, the Penguins won the Cup that year, so that makes it extra special!
But, those aren’t the only special tags used by Penguins equipment manager Dana Heinze. When the Pens ditched their black and Vegas gold jerseys at the end of the 2015-16 season, the team labeled the jerseys from the final regular season with a tag that read “Final Regular Season Game worn in Vegas Gold”.
Now, that’s gold!
winnipeg jets 1.0
The 1995-96 season was a bitter-sweet one for the Winnipeg Jets. The O.G. Jets entered that year’s campaign knowing it would be their last in The Peg, they dubbed it “A Season to Remember.” When the playoffs started against the Red Wings, the team wore “Memories and Dreams” chest patches and marked inside the bib with a “Season to Remember 95-96” hem tag.
It’s not too often that a team knows that history is being made ahead of time, and the Jets took full advantage.
columbus blue jackets
I’d have to say that the Jackets have, by far, the coolest game-worn tags in the league. The tags feature photos of landmarks from across the city of Columbus, the Blue Jackets dressing room, and even a scene from the 1998 cult classic comedy, The Big Lebowski.
I love this so much, because it connects the jersey with the city, and it also gives the organization a bit of personality. The Big Lebowski? Now this is a team I’d like to chill out with.
The idea for the game-worn tags came from the team’s assistant equipment manager, Jamie Healy, who was inspired by the backstage passes of a major rock band who chose to put photos on the passes that had nothing to do with the band themselves.
Columbus has also made special game-worn tags for special occasions, like this one commemorating Scott Hartnell’s 1,000th game.
buffalo sabres
The game-worn tags for the Buffalo Sabres jerseys are pretty simple — just the season years and a serial number. But, that serial number makes the jersey seem way more official. From that one number we can figure out where this particular hockey jersey fits into Buffalo Sabres history, and that’s something every collector loves.
colorado avalanche
The Avs have gone in the opposite direction from the Sabres in their approach to game-worns. Instead of loading up their game-worn tag with info about the jersey, they load it up with info about the player who wore the jersey. It includes the player’s name, number, and even the player’s birthplace. A very cool addition that gives the hockey sweater a bit of personality.
I’d like to see it go even further. Maybe add the player’s favorite movie and food, or the name of their childhood dog. Actually, that might give away some of their passwords.
game-worn tags add to the fun
As a jersey maker I absolutely love the little details that you find on game-worn jerseys. From puck marks and board burns, to stitching and game-worn tags, these details give the game depth and personality, and it shows just how important hockey jerseys are to the game’s heritage.
I could talk for hours about hockey pop-culture and hockey jerseys, and that’s why I started the 4 Shots with Keener newsletter. Every Friday I send out my most recent thoughts on the game and the garbs that we all love.
Sign up now if you haven’t already– it’s FREE!- and I’ll see you next week.
