Detailed Jersey Set Notes
1984-1985 Road Black
Comments:
This set is a fairly large knit mesh
with bands of white and gold (also mesh) sewn into the sleeves and lower part of the main body.
The neck of the jersey is gold, also of the same mesh material.
The crest and numbers are three color, but they are done with white on gold twill.
The white is sewn down with thick black embroidery to create the look of three colors.
Although there is no tagging on the outside of the jersey,
a Melville logo, washing instructions, and size tag should be present inside the neck of the jersey.
Close-up Detail Images:
Melville Tags
Typical Repair
Sleeve Numbers
Back Numbers
1991-1994 Road Black
Comments:
This set was manufactured by CCM. This is not obvious to the casual observer because the large CCM
logo in a white-white-white sequence located on the back hem was covered with a black patch.
Although I do not know exactly why this was done, I have seen jerseys from several other WCHA teams
used in the same years that also had the CCM logo covered. The jersey material is Maska Ultrafil,
a tighly woven nylon knit.
The neck is two color - a wide white band on the outside, and a narrower gold band on the inside.
Fight straps were used in these jerseys, one peice velcro with two metal snaps.
All the numbers and cresting are done in two-color twill.
The back numbers (12") and the crest are white on gold, and the arm numbers (4.25") are gold on black.
Although I eventually purchased this jersey from a dealer, I have no doubts about its authenticity
because I was acutally offered the chance to buy it right from the team in 1995 when I bought my first ever
"gamer". I had no interest in this one at the time however because it was not the current style.
I was lucky enough to get a second chance at this one 4 years later, how often does that happen?
This jersey is an easy match to a media day photo of MTU captain Jeff Hill due to the way the
bottom of the "C" curves in. In 2000 I met Jeff at the MTU Hockey Alumni reunion and he signed
the jersey on the inside behind the crest.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tag
CCM Cover
CCM (Inside)
WCHA logo
Sleeve Numbers
Back Numbers
Captain's "C"
Media Day Candid
Autograph
1993-1994 Variations
Comments:
This set of jerseys is still somewhat of a mystery. Due to lack of photos from road games in most
publications, it is unclear if this was a completely new set of jerseys, or they could simply be
"filler" jerseys that were added to the 1991 set for the 1993-94 season.
The photo at the left was taken on media day prior to the start of the 1993-94 season and was
published in the 1993-94 yearbook as well. The picture clearly shows that there were changes in these
two sets of jerseys although they do look nearly idential at first glance. If you click on the photo to
the left it will open in a new window and you can then get a closer look at the changes.
The standing players are wearing the original jerseys from the 1991 set (including the #5
show above with the "C" which can be seen on the right in the back row) and the kneeling players have
the newer jerseys with the following changes noted:
1) Script "Huskies" Crest - Now more detailed allowing for the jersey material to show through in
several areas which were previously filled with the gold outline color (inside of "U", center of "s",
and between the letters "i-e-s")
2) Change in Numbers - Numbers were now more slender and shaped in a new way. The photo highlights
a number "2" from each jersey. In the older set the top and bottom of the two are connected with a diagonal
where as the newer style has a horizontal mid-section much like an upside-down "5".
3) Moved WCHA Logo - On the original set, the WCHA was positioned much higher, above the bottom
of the neck line which causes it to drape off the shoulder. In the newer set it was lowered to just above
the cresting to allow it to appear level when worn.
4) Nameplate & Hem Logos - Although not shown in this photo, two other major changes included a
CCM embroidered logo on the back hem which was greatly reduced in size and the addition of nameplates.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tag
CCM Logo
WCHA logo
Sleeve Numbers
Back Numbers
Media Day Candid
1994-1995 Road Black
Comments:
Starting in 1994 the script "Huskies" crest was replaced with the new "Husky Head" logo.
Like the home jerseys, this set featured the twill MTU near both elbows.
Bauer was now the manufacturer and other than the general material type for the body of the
jersey nearly everything was changed from the previous set. The crest was constructed of
three color twill with embroidered details. The numbers will also three color twill,
gold on black on white. Sleeve numbers were 4.25" and the back numbers were 12.25".
Although the jersey shown no longer contains the original nameplate, when they were worn
the names were two color twill (3.25" gold on white) on nameplates. The WCHA logo was
embroidered in silver on the right chest and a small BAUER patch was on the back hem,
outlined in silver. BAUER ProWear and size tags were located in the neck and the
fight straps were velcro with two nylon snaps.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tags
Collar Size
Bauer Logo (Hem)
WCHA Logo
Sleeve
Back Numbers
1995-1999 Road Black
Comments:
In 1995, the road jerseys were also updated, matching the home jerseys.
The most noteable change to the exterior of the jerseys was the movement of
the "MTU" from the elbows to a more traditional location on each shoulder.
The crest, numbering, names, striping, fight straps, and body material were all identical
to the previous set. Subtle changes to the Bauer patch on the back hem (slightly shorter),
the WCHA logo (now done in gold), and the neck (now much narrower gold band,
making the opening bigger) are the only other ways to seperate this set from the previous one.
The jersey shown for the front view was worn by Jason Prokopetz as captain. After he graduated,
the "C" was removed but the glue residue remains.
NOTE: During the 1995-96 season,
color coordinating patches were worn to celebrate the 75th season of MTU hockey. At the end of
the season, all of the patches from the home, road, and alternate jerseys were removed.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tags
Bauer Logo (hem)
"C" Outline
Shoulder Patch
WCHA Logo
Sleeve
Back Numbers
Collar Size
Nameplate
1999-2002 Road Black
Comments:
This third generation of the "Husky Head" design of the road jerseys marked a drastic change
from previous designs. A two color outlined "Michigan Tech" was now boldly featured below
the main crest. Gone were the straight block letters and numbers as well. Nameplates were
arched with two color lettering and the numbering also had a much more rounded appearance.
Clint Way graduated in 2001 so this jersey did not receive the WCHA 50th patch shown below.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tags
Bauer Logo (hem)
WCHA Logo
Sleeve
Back Numbers
Collar Size
Nameplate
In Action
2001-2002 Variations
Comments:
Here are some variations I observed for the 2001-02 season. The most obvious change was the addition
of WCHA 50th Anniversary patches to the back of all the jerseys, just above the name. Small American flag
decals were also added to the helmets in memory of September 11, 2001. One odd jersey used this season
by #3 Clay Wilson sports a NIKE logo just below the neckline on the front of the jersey. I do not
know why this jersey was being used other than it was made up after they stopped using the Bauer tagging
and switch over to Nike branding.
Close-up Detail Images:
2002-04 Road Black
Comments:
This set of jerseys was nearly identical to the previous set. Only a few items on the exterior changed.
A Nike swoosh was now just below the neckline replacing the Bauer that had previously been embroidered
on the back hem. The tagging now reflected Nike namebranding as well. The silver striping at the shoulders
was now a border between the gold shoulder yoke and black body, in contrast the to previous set where the
silver stripe was set within the black body of the jersey.
One interesting note about this set of jerseys is that they were only used for two seasons.
Rather than replacing the Pedersons gold mesh jerseys after three seasons, the team took the opportunity
to replace the black set so they could update their road jersey design (see below) to more closely
resemble the home (white) style.
The jersey shown was worn by Taggart Desmet. In the 2003-04 season Desmet was put on a line
with Colin Murphy and Chris Connor. The high scoring trio quickly became known to
fans as the Run D.M.C. line, named after a popular rap group of the 1990's.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tagging
WCHA Logo
Sleeve
Back Number
Nameplate
Wash Tagging
2004-2007 Road Black
Comments:
Designed to be similar to the home jerseys introduced in the 2003-04 season, this new road set
included the script "Huskies" as well as a arched block style "MICHIGAN TECH" on the front.
The jerseys were produced by S&P in a type of airknit material. The hem striping is part of the jersey body,
but the striping across the shoulders and sleeves are thin sections of additional airknit material.
The front crest consists of individual sewn still letters for "MICHIGAN TECH" and the main "Huskies" logo is gold on silver twill, with a negative outline of black twill. While all colors are sewn, only the base silver layer is sewn to the jersey. A small S&P logo is embroided directly on the back hem and the WCHA logo is embroidered directly on the right chest of the jersey.
Unfortunately when these jerseys went to the public via jersey raffles, they were all autographed by the entire team on the front with silver marker.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tagging
WCHA Logo
SP Logo on Hem
Sleeve
Back Number
Cresting
Fight Strap
Name on Nameplate
2007-10 Road Black
Image courtesy of Michigan Tech
Comments:
The road jerseys were the last set to be converted over to OT Sports. They featured similar designs and a much lighter weight construction. The body of jerseys were dazzle nylon with mesh inserts under the arms. One interesting note on this set of jerseys is the angle of the front cresting, incorrectly almost flat rather than the traditional slope rising to the right. All of the numbers were done in three color sewn twill.
As with other OT jerseys, blank on-ice authentics were offered for sale through the arena pro shop and the Huskies fan club also offered lettered and numbered authentic jerseys for sale as well. While this is great for the fans, the job of determining which jerseys were actually game used will be much more difficult to determine as the years go by.
Close-up Detail Images:
Neck Tagging
WCHA Logo
OT Logo on Neck
Sleeve
Back Number
Cresting
Fight Strap
Alternate Captain's "A"
2010-Present Road Black
