Jim Thomson New Haven Nighthawks Game Worn Jersey

What an amazing relic of the American Hockey League presented here!!

New Haven Nighthawks #44 black road knit by CCM. 1990/91 tag in collar 1 1/2 x 2 inches with ‘54’ added in blue ball point pen. 

For only having played 27 games for New Haven that season, which if we assume roughy half were on the road, this jersey shows incredible game wear and abuse for limited action. Stitching inside and outside of neck is popped in various areas/various hanging threads; good grime and staining showing on white portion of neck. Great grime, general filth and assorted game wear showing on white portion of front hem, white portion of both sleeves show much of the same, but also include various board paint transfers, snags and blood staining. More of the same showing on the back hem, inclusive of more blood staining. Huge red board paint and corresponding burn showing on right shoulder and right sleeve with damage left un-repaired. Excellent interior wear showing with heavy pilling inside both sleeves; fight strap has been cut out at base.

The best part of this sweater is the heavy customization work that has been put in to each of the sleeves. Looks like they started by custom shortening each by cutting the cuffs off entirely, then folding the material back over itself from the inside, and then added two rows of stacked stitching to hold them in place. This accounts for the very short sleeve look to this sweater, and gave opponents less material to grab on to during a bout. At the same time, each sleeve has had a 7x8inch custom knit panel insert added, from the new cuff to the sliver sleeve stripe - these panels were made from two smaller knit pieces joined in the middle with heavy stitching, added to create additional room for Thomson to work within during a dust-up. Each cuff with then pinched and stitched to create a very tight cuff area while leaving the arm very baggy. The pinch and tightening job remains on the left sleeve, however the right sleeve was torn/vented opened, and not repaired; it remains sliced up the sleeve hem for a few inches un-repaired.