Cooperalls are back!
They were a crime against hockey fashion and a legitimate safety hazard.
But thanks to a growing fascination with all things retro, Cooperalls are making a comeback. At least for one night.
The WHL's Kamloops Blazers will turn back the clock by wearing full-length CCM Propac pants, which mimic the old-school Cooperall breezers, during their home game on Mar. 4 against the Kelowna Rockets.
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The Blazers were one of several teams that adopted the edgy equipment back in the day. The pants offered excellent protection with form-fitting hip-to-ankle padding and most found them comfortable to wear. But their slick nylon shells were like grease when a player hit the ice, resulting in several high-speed collisions with the boards.
The Philadelphia Flyers (1981-83) and Hartford Whalers (1982-83) were the only two NHL clubs to wear the gear before the league, citing player safety, banned their use in 1983.
If you want to see them in action, you're in luck. The game will be broadcast on Sportsnet’s CHL Friday Night Hockey, as well as on the NHL Network in the United States.