The hockey uniform we've grown used to seeing all our lives might be about to change. The U.S. men's and women's hockey teams, and some other squads at the Olympics, will wear streamlined uniforms designed by the same geniuses who designed goofy-looking cyling outfits.
They're not skintight, but developer Nike says the so-called Swift Hockey threads are 13 ounces lighter than what we wear now. They're also supposed to be cooler.
The new uni's were developed in wind-tunnel tests that determined hockey was behind the times. The biggest difference is the jersey, which is tighter in the midsection and socks that are nearly half the current weight. The overall effect is supposed to be a 14-percent reduction in drag. According to an AP story, that's enough to give you a 20-inch advantage in a 50-yard sprint.
No word on whether Nike also wants us to switch to pointy, aerodynamic cycling helmets.
Bah humbug.
Click here for a photo of the new uni: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060121/SPORTS07/601210345/1136
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