Hockey Pants vs. Breezers

[stickfixchaska 0]

I didn't see anything like this in a search, so I thought I'd see what people thought.....

This came up as a debate amongst a group of buddies. Most of us are from Minnesota and have come to the conclusion that it is a regional thing.

Breezers are a Minnesota/Canadian term. Thoughts?

Mods - Please move if this is the wrong location.

Thanks.

[mnpucker 33]

I have been in this discussion in the past and yes I am from Minnesota too. Breezeers in Minny.

[interpathway 9]

It is girdle here in Maryland. I've heard breezers up in the northeast though.

[xstartxtodayx 343]

Hockey pants or girdle here in NY. I've never heard the term "breezer" until a few weeks ago on here, had no clue what the guy was talking about until a few posts later when I put 2 and 2 together. I still don't understand why you'd call them "breezers", sounds like something a figure skater would wear.

[Clark12 0]

In Northern Ireland we call them shorts! Never heard the phrase breezer until I started posting on here and pants just sounds like your trying too hard to be American lol

[DoubleT96 0]

Growing up in detroit, hockey pants or girdle as far as I've ever heard. Never heard of "breezers" until 10 seconds ago.

[KABAROV 0]

i'm from Canada eh and I have no clue aboot breezers!

[xstartxtodayx 343]

i'm from Canada eh and I have no clue aboot breezers!

I figured it was a Canadian thing, guess I was wrong. Can someone enlighten us to the meaning of the term and/or where it started?

[Leafsrok 0]

its definitely not Canadian, i had never heard the expression until i looked at the title of this thread

[psh 25]

I've heard breezers in MN, ND, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Hockey pants seems equally as absurd as breezers. They end at the knees--how can they qualify as pants?

My guess is that this terminology can be broken down both geographically and over time. A good test would be to ask a teenager in Winnipeg or Warroad what he or she calls them--breezers or hockey pants. It could well be that younger people everywhere call them hockey pants because marketing has become less and less regional and more and more nationally focused.

[Larry54 243]

I'm 48 years old and have lived in Montreal all my life and it's the first time I see the term "breezers".

Maybe it's slang for breeches?

[eric42434224 1]

I've heard breezers in MN, ND, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Hockey pants seems equally as absurd as breezers. They end at the knees--how can they qualify as pants?

My guess is that this terminology can be broken down both geographically and over time. A good test would be to ask a teenager in Winnipeg or Warroad what he or she calls them--breezers or hockey pants. It could well be that younger people everywhere call them hockey pants because marketing has become less and less regional and more and more nationally focused.

How can "Hockey Pants" be equally absurd as "Breezers"?

Hockey Pants have:

Hockey: the sport in which they are used.

Pants: an article of apparel which you put on the lower part of your body.

Breezers have:

Breezer: Something that creates a breeze? Perhaps a Bacardi Breezer?

Seriously? How can they be equally absurd?

I would like to find out the origin of the term "Breezers" as it seems pretty nonsensical.

[Larry54 243]

Hockey pants seems equally as absurd as breezers. They end at the knees--how can they qualify as pants?

Maybe it's because shorts aren't usually associated with winter sports.

This reminds me of hockey socks. We always called them stockings. What we have on our feet are socks. It eliminates confusion when talking about socks. Maybe somewhere down the line someone thought stockings didn't sound macho enough.

And what's up with hockey jerseys. In Canada we call them hockey sweaters! Hey, I think I have a Jerry Seinfeld routine going here! :lol:

[eric42434224 1]

Hockey pants seems equally as absurd as breezers. They end at the knees--how can they qualify as pants?

Maybe it's because shorts aren't usually associated with winter sports.

This reminds me of hockey socks. We always called them stockings. What we have on our feet are socks. It eliminates confusion when talking about socks. Maybe somewhere down the line someone thought stockings didn't sound macho enough.

And what's up with hockey jerseys. In Canada we call them hockey sweaters! Hey, I think I have a Jerry Seinfeld routine going here! :lol:

Back in the day, the "stockings/socks" did have a stirrup that went around the foot.

and in the old days, the jerseys were actually knitted sweaters.

[Jeff 0]

We call them pants or girdles out here. Only person who calls 'em breezers is a friend from Minnesota.

[stickfixchaska 0]

I'm glad I posted this. It's too interesting!

I am going to have to write the "Let's Play Hockey" and "The Hockey News" magazines and see if they can shed any light on the origin of "Breezers"....

edit - 32yo maybe the age thing does have something to do with it....see a few posts below.

[number21 3]

I have heard it's a MN thing that has slowly spread. Not sure of the origin though.

[mnpucker 33]

This came from Wikipedia:

Hockey pants, also called "breezers," are knee-to-waist protective gear for ice hockey or roller hockey players. The pants carry a variety of padding depending on whether they are worn by goaltenders or skaters (forwards and defenders), and also on the manufacturer

Remember todays BREEZERS are tighter fitting but back in the 70's they were light wight nylon with a few pads, this is what I assumed the name came from, Breezes is Sub ZERO temps will ABSOLUTELY create Breezes especially on outdoor rinks like I played on as a kid.

This from something called Lifetime hockey:

Breezers: Hockey pants are know as breezers (based on our anecdotal research, they are only referred to as Breezers in Wisconsin and Minnesota) they are shorts that come down to the top of the knee and extend high over the waist. Breezers have padding in many places in order to cushion shots and falls. Because breezers are usually very wide in the legs, a fair amount of "breeze" will blow into them when a player skates - hence the name

CASE CLOSED....sorry to end the fun hahaha.

In my frigid world in MInnesota they are breezers.

Why are socks called Socks or Stockings????? Aren't they Leggings? Have any of you ever wore a garter belt? Thought those were for Nylon stockings and best accompanied by a G String or thong?

Maybe we should start a "strange names for hockey gear" thread.

Is "Nut Cup" a traditional term or only used here in Minnesota?

[SirJW 207]

I always think of breezers as the shorts that fit over a pair of hockey pants that match a teams colors.

[cptjeff 0]

This came from Wikipedia:

Hockey pants, also called "breezers," are knee-to-waist protective gear for ice hockey or roller hockey players. The pants carry a variety of padding depending on whether they are worn by goaltenders or skaters (forwards and defenders), and also on the manufacturer

Remember todays BREEZERS are tighter fitting but back in the 70's they were light wight nylon with a few pads, this is what I assumed the name came from, Breezes is Sub ZERO temps will ABSOLUTELY create Breezes especially on outdoor rinks like I played on as a kid.

This from something called Lifetime hockey:

Breezers: Hockey pants are know as breezers (based on our anecdotal research, they are only referred to as Breezers in Wisconsin and Minnesota) they are shorts that come down to the top of the knee and extend high over the waist. Breezers have padding in many places in order to cushion shots and falls. Because breezers are usually very wide in the legs, a fair amount of "breeze" will blow into them when a player skates - hence the name

CASE CLOSED....sorry to end the fun hahaha.

In my frigid world in MInnesota they are breezers.

Why are socks called Socks or Stockings????? Aren't they Leggings? Have any of you ever wore a garter belt? Thought those were for Nylon stockings and best accompanied by a G String or thong?

Maybe we should start a "strange names for hockey gear" thread.

Is "Nut Cup" a traditional term or only used here in Minnesota?

Becuase they're socks. Hockey socks are a full length sock with no foot or a stirrup (don't see those anymore though). And Garter belts are pretty common, esp in the NHL with edge socks. A garter belt is the same thing as the traditional ladies undergarment, that's why it's called that.

I"m not sure what you're getting at with that one. Did you think people were using garter belt as another name for a Jock or something?

[Ahriman 1]

I've only been in minnesota for a few months and I call them breezers 90% of the time now. I like the term better which is surprising because I've moved around a lot and I'm generally resistant (read: down right hostile :P) about new territorial slang words for things, breezer is just a better word than calling them plants.

n00bs. :P

[RadioGaGa 162]

I always thought "breezers" was a European term (as it related to hockey gear).

[mnpucker 33]

Yeah i am that stupid. I guess you think I believe most players wear g-strings and thongs too. Christ it was a joke Einstein. I know what a hockey sock is and i know Garters are popular it is just that every time you tell women you wear one they look at you funny like you are actually wearing a lace version.

No comment on the Nut cup comment?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Yeah i am that stupid. I guess you think I believe most players wear g-strings and thongs too. Christ it was a joke Einstein. I know what a hockey sock is and i know Garters are popular it is just that every time you tell women you wear one they look at you funny like you are actually wearing a lace version.

No comment on the Nut cup comment?

"The rose goes in the front"

okay...not hockey but still a damn funny movie.

[greyraven8 9]

I'm in Thunder Bay - in Northwestern Ontario, just north of Minnesota, and I don't know anyone that calls pants "breezers"