When attending an NHL game, you never know what might happen. One time, the legendary Theo Fleury had to change his jersey because it was completely covered in blood. What happened next was absolutely hilarious.
Theoren Fleury never let his height hold him back. He played in the NHL during one of its most physical and violent eras, but despite being one of the smallest players of his generation, he played with unmatched passion and grit.
Fleury was also a force offensively, ranking 61st on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with over 1,000 points. He recorded two seasons with more than 100 points and four seasons with 90+ points.
Theo Fleury’s bloodied incident
Fleury will forever be a hero in Calgary, having won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989. He also captured Olympic gold with Team Canada in 2002. Playing in the NHL from 1989 to 2003, Fleury did more than just score goals—he was involved in some of the game’s most intense battles. One of those moments led to an unforgettable, hilarious scene involving a bloodied jersey.
During a game against the Dallas Stars in 1998, Fleury was high-sticked in the face by defenseman Richard Matvichuk. As he skated to the bench, blood covered his face—and his jersey. The referee informed him that he couldn’t return to the game wearing the blood-soaked jersey, as it was deemed too messy.
Someone tossed Fleury a jersey
Fleury was stuck. Today, teams carry extra jerseys to games, but that wasn’t always the case in the late ’90s. That’s when a fan decided to help. They tossed a replica jersey onto the bench, and to the crowd’s wild amusement, Fleury actually put it on.
The funniest part? The jersey wasn’t just too small—it was covered in autographs, including his own.
“I thought about going out with it, but I’m not going out there wearing a sweater with my own autograph,” Fleury told The Hockey News after the game. “Besides, I didn’t know if it was legal or not.”
Ultimately, a Calgary trainer found a nameless No. 76 jersey for Fleury to wear instead—quite the change from his usual No. 14.
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