Everyone is making fun of the generic jerseys Canada's hockey team is being forced to wear
Canada's women's hockey team is facing backlash for wearing generic, IIHF-mandated jerseys instead of their traditional Hockey Canada designs. The change stems from a commercial rights dispute between the IIHF and Hockey Canada's partner, Bauer.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the tension between international governing bodies and national sports federations regarding commercial branding and sponsorship rights.
Canada’s women’s hockey team will look a little different when they take the ice at the IIHF Women’s World Championship this weekend. And hockey fans aren’t exactly impressed with the new look.
The jerseys the Canadian players will be wearing in Denmark have officially been revealed, and they’ve already become a pretty big talking point online.
Rather than the familiar Hockey Canada crest and traditional Maple Leaf design, the new red sweaters feature a relatively plan “CANADA” across the front, with a small outline of the country appearing near the collar.
It’s certainly a different look, and fans on Reddit have wasted little time sharing their thoughts.
“Who sent that into production,” one fan questioned .
“Unlicensed videogame looking-a** sweaters,” another joked.
Others weren’t as gentle in their wording, with one fan describing the jerseys as “absolute dogsh*t.”
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