This isn’t really news or any sort of in-depth analysis, but hey, it’s the long weekend. Long, like the amount of time it took this man to create one of the single greatest things I’ve ever seen (and thus, had to share with you all); a chain-mail Canucks jersey.

Spotted by /r/hockey’s spreebiz at the annual Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota, the jersey mimics the original white uniform that the Canucks wore between 1970 and 1972, and brought back as a throwback in 2010/11 to celebrate the team’s 40th anniversary. On the back is none other than Canucks legend and current team president Trevor Linden.

I wanted more information on the jersey as soon as I saw it, but obviously, a couple of photos uploaded onto imgur weren’t going to help the cause very much. I went on an internet adventure to figure out whether or not these chain-mail jerseys were a made-to-order thing.

As it turns out, it was the handiwork of the man wearing it. The gentleman, who goes by “Lord Ruthven” on The Ring Lord, a chainmail message board, is actually a jets fan from Winnipeg who has made similar jerseys for his favourite team, along with the Minnesota Wild, Hartford Whalers, and Team Canada. He estimates that the Linden jersey required about 250 hours of work, and is made entirely of anodized aluminium rings. The amount of detail put into this one is insane – it even has the V within the sleeve stripes! 

These jerseys aren’t new territory; Nik Rode’s Ryan Clowe Sharks jersey went viral a couple of years back. His weighed about eleven pounds, though he’s got a slimmer build than this gentleman. With that considered, we’re probably talking about a 17 or 18 pound Canucks jersey; enough to slow down any of the boys on the ice (except maybe Brandon Sutter – like him or not, the dude has wheels).

Again, there’s not really a point to be made here, but this thing is really, really awesome.