It has never been easier for pro hockey teams to promote their games. They have so many different mediums at their disposal to get the word out. From emails directly into a fan’s inbox, social media promotions, traditional advertising on TV, radio, and billboards, and everything in between. But it wasn't always that way.

Professional hockey has been around for over 100 years. Back in the early days, the marquee on the arena might have been the best mode of advertising. When Hockey Hall of Famer Hobey Baker was playing at Princeton University in the early 1900s, they’d just put “Hobey Baker Plays Tonight” on the marquee and people showed up in droves.

The more industrious teams, however, may have had posters made to plaster around town. Some were more artful than others. Also, game programs often had artwork or illustrations on it instead of still photography. Poke around the internet for vintage hockey art and you’ll be blown away at some of what you see. 

But that’s all part of a bygone era, or at least it’s supposed to be. The Columbus Blue Jackets, however, have been bringing that lost art form back.

For all of the Blue Jackets’ home games this year, Anthony Zych, the team’s graphic designer, has been creating vintage-looking posters specific to that night’s game. The team then shares it on its social media platforms and even through a digital medium, you are transported to a different era.

Here’s the poster for Friday night’s game against the Florida Panthers:

As you can see, instead of featuring hockey players, Zych's art often takes a more literal approach by using the opposing team's name. That's not the case on every poster (like the Blue Jackets vs. Penguins one below), but it has been a pretty effective artistic decision to create some truly stunning posters.

The balance between a traditional look and a modern take really works on these. Many of the posters have also been especially clever, which is why they’ve probably become so popular in Columbus and beyond.

Zych recently spoke with ESPN.com’s Uni Watch blog and explained how he came up with the idea:

The idea actually originated three or four seasons ago. It just wasn't something we really acted upon. This year we wanted to find a different way to promote the games, and this was just another way to do that. We don't have a lot of time to think here -- the sports industry is very fast-paced -- so if you get an idea, you have to run with it. So we kind of hit the ground running this season and it caught on.

But the work he puts into the game-day posters pays off in a lot of ways. Here are a few more from earlier this season (all images via Columbus Blue Jackets):

Zych told Uni Watch that each poster takes around five to six hours to create, but that he also does about 10 hours of research and development. That’s a big commitment for a person in a job where time is often a luxury.

In addition to creating these incredible posters, Zych has to do all of the other graphic design work a team needs, like creating traditional ads, arena signage and so many other jobs big and small. However, the time he spends on the posters seems to really pay off.

One of the most popular this season was one of the very first posters that Zych created for the home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in early October featuring a man in a Blue Jackets jersey mulching his yard. Zych, who was inspired by so many of his fellow Ohioans using this method to clean up the yard in the fall, told Uni Watch that is his favorite as well.

 

All of Zych’s game-day posters, and they’re seriously all really good, can be found here.