Gift ideas for the hockey fan

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Christmas is fast approaching. Here are a handful of gift ideas for the discerning hockey fan in your family (or just for yourself, perhaps). All of these gifts are available for sale at nhl.com (though they can probably be found cheaper elsewhere).

Are you looking forward to the 2012 Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers? Well, you could always be watching it in style. There are a ton of different men's and women's shirts featuring both teams available on the Shop NHL website, everything from t-shirts to long-sleeved thermals. In fact, the NHL site has a ton of memorabilia no matter what your team is. Hate both the Rangers and the Flyers? Try a Winnipeg Jets tie. You can also customize tees, hoodies and longsleeved shirts, personalizing them with your own name and number. Number 69 is reserved for only those with good taste.

Are you mad for Monopoly? Try the NHL-themed version of this classic board game. A zamboni instead of a car, a Stanley Cup instead of a thimble — what's not to love? Curious about which team is Boardwalk? Think most Stanley Cups. The board, however, features the Atlanta Thrashers instead of the Jets. It would have been greatly amusing if the Thrashers were Baltic Avenue, but that dubious distinction goes to the Washingon Capitals. Not a Monopoly maniac? Try Detroit Red Wings-themed Yahtzee.

Speaking of the Jets, does the return of the NHL to Winnipeg leave you missing a few of the other teams that the NHL has passed by? Well, you could always keep the dream alive by sporting a Quebec Nordiques t-shirt or a Hartford Whalers jersey. The Nordiques shirt is $28.99 and the retro Whalers jersey is $69.99. Are you a Toronto fan, but looking for something different from the commonplace Maple Leaf? Try a Toronto St. Pats fitted hat for $29.99. Montreal fans have the option of a Montreal Maroons hat for the same price. There is a lot more retro stuff out there. I've never seen anyone sporting a Kansas City Scouts or Cleveland Barons shirt, if such things exist. Find me a California Golden Seals retro shirt and I'll be impressed.

There's seriously tons of stuff available for sale on Shop NHL's website. How about Tampa Bay Lightning beer mugs? Or an Anaheim Ducks bar stool? Habs shooter glasses? Some of the most ridiculous stuff can be found in the site's "Toys & Games" section (as if Red Wings Yahtzee isn't ridiculous enough). How about a Columbus Blue Jackets garden gnome? Seriously (and it would be seriously awesome if these gnomes were autographed). Or for the serious collector in your family, a '72 CCCP puck autographed by Vladislav Tretiak.

Best advice? Ignore all this stuff and get your skates on and head outdoors for the holidays. Although if someone sent me a Tie Domi autographed Leafs garden gnome, I wouldn't complain.