NHL Uniform Manufacturers (CCM, Nike, Starter, Reebok, etc.)

[rmackman]

This photo is from the late 80s after Wayne Gretzky got traded to Los Angeles. I had no idea that at the time, Nike was the primary uniform manufacturer for the NHL. I thought it was CCM. Anyone have the story behind this?

[poser]

I believe that the NHL did not go to one supplier till the late 90's when they went with CCM/KOHO. They were owned by the parent company and one brand was home and the other way away.

[officeglenn]

I was always under the impression that, at the time the photo was taken, NHL teams could choose their own uniform manufacturers, and the Oilers-Nike deal had a lot to do with Gretzky himself having an endorsement deal with Nike.

[eSabre]

I believe that the NHL did not go to one supplier till the late 90's when they went with CCM/KOHO. They were owned by the parent company and one brand was home and the other way away.

It was 2000 , coincided with the manufacturer logo going on the back neck from the hem. The Buffalo Sabres and a few other teams used Pro Player jerseys in 1999-2000.

[Kevin W.]

Nope, teams could choose their own manufacturers back then. Edmonton, however, was the only team to wear something other than CCM.

Starting in the 2000-01 season, every team's uniform was manufactured by CCM and every road uniform was manufactured by Koho. In the 2005-06 season, it became all-Reebok and then the Edge switch came shortly thereafter.

[mjd77]

I remember I had a replica Starter picasso Coyotes jersey in the late '90s as well as a CCM Canadiens so I think it was a bunch of different suppliers at the time.

[benpc21]

Prior to the 2000-2001 Season when The Hockey Company got the contract entire NHL contract and CCM did the Home jerseys, Koho the road and alternate (there is a rumor JOFA was supposed to get the third jerseys, but since not every team had one they went KOHO as they were predominantly dark and instead JOFA were the officials uniforms.) Prior to that each team did have their own manufacture, Bauer only did the Predators, Pro Player and Starter were in the mix, as well as CCM. However, at retail, as far as I know CCM, Starter, and Pro Player all had the rights to make replicas, so you could buy a jersey of a team, say the Penguins who were a Pro Player team on the ice, you could get a replica by Starter, CCM, of Pro Player.

[BBTV]

Nope, teams could choose their own manufacturers back then. Edmonton, however, was the only team to wear something other than CCM.

Starting in the 2000-01 season, every team's uniform was manufactured by CCM and every road uniform was manufactured by Koho. In the 2005-06 season, it became all-Reebok and then the Edge switch came shortly thereafter.

Not true.

Just to show that those were on-ice and not replicas...

[Kevin W.]

I'm aware of that. I was referring to the late 80s, since the OP was referring to the post-The Trade era. The Flyers started wearing CCM in the 86-87 season.

[Sodboy13]

Edmonton also had adidas as their supplier for a spell.

The Colorado Hockey-Rockies wore Champion at some point. Predictably, everything including the crests was screenprinted, and yes, they used that dumb block font with the ugly 2 and 4 and the curved 7.

Was Sandow/SK (big player in the early '80s) a forerunner of CCM, or were they two separate companies?

[wildwing64]

Wasn't Kappa a manufacturer at one point? I recall seeing a game photo, may have been Edmonton or Philadelphia from the 80's. Or an All Star Game jersey.

[poser]

Kappa and the 1983 All Star game

[poser]

Edmonton also had adidas as their supplier for a spell.

The Colorado Hockey-Rockies wore Champion at some point. Predictably, everything including the crests was screenprinted, and yes, they used that dumb block font with the ugly 2 and 4 and the curved 7.

Was Sandow/SK (big player in the early '80s) a forerunner of CCM, or were they two separate companies?

The Zunenshine family bought CCM and then Sandow/SK

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/The_Hockey_Company.aspx

[TorinK92]

Kappa and the 1983 All Star game

That I was not expecting...

[SCL]

Kappa and the 1983 All Star game

That I was not expecting...

That crazy, Kappa manufacturing hockey jerseys is as unexpected as it gets.

[Kevin W.]

And that was only for 1983. In 1984, CCM made the ASG uniforms.

[oddball]

CCM labels appeared on all NHL team jersey hems in the ''89-'90 season.

[Generic]

I believe any Starter jerseys were done from 96 and on til probably 2000 or so.

[Sodboy13]

I believe Starter got into NHL jerseys around '93-'94 or so. I had one in high school. I think Pro Player took the reins from Starter in 1999, which was the best time ever to have a Value City open up in your area.

[timmy b]

Y'know, you can go to the www.nhluniforms.com website. If you go to an individual season, the uni renderings for each team clearly shows the uni maker ID on the hem.

Let's use the 1982-83 season as an example:

Bruins-CCM

Sabres-Sandow SK

Flames-CCM

Black Hawks-Sandow SK (Gunzo's also on hem, was the Hawks equipment supplier)

Red Wings-Maska

Oilers-Nike

Whalers-Sandow SK

Kings-Maska

North Stars-None shown

Canadiens-Maska

Devils-Sandow SK (Gerry Cosby also on hem, supplied the Devils equipment)

Islanders-CCM

Rangers-None shown

Flyers-Sandow SK (and the Cooperall slacks)

Penguins-Sandow SK

Nordiques-Maska

Blues-None shown

Maple Leafs-Maska

Canucks-Maska

Capitals-Maska

Jets-Sandow SK

Uniform databases are a very useful tool for these sorts of things.

Hope this helps..