by Matt DeLaere, Marketing
Die-hard fans of the NHL know that the playoffs begin this week. On a personal note, while basketball fans wait all year for the NCAA Tournament to begin, then spend day and night watching games, I do the same with the NHL playoffs. I think my record viewing topped out at around 13 hours a few years ago (thanks to early afternoon games and west coast overtimes). The skill and intensity displayed in the playoffs make them a special time of year for hockey fans.
Some players, like Sidney Crosby, who leads the league in jersey sales several years running, were household names before they had played a game in the NHL. Others, like Alex Ovechkin, Mike Richards, and Ryan Miller have gained fame for spectacular play in recent years. But in the playoffs, heroes are made overnight.
Hockey history buffs will be familiar with the name “Mud” Bruneteau because of a single goal he scored 76 years ago. Bruneteau, of the Detroit Red Wings, ended the longest game in NHL history by scoring against the Montreal Maroons in the sixth overtime of a 1936 semifinal game.
Bob Baun was a solid, hard-hitting defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Oakland Seals, and Detroit, winning four Stanley Cups with the Leafs. He is best known, though, for game six of the 1964 finals, where he scored an overtime goal while playing on a broken leg.
Each year players become local or national favorites for their playoff exploits. For instance, in 2010, fans outside of Chicago gained new respect for Dustin Byfuglien’s tough play and net presence, while last year Tim Thomas generated tremendous buzz with his Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) postseason. And when fans find a new favorite player, they want to wear his jersey.
Be prepared for customers wanting to sport replicas of their newfound favorites’ jerseys. Stahls’ offers officially licensed NHL®/NHLPA® player kits. You can choose official NHL player kits by simply picking the team and player name from dropdown menus on our online order form. Or, you can order personalized name and number kits to match the team your customer wants. We even offer the option of ordering Cs and As for the fronts of captain’s and alternate captain’s jerseys. Each name and number can be set in place with a heat press, but must be sewn for permanent application.
So no matter who becomes a hero this year, you won’t have to worry about how to satisfy customers looking for his jersey. Just turn to Stahls’ ID.