Picture it, you’re at a hockey rink with a group of your friends having fun and enjoying the game. Suddenly, one of your friends turns to you and asks, “Hey, what’s that thing on the back of your jacket?!” Unintended body parts are a common theme here, right? Ha, maybe not!
It turns out that, although most people think of hockey when they hear the words “butt” and “skate,” the two actually have little to do with each other. As it turns out, the thing on the back of your jacket is called your hockey butt. It’s long, lean, and powerful — and it’s got a mind of its own. Let’s take a closer look.
Table of Contents
Anatomy Of A Hockey Butt
What is a hockey butt? Glad you asked!
It’s a jacket that’s part of what is called the “hockey uniform.” Essentially, your hockey butt is your jacket which you wear while playing ice hockey. It protects you from the other players and the puck (if any) and keeps you warm in the process. As you sit in the stands, you might notice that the majority of the active players wear hockey butts as opposed to regular jackets or shirts. This is because the game requires them to keep their upper body uncovered. Your hockey butt also serves as a design element on which the team logo can be featured. That’s right, the NHL (National Hockey League) actually requires its players to have a unique design on their hockey butts (and yes, it must be black).
Now that you know the difference between a hockey butt and some common misunderstandings about the sport, it’s time to explore some of the interesting tidbits about this unique piece of clothing!
Interesting Facts About A Hockey Butt
Let’s start off with the basics – what are hockey butts made of?
While we’re not exactly sure of the exact components of a hockey butt, we do know that it’s typically a mix of polyester, acrylic, and wool. The fabric is also usually a combination of two of the three, giving the jacket a jolly yet rugged look. It can withstand extreme temperatures, making it ideal for both warm and cold weather conditions. If you’re out on the lake in the middle of summer, wearing a hockey butt can keep you cool while having fun! The fabric also allows the wearer to look like an “ice cube” – perfect if you want to make a striking impression on your opponents. If you’re a fan of the sport, you can also use this unique jacket as a way to identify with the teams you love the most!
A hockey butt also makes an excellent conversation piece. When a person speaks to you about your jacket, it means you’re wearing a hockey team – even if you’re not playing. This is because the team colors often end up being associated with the designers and manufacturers of the fabric, giving you an idea of what group you belong to. For example, Arctic fabrics are associated with the Pittsburgh Penguins, while New Era is typically worn by the New York Rangers. Designing your jacket to feature the logos of your favorite teams is a great way to show your support for the sport you love!
Additional Design Elements On A Hockey Butt
So, you’ve decided to wear your favorite team’s logo on your jacket – how do you go about doing that? Let’s examine some of the unique and creative methods that designers come up with to show their support for their favorite hockey teams.
As we mentioned previously, the majority of the players wear their hockey butts instead of regular shirts or jackets due to the nature of the sport. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice that the designs differ from team to team. For example, the Florida Panthers feature a panther as their logo, so they often go with a design that features both a panther and a map of Florida as a reference to their geographic location in the state. It’s interesting to note that, despite the design similarities, the logo actually represents a completely different animal – the Florida panther. This is because the animal featured in the logo is a different subspecies than the one that is found in the wild in the state of Florida. While there is no mistaking the inspiration behind these unique design elements, if you’ve got a panther on your mind when you wear your hockey jacket, you’re probably not imagining a Florida Panther either!
Another creative team chose to design their jacket around the imagery of the atom. After all, the game itself is named after the splitting of the atom – a symbol of nuclear energy and the underlying theory of molecular biology. So, they decided to commemorate this scientific feat by designing their jacket to feature the symbol of the atom (along with some DNA diagrams for good measure!). Although this is a rather unique and creative approach, it’s not exactly practical if you want to wear the jacket everyday. If you’re a nuclear engineer or a student of molecular biology, you can sport this jacket with pride, however!
Some of the more traditional designs for hockey butts feature simple images of the teams’ logos. Nevertheless, those who choose to go this route typically find a way to make it a little more interesting by adding patterns or colors that correspond with the team’s colors. The most popular and simplest method is to simply go with white and black for the traditional look. With this combination, you can’t go wrong!
Now that you’re more familiar with what is a hockey butt and some of its interesting details, let’s examine some of the most common misconceptions surrounding this unique piece of sportswear.
Misconceptions About A Hockey Butt
It’s no secret that not everyone who plays or supports hockey enjoys the game or sport quite the same way we do here at Wearing the Wocky. Many players and fans alike have serious misconceptions about the meaning of a hockey butt as well as some of its most interesting and quirky features. Let’s examine some of these common misperceptions and debunk some of the truth about this unique piece of sportswear.
Hockey Is Not Warm
One of the most common misconceptions about a hockey butt is that it’s only worn by players during cold weather conditions. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
As it turns out, a hockey butt is actually more suited for cold weather than most other types of jackets. The material is heavy and thick, so it retains heat well and prevents the wearer from freezing in temperature. It’s also perfect for transitioning from a hot day to a cold night – the perfect partner for a long, cold winter night!
During the warm months, people often choose to forego the use of their hockey jackets and opt for lighter outerwear. If you live in a place with warm humid summers, you might find that your hockey butt doesn’t seem so cool after all. This is why we suggest you wear it in the wintertime.
No One Can Make A Mess With Another’s Jacket
Another misconception surrounding a hockey butt is that it’s only worn by professional players or those who want to look like professional players. While it’s true that most people who play or watch hockey are more than likely to develop a fondness for the unique piece of sportswear, it’s not specifically designed for this purpose. A hockey butt is actually more protective and suited for the outdoors than your average jacket.
This is because the material is thicker and heavier than most other types of jackets, so it can withstand extreme impacts. It also tends to be sturdier, making it perfect for use on the rugged trails that wind their way through the woods. If you’re ever lost in the woods and decide to take a nap, you can be sure that your jacket won’t get ruined – you can always curl up inside your hockey butt and call it a flotation device!
The sturdiness of the material also makes it perfect for use in other extreme sports – not just hockey. If you’ve ever seen any snowboarders or skiers play, you know exactly what kind of jacket they wear. That’s right, a lot of extreme sports enthusiasts choose to sport their team’s colors and logos on their jackets as a way of showing their support for their favorite teams – they even have a special name for these types of jackets: “sportswear.”
On the other end of the spectrum, you have your surfers and swimmers. These people mainly wear shorts and tank tops throughout the year, making them an ideal choice for keeping cool during exercise. Nevertheless, when the conditions are right – especially during the warm months – they are more than happy to sport some long johns and a t-shirt! This is where your average “regular” jacket comes in – it’s the perfect transition piece from the beach to the streets!