Why the NHL teams have to wear colored jerseys at home and white on the road ?

Answer 1

It is all marketing and psychology.
Since the ice is white, the dark jerseys stand out more for the home fans. And, since dark colours are more intimidating than white, the home team gets to look their best while the away team must concede to the white.
Most sports use this system as well.

Answer 2

The NHL used to have the home teams wear the white jerseys and the away teams the dark jerseys for a very simple reason: It was very hard to get uniforms clean on the road (laundries and the like), so the dark jerseys helped hide the dirt. Conversely, it was a lot easier for home teams to use their own facilities to get their white uniforms clean.

This went on for the longest time simply because of tradition.

Several years ago, the league changed it -- partly out of common sense, but I would have to admit probably also for marketing, as other people have mentioned -- the same reason for the proliferation of third jerseys around the league (although I have to admit, a lot of them are cool).

Answer 3

I think it provides an advantage to the goalie. The home team dark jersey makes it harder for the visiting goalie to see the black puck, and the white jersey easier for the home goalie to see the puck. I also agree that marketing is a factor with the alternate third jersey, etc. The Sharks will wear there darker third jersey on home Thursday night games and have had good success on those nights.

Answer 4

I'm not sure why they did this, but they changed it when the NHL came back from the lockout. The NHL used to have the home team where white uniforms. I guess they wanted to be more like football and have the team colors worn at home. I'm sure it's marketing related.

Answer 5

It's called marketing. How else can you explain the sometimes awesome Alternative Jerseys? It's the NHL trying to make an extra buck.

Answer 6

they are switching decrease back next year, becasue of the hot Reebok uniforms. in cutting-edge years NHL communities have taken to designing and wearing "0.33 jerseys" and this year we are seeing particularly some "classic jerseys," as communities resurrect abandoned trademarks and colorations from years previous. communities want to teach off those new (or old, because the case might want to be) sweaters at abode, the position dependable followers will sprint to the keepsake stand and purchase their own.

Answer 7

lets take the devils and hurricanes as an example..if they both wear red itll be hard to tell them apart..so one team wears different color to show obvious difference..also for players..if a player is at the boards fighting for a puck and turn around to see whose behind him really quickly..sees someone dressed in red and passes it back quickly..he could easily be passing it to his opponent.