From the Desk of the GM: Dear NHL Merchandise Department...

Thanks for the effort, but you still fail.

I really wish there was someway for me to see the sales figures on these items, because I remain perplexed as to why the league insists on pushing that crap on us ladies. I just want a jersey. Not a "fashion" jersey. I don't plan on walking any runways or going to high society parties in it...I just want a bloody jersey that fits that doesn't make me look like a box or I'm drowning in fabric. You know what, I'll even make a compromise. I don't even care if it's figure flattering, I don't have much of a figure to flatter anyways, all I ask is for a selection that doesn't make it seem like my only aim in wearing the apparel is trying to impress other people and that I really don't care about my team at all.

Here's a tip: the teams have their individual colours for a reason. They're a way to be identified and to be differentiated from others. You put the logos in baby pink and blue, you're taking away a part of the team's identity and lumping us all together in one, unintelligent mass of pastels.

I understand there's a market out there for that kind of stuff. Great, if it's what you like then by all means go nuts. Hey, the men-folk seem to love it (with all due respect though, you're not the one that would have to wear it). The NHL has all types of fans and I'm happy for that fact but you're walking a fine line when you decide to ignore your most passionate and dedicated fans in this way.

I also don't want to pay $40 for something I can do with a Bedazzler. In fact, when I'm wearing team apparel, I don't want it to look like it's been anywhere near a Bedazzler. I don't need sparkles, ruffles and lace to let everybody know how girly and lady-like I am. I'm assuming that's what me actually being a lady is for.

Of course, my good friend Wrap says it best:

Dudes coming up with this merch; have you ever met a woman? And I mean the type who actually enthusiastically enjoys hockey. I get the vibe you are going home and asking your girlfriend who really loves to read Us Weekly and getting her hair extensions done with her sorority sisters what she would put on the shirts.

I promise you, NHL, we exist. Perhaps you'd know it if you didn't decide that you'd only like to get feedback from your male fans in your latest e-mail survey (I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about).

You have to know we exist, right? I mean by now somebody has to have tipped you off about us, if the hoards of us at the arenas haven't given it away already. Maybe we're not as visibly noticeable because we refuse to wear what you offer us to buy. See how that works?

I've ranted about this endlessly before. I can continue ranting until I'm blue in the face but I'm sure we both would prefer it if I didn't. You should be glad, wonderful Merchandising Department, that we're the type of fans that wouldn't love hockey any less because of it.

^{Cross-Posted to Scarlett Ice.}

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(Bandwagon!)

Jumping on the clothing "WTF" bandwagon, (and because I thought all of you should appreciate it fully, not leave it hidden in the comments) didja hear that Sidney Crosby just released his first clothing line?

Yeah.


That's what I said.


Of course, that was quickly followed by "Who the heck does he think he is, Ian Thorpe?"
The 'real' site is at Sidney360.com but a good overview is at the Sidney Crosby Show And the news mocks him mercilessly at TheStar.com

Of course, this drew immediate comparisons to Mary Kate and Ashley Oleson, as one of my hockey crowd said, "I think they're the only other 19 year olds I know of with a clothing line." This was quickly countered by, "Yeah, but Sid's legs are sorta the size of an Oleson each... I think he could take 'em."


I think the best part is the fact that the line includes a girl's t-shirt that says "I <3 Crosby." (see floozy on right).

Yeah.

That's what I said.

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Angry Feminist Rant

First off, the Ottawa Senators unveiled their new jerseys yesterday and full pictures of the new threads can be found on Scarlett Ice.

I'm really torn on this one. I don't love it and I don't hate it. I'm glad they kept it simple but the lack of anything else on the body of the jersey gives it a practice jersey feel to it and I don't quite understand the need for the under-arm art. However, I am glad they kept it clean and avoided pointless piping and random colour blocking.

My real gripe however, is seeing this lovely t-shirt that was also on sale at Sensations as part of the new Senators merchandise available. It was taken by my friend Lydia who attended the jersey unveiling event:



Christy from Behind the Jersey also uncovered a similarly themed t-shirt available for the Red Wings fans.

Look, I know a lot of women like pink. I, myself have always disliked the colour but I'm not about to judge and ostracize you if you have a preference to wear it. The thing is, you can't pigeon-hole the female fanbase and say you're catering to their needs when all you offer them in their sizes and cuts are jerseys that completely eliminate the point of offering team merchandise in the first place. What's the point of shelling out for a team's jersey when they're all the same colour?

The whole pink jersey debate aside, I fail to see the logic in placing swirly, sparkly hearts on a t-shirt and think women will be rushing to buy it. Maybe this is an inappropriate generalization, but if you're a female hockey fan you're probably not the type who enjoys wearing pink hearts on a regular basis. If you do, you probably don't like it associated with your favourite hockey team.

Really, I know I shouldn't be surprised since you don't have to take cultural studies courses to realize that most of the media and culture is controlled by middle-aged corporate executives who try to tell you what you should or shouldn't like just so they can fatten their wallet. I'm sure there is a market for these things of men who purchase these shirts for their girlfriends who don't particularly care for hockey themselves but will wear it to make their boyfriends happy when they're being dragged to hockey games.

I don't mean any offense in my ranting. I'm sure there are a lot of passionate and serious female hockey fans who see no problems in this kind of merchandise. However, this type of design hardly screams 'take me seriously'. If you think about it, it shows that the marketing department in fact doesn't take their female fan base seriously because there's a problem when people think that women will only want to buy merchandise that's stereotypically "cutesy" and "girly". It's not the presence of pink hearts and butterflies that attracted us to hockey in the first place, so why would we need to see it on the clothing to get us to buy it?

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