lifestyle

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

As hockey fans, we spend a lot of time at games. And when we’re not at games, we’re watching games. And when we’re not at games or watching games, we’re probably thinking about hockey. So what kind of holiday gift can you get for your friend or loved one who loves hockey but has everything? (Or for yourself, let’s be real.) Well, we have some ideas.

Nothing in this post is sponsored. Many of these shops are places we’ve purchased from and items that we’ve bought and love.

Like we mentioned on Twitter, one item you could pick up is the Greatest Capitals Plays slate coaster set from PointsAndPints.com. They cost $40 for a set of four, and have recently been updated to include not only The Goal against the Coyotes from 2006 and Hunter’s Patrick Division game-winner against the Flyers in 1988, but Kuznetsov’s OT winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins to send the Capitals to the Eastern Conference Final and Smith-Pelly’s game-tying goal in Game Five against the Vegas Golden Knights. If your giftee isn’t the type who’s into coasters, they also offer posters, mugs, phone cases, and drawstring bags. If your giftee isn’t into the Capitals, well, have no fear, they also offer other teams, like the Canadiens and the Stars.

Looking for something a little more wearable? For $22, you could pick up this hockey stick necklace, or for $5 more have it customized, from BellaMantra on Etsy. The shop offers a couple of different styles of necklace, in silver or brass, or rings, earrings, bracelets, and even a tie clip.

Remember the beginning of the season when Gina Carlson was posting about the zipper pulls on her son’s backpack? Those are from MaeKaiBlue on Etsy, and they’re super cute. Julie has the Stanley Cup one (not personalized) on her keychain. You can pick it up for $10, $12 if you want it personalized. MaeKaiBlue also offers a Hockey Skateand a Goalie Mask.

If you’re looking for something a little more masculine, you can pick up a bottle opener made from a game-used stick from GameUsedNovelties on Etsy. They’re $30, and unfortunately since the company is out of California it’s slim pickings for East Coast teams. You can pick from any of the players they have available, or you can pick up one that isn’t a player-customized stick for $25. GameUsedNovelties also offers keychain bottle openers, puck bottle openers, and even a phone case made from pucks.

A little more into art? Maybe your giftee collects enamel pins, or likes to put patches on their jean jackets. If you’re looking for some really sick wall art, look no further than RedKatStudios. Rachael is an incredible artist who designs for her own shop and also for Russian Machine Never Breaks. We recommend her Game of Thrones-inspired team sigils – you can get all of the teams, or you can just pick up your team of choice for $20. (Washington sigil shown at right, framed.) We also recommend the Washington DC Champions Hockey Patch, a design Julie happens to have tattooed on her body and which you can pick up for $10. (Shown above, framed.)

If you’re looking for a different kind of art, you can also pick up one of these gorgeous NHL Player portraits from NHLPortraits on Society6. They offer Backstrom, Ovechkin, Holtby, Kuznetsov, Wilson, and Oshie. They also offer several other players from other teams.

Right now, a mini print like this one of Taylor Hall is $17 – throw it in a $6 frame from Ikea (like the one pictured at left, ha -) and you’ll have a pretty sweet gift.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend you hit up the Russian Machine Never Breaks store for all your t-shirt needs. Don’t have a “We’re Not Going to Be Suck This Year” t-shirt? You should probably get one. We’re also big fans of the “You’re Doing Great, Babe” (modeled at right by Melanie) and “Emergency Goaltender” t-shirts. RMNB also sells stickers, and you can get most of the t-shirt designs as stickers. Stick some Swedes on Bikes to your life. (RMNB T-shirts start at $18, but you can get t-shirts, tanks, long-sleeve tees, and sweatshirts. Sticker pricing varies, but original recipe Swedes on Bikes is $4.64.)

Did you know that Funko Pop makes NHL players? They have two whole series of them, and a third series on the way. You can get both a home and an away Ovi! (Well, you can if you order away!Ovi from Canada – which isn’t really a big deal, with Amazon nowadays!) You can get a Holtby! Eventually you’ll be able to get a TJ Oshie, as well, with the third series coming out at some point. If your giftee collects Pops, these are a great idea, and they’re only going to run you about $10 a pop. (Get it?)

Don’t have time to wait for things to be shipped? There’s always Kettler – sorry, Medstar – or Capital One Arena. There’s always hoodies, t-shirts, and jerseys, and fun stuff like Christmas stockings, holiday socks, and even a Christmas ornament at Capital One Arena. Medstar Capitals Iceplex is your one-stop shop for team shirseys (you know, those t-shirts with the name and number on the back!), as well as some other weird stuff – dog collars and leashes, purses, infinity scarves, this weird Santa thing that Julie bought today, big star tree-toppers, and even smaller stuff like pop sockets and a collapsible drinking straw. (Sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty cool, and definitely would’ve come in handy back in the dark days when Capital One Arena wasn’t giving out straws.)

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