The Hampton Aces were formed in 1978 as the Jersey Aces, playing in the NEHL for the 1978-79 season. The NEHL was created from the ashes of the NAHL, with former NAHL teams including the Erie Blades as well as traditional EHL and NAHL cities such as Utica and Johnstown. The Baltimore Clippers and Syracuse would join in later seasons. Later on, the NEHL would be renamed the EHL, trying to take on the legacy of the former EHL that lasted for decades and eventually turned into the NAHL. The Jersey Aces played at the old Cherry Hill Arena (called the Centrum at the time), just across the river from Philadelphia in Cherry Hill, NJ. The Aces were partially owned by Mike Schmidt, the famous baseball player. At the end of 1978, the team unexpectedly lost its home when the Arena was shut down. The arena's fire and liability insurance were revoked and the owner chose to close the doors. The Aces scrambled and wound up with a home in Virginia at the Hampton Coliseum, which had been vacated by the Hampton Gulls when they folded in February 1978. However, the Aces were already in tough shape financially and now had to pay the difference in travel fees for each of their opponents who now had to go to VA instead of NJ. The Hampton Aces would still manage to finish the 78-79 season 37-29-3 and lose in the Finals to the Erie Blades. In the following two years, the Aces were not good. They won fewer than 20 games each of their two seasons in Virginia. After the 1980-81 season, the league and the team would both fold. Some trivia: future NHL GM Neil Smith played for the Aces. This would make a unique gift for the hockey fan in your life or a neat find for yourself of a vintage hockey team from Virginia. Free standard shipping on all orders shipped to the USA. Questions about us or our products? Check out our FAQ. Learn more >> -- About the hat from the manufacturer: This hat is structured with a classic fit, flat brim, and full buckram. The adjustable snap closure makes it a comfortable, one-size-fits-most hat. 80% acrylic, 20% wool Green Camo is 60% cotton, 40% polyester Structured, 6-panel, high-profile 6 embroidered eyelets Plastic snap closure Green undervisor Head circumference: 21⅝″–23⅝″ (54.9 cm–60 cm) Blank product sourced from Vietnam or Bangladesh
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