A custom hockey jersey is a game-style sweater with your own name and number, and the main choices are the size, the style and how the letters are applied. Stitched lettering looks and lasts like a real game jersey, while printed designs cost less and suit team kits. This guide covers sizing, jersey types and five options to compare.
Hockey Jersey Types: Authentic, Replica and Custom
Hockey jerseys come in three broad types: authentic, replica and fully custom. The difference is mostly in how the graphics are put on.
Authentic NHL jerseys have sewn-on name, number and logo graphics, while replica jerseys use ironed-on graphics, according to the NHL Shop sizing guide. The same guide describes replicas as a lower-price alternative to authentic jerseys.
Custom jerseys sit outside that system. A custom maker builds the jersey to your order, so you pick the name, number, colors and size. This is the route for fans who want their own name on the back, and for teams who need matching sets.
Here is a quick way to tell the types apart:
- Authentic: sewn graphics, a tailored cut, higher price.
- Replica: ironed-on graphics, a looser cut, lower price.
- Custom: made to your order, with your name, number and size.
How Hockey Jersey Sizing Works
Hockey jerseys are cut loose so a player can move in pads, and that changes how you pick a size.
The NHL Shop guide says its jerseys are made with 100% polyester and have a looser fit through the arms and body. For a tailored fit, it recommends ordering an authentic jersey one size smaller than your usual size. That advice applies to that retailer's own cut, so treat it as a starting point and not a rule for every brand.
If you buy from a custom shop, the best method is to use the shop's size chart. Charts usually cover youth, women and men, and some run from XXS up to 10X. Pick the closest size on the chart.
What if no size is quite right? Order the nearest one and ask for changes. For example, you can order 8X and request 2 inches more in the chest and 3 inches shorter. Big and tall buyers get the most from this, because a standard chart rarely matches a long torso or a wide chest.
A few sizing tips:
- Decide how you will wear it: over a hoodie, over pads or as a fan jersey.
- Check the chart for your age group first (youth, women or men).
- Choose the closest size, then list any changes you want.
- For a team order, collect each player's size before you place the order.
Lettering Methods: Stitched, Sublimated and Printed
Stitched tackle twill is cloth cut into letters and numbers and sewn onto the jersey. It gives a raised, layered look and holds up to repeated washing and wear.
Sublimation prints the design into the fabric with heat. It allows full-color patterns, gradients and logos across the whole jersey, which is why team kits often use it. Screen printing and iron-on details are other low-cost options, and they sit on top of the fabric instead of being sewn in.
Choose by use:
- Stitched twill: best for a fan jersey that should look and feel like a game jersey.
- Sublimation: best for team kits with complex designs and many players.
- Iron-on or printed: best when the budget is the first concern.
My Size Jersey takes the stitched route. Everything is cloth and sewn in place, and the shop does not use screen printing, sublimation or iron-on details.
1. Custom Sublimated Ice Hockey Jersey (Starter) by Hyperco Sports
The Starter is a custom hockey jersey from Hyperco Sports and the lowest-priced of its three custom models. It costs $53.00 USD. The price gap matters most on larger orders: a team buying a full roster pays $10.00 less per jersey than the Elite and $46.00 less than the Pro. The listing shows a rating of 5.00 out of 5.
Key specs: custom hockey jersey; product rating shown as 5.00 out of 5. Detailed model-specific specs are not listed. Because fabric, sizing and lettering method are not spelled out, confirm them on the product page before ordering. The NHL Shop guide describes polyester jerseys with a looser fit through the arms and body, which is a useful reference point for what a standard hockey cut feels like.
Best use: teams on a tight budget that need a basic custom jersey for each player. It suits recreational leagues, practice sets and one-season rosters where the goal is matching jerseys at the lowest cost. Teams that want a specific pattern or logo placement should ask the seller what customization this tier includes.
Verdict: a low-cost entry point for team buyers, though the listing gives few details.
2. Custom Sublimated Ice Hockey Jersey (Elite) by Hyperco Sports
The Elite is a mid-priced custom sublimated jersey with the most detail listed of the three Hyperco models. It costs $63.00 USD. That is $10.00 above the Starter and $36.00 below the Pro, which places it in the middle of the Hyperco range. Sublimation prints the design into the fabric with heat, so logos, names and numbers are printed into the fabric rather than sitting on top of it.
Key specs:
- Customizable patterns, colors and logos
- Sublimated logos, names and numbers
- Breathable, moisture-wicking polyester
- Adult and youth sizes
Offering both adult and youth sizes means a club can outfit mixed-age rosters from one maker. Moisture-wicking polyester is listed as breathable, which suits long games and warm rinks.
Best use: teams that want a full-color design and a moisture-wicking fabric. Because patterns and colors are customizable, a club can build a distinctive look with gradients or all-over designs that stitched lettering cannot match.
Verdict: the best fit for a team kit when printed graphics are acceptable.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Premium White Hockey Game Jersey by My Size Jersey
This is a Penguins game-style jersey in white with stitched tackle twill lettering and numbers. It costs $79.95. You can order it from the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Premium White Hockey Game Jersey page. Stitched graphics follow the approach the NHL Shop guide describes for authentic jerseys, which have sewn-on graphics instead of ironed-on ones.
Key specs:
- Stitched tackle twill name and number, all cloth and sewn in place
- Made to order in any size, name and number
- Sizes up to 10X as standard, with custom sizing on request
- No set-up charges or production minimum orders
Made-to-order sizing helps buyers whom a standard chart rarely fits. For example, you can order 8X and request 2 inches more in the chest and 3 inches shorter. The lack of set-up charges means a single jersey costs the same to start as a full set.
Best use: fans who want their own name and number on an authentic-style jersey, including big and tall buyers who need a larger size. It also works as a gift, since you choose the name and number to match the person wearing it.
Verdict: a solid choice for a single stitched fan jersey in white.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Premium Light Blue Hockey Game Jersey by My Size Jersey
This is the same game-style build as the white jersey, in light blue. It costs $79.95, and you can order it from the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Premium Light Blue Hockey Game Jersey page. The price matches the white version exactly, so the choice comes down to color and how you plan to wear it. The tackle twill is cloth cut into letters and numbers and sewn on, which gives a raised, layered look.
Key specs:
- Stitched tackle twill name and number, all cloth and sewn in place
- Made to order in any size, name and number
- Sizes up to 10X as standard, with custom sizing on request
- No set-up charges or production minimum orders
Because the jersey is built to your order, you set the name, number and size yourself, and you can list changes such as a longer body or a wider chest. Buyers who want a relaxed fit over a hoodie can size up, while those who want a closer fit can go down.
Best use: fans who want a colored alternate look, or a pair with the white jersey for home and away. Owning both lets you match the team's rotation of colors across a season.
Verdict: a good pick when you want a stitched jersey in a less common color.
5. Custom Sublimated Ice Hockey Jersey (Pro) by Hyperco Sports
The Pro is the highest-priced of the three Hyperco custom models, at $99.00 USD. That is $46.00 more than the Starter and $36.00 more than the Elite. For a full roster, the gap adds up quickly, so the Pro makes the most sense when a team has a clear reason to want the top tier. The listing shows a rating of 5.00 out of 5, the same as the Starter.
Key specs: a custom embroidered style is listed alongside the sublimated option; product rating shown as 5.00 out of 5. Few other specs are listed for this model. Embroidery is stitched into the fabric, which gives a textured look that sublimation cannot copy. The NHL Shop guide notes that sewn-on graphics are what set authentic jerseys apart from ironed-on replicas, so embroidered details may appeal to buyers who value that game-jersey feel.
Best use: buyers who want the top Hyperco option and are willing to pay more for it. It suits a club that wants its best jerseys for tournaments, photos or a senior team, while using cheaper models for practice.
Verdict: worth a look if embroidered details matter to you, but check the product page for full specs first.
Comparing the Five Options
The table below sets the five options side by side.
| Option | Maker | Price | Lettering | Sizes listed | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Hyperco Sports | $53.00 | Custom (details not listed) | Not listed | Budget team orders |
| Elite | Hyperco Sports | $63.00 | Sublimated | Adult and youth | Team kits with full-color designs |
| Penguins White Game Jersey | My Size Jersey | $79.95 | Stitched tackle twill | Up to 10X, custom on request | Fans, big and tall buyers |
| Penguins Light Blue Game Jersey | My Size Jersey | $79.95 | Stitched tackle twill | Up to 10X, custom on request | Fans wanting an alternate color |
| Pro | Hyperco Sports | $99.00 | Embroidered style listed | Not listed | Buyers wanting the top Hyperco model |
How to Choose a Hockey Jersey for a Team or a Family
A matching set is easier to plan if you settle four things before you order.
Fix the design first. Decide on colors, logos and the layout of names and numbers. Custom shops let you set these per player, so a set can mix sizes and numbers with no extra steps.
Use the right sizes for each person. Youth, women and men all have separate charts. Big and tall players should use the larger sizes or ask for changes. A shop that makes any size, from newborn to very large, saves you from a mismatched set.
Plan the names and numbers. Numbers can be one, two, three or four digits, and names can be short or long. Some jerseys carry a double nameplate. Tell the shop exactly what you want on each one.
Check the quantity rules. Some makers set a minimum order or charge a set-up fee. My Size Jersey lists no set-up charges and no production minimum orders.
If you want a specific team jersey, look for the matching listed jersey first. For a design that isn't listed, such as a two-team split jersey, use a custom shop.
Care Tips for a Hockey Jersey
A stitched hockey jersey lasts longer when you wash it with care. These habits help any hockey jersey, whatever the lettering method.
- Turn the jersey inside out before washing.
- Use cold water and a gentle cycle.
- Hang it to dry, since high heat can warp lettering and fabric.
- Skip the iron on lettering. If you must press it, use low heat from the inside.
Polyester dries fast, so air drying takes little time.
Start by finding your team in My Size Jersey's listed jerseys, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Premium White Hockey Game Jersey, and pick your size from the chart. If your team or design isn't listed, My Size Jersey makes custom jerseys with stitched tackle twill lettering in sizes up to 10X. Send your name, number and any size changes, and use the custom shop to add your jersey to the basket.