How the Fan Cut Actually Fits
Think of a fan hockey jersey as the roomiest garment you own, on purpose. The shoulders sit a touch wide, the torso falls straight, and there is real space through the chest and waist — because the original pattern had to go over shoulder pads, elbow pads and a chest protector. The fan version swapped the pads for a hoodie, and kept the cut.
Compared to the heavyweight sweaters players wear on the ice, the fan jersey is about half a size more generous everywhere, in a lighter fabric. In practical terms: if you wear a large hoodie, a large fan jersey fits over it with room to spare. If you will only ever wear it over a t-shirt and prefer a closer fit, one size down is the play. Either way, raise your arms above your head — if the chest pulls when you do, the size is wrong. Hockey fans celebrate with their arms up; the jersey has to allow it.
NHL Jersey Sizes: S Through 3XL, Men's and Youth
Fan hockey jerseys run S through 3XL in men's cuts, with youth sizes for kids, and chest is the number that decides everything — a hockey jersey is forgiving in the sleeve and unforgiving in the chest if you go too small.
Rather than reprinting half a chart here, we keep the complete, always-current tables on our size guide page — men's, women's and youth hockey sizes in both inches and centimeters, so what you read there is exactly what we pack.
How to Measure for a Hockey Jersey
Measure over what you will actually wear. Chest: run the tape around the fullest point, over your hoodie if that is the plan, level all the way around and relaxed. Length: from the high point of your shoulder straight down the front — hockey jerseys run long by design, and the hem should land well below your waistband, around mid-hip to upper thigh depending on your height.
Then do the one check most buyers skip: hold those two numbers against a hockey jersey you already own and like the look of. If your current jersey hits at the right spot, its flat-lay measurements are the numbers to match against the chart on our size guide page.
Fan Replica vs Authentic Pro
Two garments, two different fits, and the difference is bigger in hockey than in any other sport.
| Fan Replica | Authentic Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Roomy, softer shoulders | On-ice cut, the biggest of all |
| Fabric | Mid-weight polyester | Heavyweight air-knit |
| Crest | Embroidered or printed | Embroidered, layered |
| Runs | About one size large | Up to two sizes large |
| Best for | Wearing to a game | Purists and collectors |
Authentic Pro is the one to be careful with. It is the genuine on-ice garment — heavier, cut larger, and meant to sit over equipment that no longer exists when you wear it. If you want an Authentic Pro to look the way a fan replica looks on you, go down a size.
The Hoodie Question
This is the deciding factor for most hockey fans, because a hockey jersey worn over a t-shirt in October is a hockey jersey worn over a hoodie by December.
- T-shirt or nothing underneath — size down one, maybe two if you are slim and want it to drape like a sweater.
- Over a light long-sleeve — size down one.
- Over a hoodie — true to size. This is the default, and it is what the cut is built for.
- Between sizes — take the bigger one. Nobody has ever complained about extra room in a cold arena in November.
Five Fit Mistakes Hockey Buyers Keep Making
- Ordering true to size over a t-shirt. Hockey jerseys are cut for pads — most fans need one size down.
- Reading the length as a defect. Mid-thigh is correct; hemming it ruins the drape.
- Assuming Authentic Pro and the fan replica fit the same. Authentic Pro is up to a full size larger.
- Not checking sleeve width before sizing down for a hoodie underneath.
- Buying a child's jersey to grow into by two sizes. One size up is the useful maximum.
Do Hockey Jerseys Run Long?
Yes — hockey sweaters are cut longer than basketball or baseball jerseys, and that is correct, not a defect. The length is what keeps the hem from riding out when you sit down for three periods in a cold rink. If the hem reaches your knee, size down; if it sits around mid-hip to upper thigh, you have it right. Resist the urge to hem it — it ruins the drape.
Featured NHL Jerseys
In stock now, S through 3XL. Prices verified against live store inventory.
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The Fit Check: Hockey
- Shoulder seams sit 2–3 inches past the edge of your shoulder. This is normal for hockey, not a sizing error.
- The hem sits well below your waistband — mid-hip to upper thigh — and stays there when you sit down.
- You can wear a hoodie underneath without the chest pulling when you raise your arms.
- The crest sits flat on your chest rather than wrapping around your side.