1995-96 CCM Alternate Replica
#68 Jaromir Jagr with Alternate Captain's "A"
Manufacturer: CCM
Size: XXL
Purchased From: Century Sports
Lettered by: NJK Lettering
The Story: The Penguins had just done something that I had never known that they did before, and something they hadn't done in over ten years: they released an alternate jersey. This alternate would be worn both at home and on the road, usually on Sundays, and it featured a really cool, modern look compared to the regular styling of a hockey jersey. Fading colors, different striping on sleeve from the other, and three-color lettering! I had to have one of these. Only problem was the fact that authentics of this jersey weren't available. Starter was going to get the NHL's jersey contract the following year, so CCM only made replicas of this jersey. I didn't know anything about Starter getting the contract at the time, but I just thought that authentics weren't being made available. And again, I had to have one of these!
At this time, high-definition television hadn't been invented, and the textured glacier twill lettering used on these jerseys was impossible to identify on telecasts. So when I had my good friend Norma at NJK Lettering take care of the lettering, she did a fantastic job. She had everything the right size and used the right spacing, and I had no idea that the actual on-ice lettering used a different twill. Since Century Sports had lost the team's jersey contract, and she lettered the jerseys for Century Sports, neither did she. But even if it was the wrong twill, she did a fantastic job!
Size: XXL
Purchased From: Century Sports
Lettered by: NJK Lettering
The Story: The Penguins had just done something that I had never known that they did before, and something they hadn't done in over ten years: they released an alternate jersey. This alternate would be worn both at home and on the road, usually on Sundays, and it featured a really cool, modern look compared to the regular styling of a hockey jersey. Fading colors, different striping on sleeve from the other, and three-color lettering! I had to have one of these. Only problem was the fact that authentics of this jersey weren't available. Starter was going to get the NHL's jersey contract the following year, so CCM only made replicas of this jersey. I didn't know anything about Starter getting the contract at the time, but I just thought that authentics weren't being made available. And again, I had to have one of these!
At this time, high-definition television hadn't been invented, and the textured glacier twill lettering used on these jerseys was impossible to identify on telecasts. So when I had my good friend Norma at NJK Lettering take care of the lettering, she did a fantastic job. She had everything the right size and used the right spacing, and I had no idea that the actual on-ice lettering used a different twill. Since Century Sports had lost the team's jersey contract, and she lettered the jerseys for Century Sports, neither did she. But even if it was the wrong twill, she did a fantastic job!