The lyrics to the song “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” contain four references to Pennsylvania. And the crooner most associated with the 1954 song is the late Perry Como – he of the Canonsburg, Pa., Comos.

With such definitive proof that Pennsylvania is the hub of the holidays, we proudly present the inaugural Very Pennsylvania Puck Holiday Gift Guide.

Stiga Stanley Cup table hockey

If you thought the Sedin twins were hard to tell apart, try distinguishing among the players in Stiga Stanley Cup table hockey. Like the Sedins, the hand-painted Stiga players are products of Sweden.

Stiga Stanley Cup is the only rod hockey game licensed by the NHL. A series of metal rods can be pushed, pulled and turned to make the skaters move up and down the table, which resembles an NHL rink, complete with miniature boards and glass. Skaters can go behind the net, and goalies can move side to side.

Any number of retailers carry the Stiga games, but we found TableHockeyShop.com in suburban Philadelphia. The family-owned company sells the Stanley Cup version and two others for $99.99 each, including shipping. This weekend, the store is throwing in a replacement team pack and a marble puck at no extra cost with each Stiga game purchase.

Flyers Goal Scored By shirts

We discovered this blog while searching for information about Cooperalls, the long pants that the Philadelphia Flyers wore for a couple of seasons in the early 1980s. This summer, FGSB introduced a line of Flyers T-shirts, one of which is devoted to Cooperalls.

Humor is at the heart of the shirts’ verbiage, from the in-your-face “Shut your steak and cheese sandwich hole” to the ironic “Only God saves more than Jean-Marc Pelletier,” a well-traveled goalie with a single win in his brief NHL career.

Perhaps our favorite, though, is a tribute to rising Flyers star James van Riemsdyk, aka JVR. The FGSB take: “James Van Cougar Mellencamp.”

Game-worn jerseys

The clothes make the fan. And if you’re really into your team, it might be worth the splurge to buy a game-worn jersey.

There’s no bigger name in the business than MeiGray, which has exclusive arrangements with many teams in the National Hockey League, including the Philadelphia Flyers, and with the ECHL. MeiGray's annual holiday sale starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday and runs through midnight Dec. 14, with discounts of up to 50 percent on ECHL and American Hockey League jerseys and 40 percent on NHL jerseys. On Friday only, there's an extra 10 percent discount on jerseys that are primarily white.

Fans looking for Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys should look to Joe Tomon, who operates J&J Distributing in addition to being a western Pennsylvania funeral director. Many minor league teams sell game-worn jerseys in their team stores and/or on eBay.

Skating lessons/gift cards

Skating is the most important skill in hockey and ice time the most precious commodity. The gift of skating lessons or a gift card to a local ice rink will give the recipient a leg up toward becoming a better hockey player.

Odor Gladiator

It’s the perfect size for a stocking stuffer, but the lacrosse ball-sized Odor Gladiator will do even more good rolling around in your son or daughter’s stinky, sweaty hockey bag.

Manufactured near Pittsburgh, the plastic container comprises a reusable helmet and mask ($14.95, and you get to choose the colors). They house a disposable “shield” ($17.85 for a three-pack) that absorbs odor and emits a fresh linen scent.

For more information, read our recent profile of Odor Gladiator and founder Michael Morneault.

Zamboni merchandise

A real Zamboni might not fit your budget – they can run into the low six figures – but Paramount, Calif.-based Zamboni has some cool merchandise that won’t break the budget. Miniature Zambonis come in remote control, die-cast and tin bank versions. But you’ll also find T-shirts, sweatshirts and ties bearing the iconic ice resurfacing machines.

Team stores

Shopping for holiday presents? Don’t forget to stop at the team stores in and around various pro hockey arenas in Pennsylvania.

The Fan-Attic in Reading (ECHL’s Royals) and the Penguins Team Store in Wilkes-Barre (AHL’s Baby Pens) both have Black Friday sales planned.

In Reading, from 8 a.m. until noon, the Fan-Attic store at 645 Penn St. will be selling all autographed items – including pucks, sticks and helmets – at 50 percent off.

Selected winter coats are specially priced at $79.99, and all NHL novelties – including trash cans, clocks, key chains, pennants, license plates and bumper stickers – are 30 percent off.

In Wilkes-Barre, the Penguins Team Store, 40 Coal St., is offering 15 percent saving across the board on Penguins jerseys, T-shirts, hats and other apparel (tickets and equipment not included). Season ticket holders can save even more (up to 30 percent) by using their Penguins discount cards.



Mitchell & Ness apparel

Philadelphia sporting goods/nostalgia legend Mitchell & Ness remains in the business of selling retro jerseys, other apparel and accessories for NHL, MLB, NFL and NBA teams.

Items from 30 past and present NHL teams are available, including the Flyers, Penguins, Brooklyn Americans, California Seals, Hartford Whalers, Kansas City Scouts and Quebec Nordiques.

As part of its extended Black Friday Sale from 12:01 a.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday, all authentic jerseys (hockey included) are $100, and all other apparel is 40 percent off (excluding headwear and accessories).

Retro hockey underwear

Hockey players or fans will certainly remember the classic long underwear worn by NHL players in the 1980s and ’90s. Now they can own a pair.

Hockeyunderwear.net sells classic shirts starting at $25 and shirt-and-pant sets starting at $40. What’s more, you get two vintage hockey cards with each purchase.

The website is based in Nova Scotia, about one hour from the legendary Stansfield’s manufacturing plant.

Winter Classic gear

For the Flyers or New York Rangers fan on your list, items for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic are a must.

The Jan. 2 game at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park features classic division rivals, and there is no shortage of officially licensed merchandise featuring the stadium’s stylish Liberty Bell on the logo.

Jerseys, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, pennants, pucks and all sorts of novelties sporting the logo are available at sporting goods stores, the Fan Gear store at the Wells Fargo Center, and online at shop.nhl.com.

Hockey movies

Hockey fans also can be movie buffs, so why not combine two loves into one present?



Hollywood has made its fair share of hockey movies, from “Idol of the Crowds” with John Wayne to “Slap Shot” with Paul Newman to “Miracle” with Kurt Russell.

For a list of 12 hockey movies every fan should see – and possibly pass on as gifts – click here.

Coming attraction: On Dec. 6, “Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic” will be available on DVD for $19.98. The HBO series followed the two teams in the weeks leading up to the 2011 Winter Classic.

Dave Sottile contributed to this story.