As the Boston Bruins prepare to defend their 2011 Stanley Cup Championship, fans are gearing up for the new season as well, and one of the best ways to do that is to find a fresh hockey jersey. After all, there are a new set of heroes who have written themselves into Boston lore over the last several months – Tim Thomas by putting together one of the greatest goaltending seasons of all time, Patrice Bergeron by scoring the Cup-winning goal in Game Seven, and of course team captain Zdeno Chara, who hoisted the Stanley Cup and lifted the Bruins alongside Boston’s other pro sports teams, who have all won championships in recent years.

But where are the best places to shop for a hockey jersey online? It turns out there are a few really good options, offering a wide selection, superior service, and sweet discounts as well. Let’s take a look at 4 specific sites where you should do your shopping, including an incredible offer on authentic, customized jerseys at the bottom!

Boston Bruins jerseys at Fanatics

Fanatics offers a a huge selection not only of jerseys, but Boston Bruins t-shirts, hats, and all sorts of other merchandise, but these three jerseys caught my eye, especially the somewhat unique one in the middle:

Current Fanatics Deal: Take advantage of Flat Rate Shipping - just $4.99 for 3-Day Shipping on any size order at Fanatics.com!

Reebok Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins Edge Premier Jersey – Black Price: 159.95 You can’t go wrong with the captain, and this Reebok  Edge Premier jersey comes pre-customized with his name, number, and the “C”. Get yourself a pair of stilts, and a fake lumberjack beard, and you’ll look just like the 6’9″ blueliner!

VOmax Boston Bruins Stock Performance Cycling Jersey – White Price: 79.95 And now for something completely different – for you bike riders out there, check out this Stock Performance Cycling Jersey from VOmax. Their state-of-the-art dye process ensures that the colors won’t run or fade, and Microdry fabric wicks moisture away from your skin as you pedal along. There are also three rear-positioned racer pockets, so this full-zip cycling jersey is a great way to keep cool while representing the Bruins on the open road!

Mitchell & Ness Bobby Orr Boston Bruins Authentic Throwback Jersey-Gold Price: 299.95 They sure don’t make ‘em like Bobby Orr anymore, who was not only the greatest Boston Bruin of all time, but the greatest defenseman in all of hockey, too. His 8 straight Norris Trophies stand as a mind-boggling achievement that will never be duplicated. Is there a better way to pay tribute to Boston’s hockey history than with this authentic throwback jersey from Mitchell & Ness? Of course not…

Boston Bruins jerseys at IceJerseys

When it comes to getting yourself an NHL jersey, IceJerseys is always a good place to check out – they have a broad catalog covering all NHL (and many international) teams, and their customization services are second to none (I used them for the jersey I wear to Nashville Predators games).

Special Ice Jerseys Coupon Code: Subscribe to our email newsletter, and receive a promo code for Hockey Gear HQ readers, which can knock $10 off your order!

Cam Neely Boston Bruins Vintage Replica Jersey 1991 (Home) Price: 198.00 Not far behind Bobby Orr in Boston’s pantheon of hockey heroes stands Cam Neely, the NHL’s consummate power forward. This 1991-era Vintage replica jersey features reinforced stitching on the shoulders & armholes, double shoulders, and CCM Vintage/NHL neck label. The chest & shoulder crests are pro tackle twill with embroidery; there’s a CCM embroidered logo on the hem, with ‘NEELY’ and ’8′ sewn in 2 color twill on the back of the jersey, and Cam’s ‘A’ sewn in twill on the front.

Boston Bruins Women’s Premier Replica Home Jersey Price: 99.00 Lady hockey fans can have a tough time finding an NHL jersey that’s tailored to their needs, so this Premier Replica is cut with a more feminine silhouette. Being a Premier Replica, this jersey features an embroidered twill front chest logo and screen printed shoulder logos (heat applied), and polyester pique front body & sleeves. It also has an embroidered NHL Shield, embroidered Reebok Vector on the back neck & sleeve, and inserts & piping made of 100% polyester mesh.

Boston Bruins Heritage Away 1949 Sweater Price 129.00 This is some old-school classic stuff, right here, a 100% acrylic sweater from Reebok by Roger Edwards. It features a felt Bruins logo stitched onto the sweater, vintage woven label on the lower front hem, and a ribbed crew neck collar & cuff. While others are reminiscing about Orr, Neely or Esposito, you’ll clamor for the days of Milt Schmidt, Bill Quackenbush, and Woody Dumart!

Shop.NHL.com

Shop.NHL.com is the obvious choice for many fans, thanks to their gigantic selection of official apparel.

Save big on Authentic, Customized Boston Bruins jerseys at Hockey Monkey

If what you’re looking for is an authentic (not just a replica) jersey, and you want to get it customized with the name and number of your choice, you won’t find a better deal than the one going on at Hockey Monkey (current as of September 20, 2011). You can get a Boston Bruins Reebok Edge Sr. Authentic Hockey Jersey for just $199.99, and have customization services thrown in for free! Available sizes are limited, so head over to Hockey Monkey and check this offer out for yourself:

Special Discount for HGHQ Readers: Thanks to a special partnership with Hockey Monkey, you can save 7% on most items (some manufacturer restrictions apply) by using the coupon code GEARHQ7!

I hope these suggestions help you out, as it’s sometimes confusing to know where to go to find the best selection or service when it comes to all the online retailers out there.

My question is, now that there are some new hockey heroes in Boston, will we start to see more jerseys customized in their honor? Will names like Marchand, Bergeron, and Horton start sprinkling their way through the stands?

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