An ode to the Stanfields

Remember those blue hockey undershirts? They still do exist.

This story idea has been rattling around my head for close to six months.

Back in May, my pal Bob Sturm posted on Twitter wondering what happened to the Stanfield undershirts. He then texted me about it and asked me to keep an open eye if anyone still used them in the NHL.

For those who don’t know, this is what I’m talking about, the light blue hockey under garment with a black collar and black cuff.

If you watch hockey documentaries from the 1980s and 1990s, you’ll see they are a common occurrence and essentially the official under-pad garment of the entire league.

Chris Chelios was once pictured hoisting the Stanley Cup on a hockey card in a Stanfield shirt.

I’ve covered the NHL in a professional capacity for close to decade now. When I first started covering the league I remember seeing roughly a handful of players using them, I can’t remember any specifics, but there were definitely some.

Now, if a player wears a shirt under their gear, they are typically using the polyester-based compression shirts made by UnderArmour, Fanatics, or some other apparel company.

In Detroit, where I’m based, that is the case with one exception, where in 2024 Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot is still rocking the blue Stanfield.

So I asked Chiarot about it after practice on Wednesday.

“I deal with eczema and all of those other shirts, those newer ones, I think they all have dye or something in them, so when they get all sweaty it really irritates my skin,” Chiarot said. “I just found out this worked best for my skin and with my gear and has been the best option for me.”

For a bit of a throwback player, Chiarot said it’s kind of fun to look at the Stanfield as a pice of living hockey history.

“I remember they used to have the full the zip-up one, which I had when I was a kid,” Chiarot said. “It was one of those things that kind of made you feel like you were in the NHL. I don’t think they make them anymore.”

Chiarot said he currently has four of the shirts, which are washed each day by the Red Wings equipment staff.

“I’m kind of lucky I found them and still have some,” Chiarot said.

If Chiarot needs more, he could probably reach out to Stanfield themselves.

I checked, the company still exists and right now. In fact, I could buy a small version of the shirt today for $28, but that was the only size in stock.