Counterfeit Winter Classic Items Seized

In the wake of the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, customs officials and the NHL seized over 1,600 counterfeit items with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $350,000.

Approximately 150 international mail parcels were seized and nine vendors have been investigated  since December 28.

MLB, NHL, NBA and NCAA counterfeit goods were also seized along with the fake NHL items.

Per U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),when buying NHL goods, consumers should:

• Look for the hologram sticker or holographic hangtag and a sewn-in or screen printed neck label identifying a licensee that has been authorized by the NHL to produce "genuine" or "official" merchandise.

• Shop at legitimate retailers, such as the official Philadelphia Flyers team store and website rather than buy items from street vendors, flea markets, overseas websites or other questionable sources.

• Beware of ripped tags or irregular markings on apparel.

'ICE HSI and the NHL are continuing to use their resources to target criminal organizations, vendors and individuals using local and online business establishments to smuggle, distribute and sell counterfeit NHL Winter Classic merchandise.'