Let me begin by making some preliminary comments:
1) Yes, that's an authentic jersey
2) No, I didn't actually play. This was for a Halloween party.
3) Give me a break! It was about 30 years ago!
This is the jersey of a semi-pro hockey team. My first game was after having staples removed from bone fusion surgery on my right ankle. Hard to accept as a 22-year-old that you'll never wear heels again. I literally endured my first game in a magenta cast from my hip to my toes. I hated the game. It was boring! (OK, I was young and STUPID!)
I saw how cute the guys were and how tall they were....for the most part. And, THEY WERE MY AGE!!! While I never dated any of them, I did become friends with a number of them. Friends enough that the fiancée of the player whose jersey I'm wearing insisted I crash with him and his roommate rather than driving home after hitting the club with the team. They always acted like protective big brothers, which was great.
Because of this team, I saw a goalie play for the Florida Panthers, a forward become the HEAD COACH of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and another forward become a current assistant coach for the Washington Capitals. Hockey lets me get out frustrations and make some wonderful friends.