Slim-fit jerseys not a hit
Olympic team hopefuls say the new Nike gear is too tight
Gary Kingston
Vancouver Sun
Friday, August 19, 2005
KELOWNA -- Nike is one of the world's great marketers. But it's going to have to do a heck of a selling job on NHL players bound for the Olympics after the Turin 2006 hopefuls got their first feel of the new lightweight, form-fitting Swift jersey and socks.
Most of the players at the Olympic orientation camp wore the apparel for the first period of Thursday's scrimmage at Prospera Place. The initial reviews were less than enthusiastic.
"They weren't my cup of tea," said Todd Bertuzzi, the 240-lb. winger from the Vancouver Canucks. "It took four guys to try to put it on me at the start. They couldn't quite get it over my stomach. They look like something you'd wear to a bar maybe with a pair of jeans."
Hulking defenceman Chris Pronger wore his old-style practice jersey the entire scrimmage.
"I didn't wear the tight one, I was one of the smart ones. I tried it on, it didn't fit very well. We need to make some tailoring adjustments."
What about the socks?
"They were a little tight, too," said Pronger. "My foot was going a little numb, that thing was so tight."
Head coach Pat Quinn, who is clearly from the old school of jersey design, wasn't in a mood to play Mr. Blackwell.
"I don't answer political questions," he cracked when asked to give his review.
Told everyone else had taken shots at the new look, Quinn relented somewhat: "It's different," he said, shaking his head. "I don't have to wear them."