Top 5 NHL Jerseys

The following is the opinion of the Alexandria Blizzard, share yours below. 

Each team in the NHL has created a look all their own. Not all teams, however, have been able to perfect their jerseys' overall appearance. Here are our rankings of the best jerseys in the league and why.

1. Detroit Red Wings


Detroit has one of the most iconic logos in sports. The color scheme, arched names, and simplicity of the jersey make this look flawless.


2. Boston Bruins

If you’re going to go with a bold color like yellow, you better have the perfect shade. Boston was able to do just that. The spoked B logo is also why we admire this look.



3. Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago has one of the most storied logos in hockey. The colorful warrior logo is what snagged this jersey third place.



4. New York Rangers

Not many teams can pull off words instead of a logo on their jersey. The tie up in the front adds to this simple and classic look. The bright color isn’t overwhelming either. All these things contribute to why this is one of the best jerseys in the NHL.


5. Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia’s logo has represented this team since their inception. The unique color is something only this team can pull off. This timeless look is why Philadelphia made it into the top 5.

Honorable Mentions: Edmonton Oilers, Montreal, and Toronto Maple Leafs

Comment below and let us know which NHL jerseys top your list. 

Top 5 Qualities of a Goalie

Alexandria Blizzard Hockey presents the following 5 qualities of a goalie. Share your top 5 in the comments below.

In hockey, the goalie is the anchor of the team and their role is extremely important. Although many agree it's the most challenging position, the abilities of a goalie are often overlooked.  Important qualities of goalies include:

Photo courtesy of Bill Krafcheck

1. Agility: A goalie needs to be nimble and quick on his or her skates. Stopping a puck requires a quick change of the body. Goalies must also have good balance when making these quick movements.

2. Flexibility: Stopping a puck can require the goalie to bend or stretch in ways that sometimes don’t seem humanly possible. Aside from a 1st baseman in baseball, there are few positions in team sports that require a player to do "the splits" on a regular basis. 

photo courtesy of Bill Krafcheck

3. Speed: Goalies need an exceptional reaction time. They need to be able to see a puck coming and move to block it. Not only does their reaction time need to be fast, they need to be able to skate fast to get to the puck. Many goalies are actually the most talented skater on their team. 

4. Hand-eye coordination: A goalie needs to be able to see a puck and move his or her hands accordingly to stop it. Without hand-eye coordination, a goalie can’t stop the puck.

5. Work ethic: This is arguably the most important quality of a goalie. If a player is willing to put in the effort and train harder and longer than the average hockey player, he or she can achieve many of the previously listed qualities. A goalie willing to work hard is a good goalie.

These are just five of the many important qualities of goalies.  With an average save percentage of 87-90 % and higher, Tanner Elmore, Evan Bisek, and Kyle Miller, continue to be instrumental to the success of the 2013-14 Blizzard team.