The Hockey Hoodie Sizing Guide Every Rink Mom Needs
If you've ever pulled a brand-new hoodie out of the package and thought "this is going back", you're not alone. Hockey moms are some of the pickiest hoodie shoppers on the planet, and for good reason — we wear them everywhere. Rink Saturday. Brunch Sunday. Coffee shop runs at 6am before a 7am practice. A hoodie that doesn't fit right is a hoodie you stop reaching for.
So we put together the guide we wish someone had handed us ten winters ago. Read it once, then never wonder about sizing again.
1. Decide your fit vibe first
"Fit" means two very different things in the RinkSquad world, and the right answer depends on the kind of days you actually live.
- True to size — tailored, snug at the shoulders, hits at the hip. Best for: layering under a puffer, wearing tucked into leggings, looking put-together at school pickup.
- Size up one — relaxed, boxy, the "boyfriend hoodie" cut. Best for: over a flannel, over a quarter-zip pullover, bleacher marathons, post-game parking lot hangs.
Most of our customers land somewhere between these two. If you're between sizes and you live in your hoodie, size up once. You will not regret the extra room.
2. The shoulder seam is the whole game
Ignore the size chart for a second and look at where the shoulder seam sits when you try the hoodie on. It should land right at the corner of your shoulder bone — not halfway down your arm, not pinched up at your neck. If that seam is in the right place, the rest of the fit will take care of itself.
This is the single biggest tell between a hoodie that fits and a hoodie that just is the right letter.
3. Sleeve length & thumbholes
Sleeves should hit about mid-thumb when your arms are relaxed. Long enough to cover your wrists when you throw your hands up at a ref call — short enough that you're not swimming in fabric.
If you want a thumbhole cuff, look for one with ribbed cuffs (not the loose elastic kind) — it actually holds the sleeve in place without strangling your hand.
4. Hood drama: yes or no
Some of us are hood people. Some of us are not. If you wear your hood up while driving carpool, on cold bleachers, or for the dramatic-on-purpose-mom vibes at the rink, make sure the hood is big enough to frame your face without choking you, and that the drawcord actually moves smoothly. A floppy hood is worse than no hood.
If you never put your hood up: pick a hoodie with a structured, lined hood that lays flat. Otherwise it'll bunch up under your jacket and bug you all day.
5. The pocket test
Kangaroo pocket, side pockets, hidden zip pocket — doesn't matter. The pocket test is simple: can you fit your phone, your keys, and a snack packet in there at the same time? If yes, the hoodie passes. If you're jamming your phone into a too-small pocket every time you stand up, the hoodie loses.
6. Fabric weight matters more than you think
Lightweight cotton is great for early fall. Mid-weight fleece is the sweet spot — warm enough for an ice rink, breathable enough for a coffee shop. Heavyweight is for the truly cold days or for the people who run chronically cold.
RinkSquad hoodies run mid-weight, so they layer without bulk and you can wear them nine months of the year. That's the whole point.
7. Our three most-loved fits
These are the hoodies our customers reorder most, in the sizes they tell us fit best:
- Coffee Blanket Hockey Hoodie — order true to size for the brunch-and-back look, size up for rink Sundays.
- Lives on Ice Hoodie — true to size runs slightly relaxed; size up if you want full boxy.
- Gave Up Sleep Hoodie — runs roomy by design; order your regular size unless you want to disappear into it.
8. Returns & reordering — read this part
Every RinkSquad hoodie is print-on-demand, so it's made for you when you order it. That means we can't do traditional size exchanges the way a big box store can. But if a hoodie arrives and the fit is off, reach out within 14 days and our team will work with you on a replacement or store credit — we want you to find the fit you love, period.
That's the whole guide. Pick your vibe, check the shoulder seam, pick the fabric weight for your climate, and don't be afraid to size up if you're between. Welcome to the hoodie life.