2011 Reebok Edge 1.0 Winter Classic Authentic
#3 Alex Goligoski with 2011 Winter Classic Patch
Manufacturer: Reebok
Size: 54
Purchased From: House o' Hockey
Lettered by: House o' Hockey
The Story: The Penguins unveiled their new Winter Classic design early in the 2010-11 season in preparation for its on-ice debut at Heinz Field for the 2011 Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals. I wanted this jersey for Christmas, and my wife was kind enough, as she has been throughout my jersey collecting journeys, to support my doing so. The House o' Hockey, who by this point, has provided me with a number of top-quality, authentic (including lettering) jerseys, once again came through for me. They had the official Winter Classic jerseys, which included the Winter Classic printing inside the neckline and the Winter Classic jersey patch in stock. As usual, they sent away for the authentic, on-ice lettering kit and affixed it to the jersey with their customary attention to detail. It was perfect, and I was happy to have the jersey of an up-and-coming young defenseman in my collection.
The Chinese knockoff market for these jerseys was crazy. They were all over the place, and at first glance, they were pretty good counterfeits. However, the lettering on the jersey and the wool-like crest on the front, though they look white, aren't really white. They're slightly off-white, almost looking like the color of an old white t-shirt that had lost its brightness. That's the dead giveaway for the knockoffs for this jersey.
Fast forward to January 1, 2011, and I had a house full of people for our annual New Year's Day party. We were planning on watching the Winter Classic, but due to weather, it got moved to a night game from its originally-planned 12:30 pm start time. Evidently, a lot of people in the Capitals organization were planning on watching the game at 12:30 as well, so when it got moved to an 8:00 pm puck drop, many of them had to miss the game so they could drive back to Washington at a decent hour. One of those people in the Capitals organization is, if I'm remembering this correctly, the husband of my sister-in-law's longtime, childhood friend. I had exchanged e-mails with him before when I unknowingly bought a Team USA jersey from him on eBay, but today, his wife called my sister-in-law and asked if she knew anyone willing to buy two Winter Classic tickets at face value. I had just laid down a nice chunk of change for this jersey, and it was a week after Christmas, so cash flow was a little tight. But as she always does, my wife came through for me and supported my taking advantage of the opportunity. I'm proud to say that the picture in the upper-right is one that I took from my seat at the game!
The game sucked. The ice was horrible as it rained during the second and third period. It was one of those cold misty rains that is really cold when it hits your neck. The Pens lost, but worst of all, Sidney Crosby took a hit to the head that began his two-year long battle with concussions. But I'll always remember being there. There were 40,000 people inside Heinz Field that night. And I bet only a few dozen, if that, had a real deal Winter Classic jersey on their backs!
The Pens kept these jerseys as their alternates for a few years until a rash of bad luck - mostly injuries to key players - led the team to banish them from ever appearing on the ice again.
Size: 54
Purchased From: House o' Hockey
Lettered by: House o' Hockey
The Story: The Penguins unveiled their new Winter Classic design early in the 2010-11 season in preparation for its on-ice debut at Heinz Field for the 2011 Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals. I wanted this jersey for Christmas, and my wife was kind enough, as she has been throughout my jersey collecting journeys, to support my doing so. The House o' Hockey, who by this point, has provided me with a number of top-quality, authentic (including lettering) jerseys, once again came through for me. They had the official Winter Classic jerseys, which included the Winter Classic printing inside the neckline and the Winter Classic jersey patch in stock. As usual, they sent away for the authentic, on-ice lettering kit and affixed it to the jersey with their customary attention to detail. It was perfect, and I was happy to have the jersey of an up-and-coming young defenseman in my collection.
The Chinese knockoff market for these jerseys was crazy. They were all over the place, and at first glance, they were pretty good counterfeits. However, the lettering on the jersey and the wool-like crest on the front, though they look white, aren't really white. They're slightly off-white, almost looking like the color of an old white t-shirt that had lost its brightness. That's the dead giveaway for the knockoffs for this jersey.
Fast forward to January 1, 2011, and I had a house full of people for our annual New Year's Day party. We were planning on watching the Winter Classic, but due to weather, it got moved to a night game from its originally-planned 12:30 pm start time. Evidently, a lot of people in the Capitals organization were planning on watching the game at 12:30 as well, so when it got moved to an 8:00 pm puck drop, many of them had to miss the game so they could drive back to Washington at a decent hour. One of those people in the Capitals organization is, if I'm remembering this correctly, the husband of my sister-in-law's longtime, childhood friend. I had exchanged e-mails with him before when I unknowingly bought a Team USA jersey from him on eBay, but today, his wife called my sister-in-law and asked if she knew anyone willing to buy two Winter Classic tickets at face value. I had just laid down a nice chunk of change for this jersey, and it was a week after Christmas, so cash flow was a little tight. But as she always does, my wife came through for me and supported my taking advantage of the opportunity. I'm proud to say that the picture in the upper-right is one that I took from my seat at the game!
The game sucked. The ice was horrible as it rained during the second and third period. It was one of those cold misty rains that is really cold when it hits your neck. The Pens lost, but worst of all, Sidney Crosby took a hit to the head that began his two-year long battle with concussions. But I'll always remember being there. There were 40,000 people inside Heinz Field that night. And I bet only a few dozen, if that, had a real deal Winter Classic jersey on their backs!
The Pens kept these jerseys as their alternates for a few years until a rash of bad luck - mostly injuries to key players - led the team to banish them from ever appearing on the ice again.