Mike-

Best place to get a jersey is at the game, or proshop. They have replicas with stiched on letters and numbers.

Also, NHL.com, or the team’s website should also offer the replicas with stiched on. If they are heat transfered they are not the “authentic replica” either. Sounds contradictory, but it’s the “real” copy, licensed by the NHL.

If it is heat transferred, it’s a rip-off.

Posted by Buddha from Saint Paul, MN on 09/25/08 at 11:43 AM ET

I was highly disappointed with the NHL.com jersey I got and the fact everything on it was heat transferred on.  If you’re selling something that lists it as “real numbering and lettering” you better make it expressly clear how its being put on there.  $150 for a jersey is too much money to be screwing around and not being real about what you’re offering.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 09/25/08 at 11:58 AM ET

I got my Armstrong Penguins old-style jersey (shaddup...) from River City Sports, and I can’t tell the difference between that one and the old official ones. A+ for River City.

Posted by Teka on 09/25/08 at 12:06 PM ET

NHL.com screen prints it on the replicas. Here’s what the actual product description says:

Screen-printed twill appliqué player name and number on the back

As far as I know, the Sharks store at HP Pavilion sells the jerseys like this.

Posted by Mike Chen on 09/25/08 at 12:34 PM ET

I tend to go with River City Sports in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and I know that Icejerseys.com promises that their jerseys’ nameplates and numbers will be stitched on, not heat-pressed.

I bought from River City Sports when the guys were operating out of a teeny shop in a mini-mall, and I still get my jerseys from them.  There’s been no drop in fit and finish.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 09/25/08 at 12:46 PM ET

There is a place in Massachusetts near Boston i use, where all the American Hockey League (AHL) Jerseys are done, its called Cutting Edge Sports in Woburn Mass., they also do NHL, NCAA hockey jerseys as well as a variety of different sports, all authentic looking lettering and all of their work is stitched. You can mail your jersey there to get done etc, just be prepared for a wait to get it back , they are going full throttle all the time with orders.

Posted by HalCo from Manchester , NH on 09/25/08 at 12:55 PM ET

Clarification: Cutting Edge doesnt sell jersey , but if you have a jersey you want to have a great finished product of stitched lettering and numbers put on ....this is the place.

Posted by HalCo from Manchester , NH on 09/25/08 at 12:57 PM ET

I tend to get mine from Jersey City

http://www.jerseycity.ca/

It’s about $90.00 for the cresting + the cost of the jersey, but they deal with the same guys that do all of the lettering for the NHL and IIHF events (at least according to the store clerk). I have bought, NHL, NFL, CFL & IIHF jerseys there and have never had a problem with the lettering.

The downside is that it usually takes about 4 weeks to get back to you.

Posted by lordhogie on 09/25/08 at 02:25 PM ET

Sportsk.com sells replica jerseys that they customize using stitched letters and numbers.  They are REAL jerseys, and at a pretty good price.
But if your a dedicated fan who has fallen upon some tough times, just go to Ebay. The jerseys are most certainly fake, probably from China or Korea or something, but they are cheap, and a actually very good quality. 
You have to be careful with the Ebay jerseys though, take a close look at them on the site, and make sure the colors look right.
I have a ton of jerseys, and you really can’t tell the difference between any of the ones I’ve bough at games, sportsk or NHL.com from the ones i bought from Ebay.  I can, but I’m a collector, and can spot fakes from the other side of the arena.

Posted by Kevin from Pittsburgh on 09/25/08 at 02:44 PM ET

I have bought two customized sweaters, and both of them came directly from the team store. 
Right now, the only option with the Hurricanes third sweater is to buy a blank one and have them customize it on premises.  Unfortunately, all they do is heat transfer, which, as you correctly point out, is garbage. 
I’ll wait three weeks for them to have “stitched on” customization, which is available with either the “authentic” or the “premiere”.  My budget can only afford the “premiere”. 

The answer to the question is to go with the team store inside the arena whenever possible.  In the past I’ve bought a blank sweater at a discounted price from some random website, but some of the subtle details (and some of the major ones, like brand marking) were wrong.

Posted by David Lee from Greensboro, NC on 09/25/08 at 08:33 PM ET

i got my flyers jersey for xmas last year from the place the flyers practice, flyers skate zone in voorhees and they only charged $50.  your jersey gets sent out but its a pretty quick turnaround.  they sent back all their jerseys back to reebok because they hated the way they looked.

Posted by jon from wilmington, de on 09/25/08 at 09:02 PM ET

I paid $130 for my CCM Yzerman whites.  I believed I was getting a very good product with a name like CCM and I damn well did.  What an amazing replica.  If my memory is any good, I believe I bought it at Champs Sports in Southland Mall in Taylor, MI.

Yes, the name and number are indeed stitched on.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 09/26/08 at 12:58 AM ET

Cool hockey, I have ordered a lot and have been very pleased.

Posted by john on 09/30/08 at 06:24 PM ET