Blue Jackets wear outstanding 'Let's Play Bubble Hockey' shirts

The Columbus Blue Jackets are ready to play some hockey in the bubble.

And maybe they will also squeeze in some Bubble Hockey?

The team emerged in Toronto on Monday wearing shirts that said "Let's Play Bubble Hockey," a reference to the classic table game.

The center of the shirt featured an unmistakable Bubble Hockey character in Blue Jackets colors, complete with an extra wide hockey stick just like in the game.

Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno shouted out the shirt maker, Columbus-based Homage, on Twitter.

The company told NHL.com the shirt was brought to life from Foligno's idea combined with the creativity of their graphics team. Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins acted as facilitator, working out the details of picking up the gear and collecting the team's shirt sizes.

"It was just something we thought of. I've worked with those guys with some charity stuff. They're a great company," Foligno said. "I thought about it just before we left, kind of last minute, so I appreciate them coming up with something for us... Obviously, we know the seriousness of the situation but, you know, for us just to have a little fun while we're here, show a little flair... A lot of people liked (the shirts) and they're actually very comfortable."

Bubble Hockey, for the uninitiated, was a super-popular foosball-style game that started in the 1980s. It got its name from the large plastic dome that covered the playing surface (and yes, the puck would often get stuck along the edges or behind the net, forcing players to shake the table to free the puck.

Its popularity has endured. The response to the shirts was overwhelmingly positive, Homage has

made them available for purchase on their site

with proceeds going to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank's Covid-19.Emergency Relief Fund.