Premium vs. Non Premium Tees  

Our regular or non-premium t-shirts are what we originally started the site with. These are Fruit of the Loom 3930 tees that are a heavy and thick feeling style of t-shirt. We find that a lot of our customers like these when they are looking for a shirt that has a sturdy, thick feel to it. These shirts are not labeled as standard or non-premium, but you will know them since they will not say 'premium' anywhere in the title. They are also handy as many of the colors we offer are available in sizes up to 6XL. However, we received feedback that some customers were interested in thinner, lighter feeling tees. 

Our premium t-shirts were introduced recently to provide an option for a lighter and thinner feel of t-shirt. There are two types of these premium tees.

1. The first is used for our text-only or "Dated" designs. These are Next Level brand 6210 shirts that are 60% cotton but still provide a lighter, softer feel than the standard shirt. Not all teams have these dated t-shirts available.
2. The second type of premium tee is used on all of the graphic design tees that have "premium" in the title (other than the "Dated" ones described above) and were introduced to fill a need where our customers had been requesting lighter and softer tees. These are 100% cotton Bella + Canvas 3001 tees that are very popular in apparel shops these days. We've recently added one of these for every graphical design on the site so that every one of our graphic tees has both a standard and premium Bella + Canvas option. Please note that if you don't like light feeling t-shirts, you would probably better enjoy our standard shirts. 

For more details on the sizing and content of these items, please see our size chart page.

Premium vs. Non Premium Hoodies/Sweatshirts  

Our regular or non-premium hoodies are what we originally started the site with. These are Gildan G18500 hoodies that are a thick, heavy blend hoodies that you probably know well from many other retailers. These are 50% cotton and while durable and comfortable, they are not super soft. These hoodies are not labeled as standard or non-premium, but you will be able to identify them since they will not say 'premium' anywhere in the title. They do come in handy as many of the colors we offer are available in sizes up to 5XL. 

Our premium hoodies were introduced recently to provide an option for a much softer feeling hoodie. These are 80% cotton and are the real deal. They are our printers' (Spreadshirt) in-house brand of hoodie, made especially to print on their own machines. We highly recommend these hoodies if you're looking for a soft, hoodie that you can wear regularly. 

We do caution that the premium hoodies run small, and would suggest ordering one size larger than you usually would. (i.e. if you usually buy L hoodies, order an XL when purchasing one of our premium hoodies). 

Every graphic design on our site will have a premium and non-premium hoodie option. To spot the difference, just look for "(Premium)" in the subject line. 

For more details on the sizing and content of these items, please see our size chart page.

The Columbus Checkers were the first professional team in the history of Columbus, Ohio and originally had a true medieval crest for a logo. They started play in 1966-67 in the IHL at the Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum (still exists today!) and struggled to a last place finish in year one. They would play over .500 hockey in year two with a 32-30-10 record in 72 games and make the playoffs. But that's about the best the Checkers would do. They would have a worse record in year three going 26-37-9 (1968-69), losing in the first round for the second straight year. Their fourth season (1969-70) would be even worse, finishing 24-36-12 and out of the playoffs. If you were living in Ohio during these years, you might have been able to watch the Checkers play their local rivals, the Dayton Gems on television... 

Ad from the Dayton Daily News, February 22, 1970

After they completed the 1969-70 season, the Checkers actually... disappeared. The team had been up for sale throughout most of the season, as the owners had racked up almost $100,000 in debt. In the summer of 1970, it appeared that the ownership group had come to an understanding with another group from Chicago, Independent Investors, Inc, to loan the team money in exchange for an equity stake in the club. But, that deal apparently fell through. And no one knew that had happened until a representative from the Dayton Gems decided to pay a visit to the Columbus offices. Per The Journal Herald (Dayton) on July 8, 1970, "Where are Checkers?" 

Whatever happened to the Columbus Checkers?

That's the question they're asking around the IHL today in the wake of a disappearing act that may make Houdini look like an amateur... 

The Checkers' vanishing act was discovered by Dayton Gems GM Lefty McFadden, who stopped at the Columbus' team's office Monday. That is, where it used to be. 

The office, a mobile unit normally parked on the grounds of the Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum, was no where in sight. Neither was any of the team's equipment...

Trying to reach Columbus President and GM Jerry Schmelzer proved equally frustrating. Schmelzer was reportedly vacationing in Africa...

With just three months until the opening of IHL training camps, league officials don't know whether to plan a schedule for seven or eight teams. The evidence seems to indicate that the Columbus Checkers are dead. But nobody can find the body. 

By the end of July 1970, the IHL had assumed control of the franchise and was looking for new owners. Newspaper reports indicated that there were as many as five groups interested in owning the franchise, assuming they could pay the league's demands of a $50,000 entrance fee and $12,500 performance bond. Reportedly, a deal had been close with Charlie Finley, who at the time owned the Oakland A's (moving them from Kansas City in 1968) and the California Golden Seals. But that deal also fell through, and the Checkers were no more by August 1970. Finley would end up getting his hockey team, though. He started the Columbus Seals a year later for the 1971-72 season.  

The Checkers would fold after four years due to poor attendance, but they did make an important contribution by introducing hockey to Columbus, which would become a big league market in 1997 with the creation of the Blue Jackets.

The following photos are courtesy of the Ohio History Connection. You can visit them at OhioMemory.org. These photos are of the Checkers hosting the Toledo Blades at their home arena, the Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum, during the 1969-70 season. They really show what the atmosphere of playing in a state fairgrounds was like as well as some 1970s flair. Notice the chain link fence surrounding the ice that would normally be plexiglass today. 

Are you looking to brush up on the fast paced and exciting game of hockey? Well  you've come to the right place! The Stroh Brewing Co. from Detroit, MI, has kindly supplied us a copy of their guide for this season that explains the game of hockey. All the trophies, rules, and regulations of the game are explained very clearly inside. After readying you'll have so much more knowledge of the game that you will have to bear the task of explaining offsides to your friends and family. And remember to drink Stroh beer, American's only fire brewed beer! Does brewing beer with fire make sense? No! But they do it anyway!