Youth Hockey Team's XL Jerseys An Extra Large Mistake

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A youth hockey team is upset about jerseys they ordered from a Minnesota company.

The Stoughton Youth Hockey team in Wisconsin said they placed an order with Breakaway Sports, and what they got was not what they ordered.

Ethan Hanson and his teammates were excited about getting new jerseys, until they arrived late, in the wrong shade of purple and over-sized.

"It's weird. It's so big on me," Hanson said.

The kids on the team are ages 9 to 12.

"It looks like he's wearing a ballerina dress," Zachary Amyotte said.

The XL youth size that came fit one of the parents perfectly. He normally wears an adult XL.

"We sent the company our jerseys from last year as a standard. And compared to what he had told us, they looked like they should be in the same ballpark, and they were not," Stoughton Youth Hockey Association President Wade Rewey said.

Rewey is frustrated he paid Breakaway Sportswear of Brooklyn Park $3,500 for 24 jerseys that players now have to modify and tuck in. A parent paid to have most of them altered after Rewey said they got nowhere with the company.

"Even when they're close, they're still tucking them into their breezers, tucking them into their gloves," Rewey explained. "They're supposed to see the numbers on their sleeve. Most of the numbers are in their glove."

The door was locked at Breakaway Sports Thursday afternoon. Owner Jeff Mlekoday said by phone the team didn't do their due diligence with the order, ordering later than recommended and sending him a sample size versus receiving samples and colors to choose from.

Rewey admits he ordered the jerseys on the later side, but he never dreamed the kids would be penalized.

"It has been the biggest pain I've ever had in ten years of hockey," Rewey said.

The team is asking for Breakaway Sportswear to pay for the alterations. They plan to order new jerseys from another company next year.

Mlekoday said:

"In brief, since early 2014 we have been working with the Stoughton organization positively and have continued this practice throughout the order and our most recent conversation with their president, Wade Rewey, in early January 2015.

Regarding the order, Stoughton did not request a size suite to appropriately size their garments prior to ordering as most organizations do. These services are available to all of our customers including the opportunity to manufacture a full size suite of jerseys according to their exact jersey specifications colors and design. Unfortunately, these services were refused by Stoughton upon placing their order.

Regardless of fault, in early January we verbally offered Stoughton's president, Wade Rewey, a number of resolutions pertinent to their order. Unfortunately, we have not received a response from their president, or the organization in general, in any form since this conversation.

Ultimately, with all of our products, services and each of our customers we work with, we are focused on positive results, resolutions, and long-term business relationships regardless of fault. Unfortunately, with this situation we have not had a response from Stoughton to do so."