Cleveland Crusaders Fan Shop

The Cleveland Crusaders Collection — Royal Retros Cleveland Crusaders Fan Shop

Authentic 1972–1976 Cleveland WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. Cleveland’s Modern Major-League Hockey.

Royal Retros carries the deepest Cleveland Crusaders throwback collection on the open web — authentic 1972–1976 WHA-era jerseys, hats, T-shirts, hoodies, and Ohio hockey fan apparel honoring the franchise that brought major-league hockey to Cleveland for the only time in the modern era. Goaltender Gerry Cheevers anchored the franchise’s best teams. Custom name and number on most jerseys. Sizes S–5XL with no big & tall upcharge.

What You Can Shop in the Cleveland Crusaders Collection

Cleveland Crusaders Jerseys — Throwback hockey jerseys spanning the WHA-era timeline (1972–1976). Twill construction, period-correct sleeve striping, color-matched crests. Custom name and number available on most styles.

Cleveland Crusaders Hats — Snapbacks, fitted caps, dad hats, trucker styles, and unstructured caps featuring the franchise wordmark and logo.

Cleveland Crusaders T-Shirts — Premium pre-shrunk soft-blend tees featuring vintage logos and franchise history designs.

Cleveland Crusaders Hoodies, Sweatshirts, and Crewnecks — Heavyweight pullovers and crewnecks for vintage hockey collectors.

Customization — Most jerseys can be personalized with your name and number. Free customization on eligible items.

Sizes — Small through 5XL on virtually every product. We don't upcharge for big & tall sizes.

Why Royal Retros Is the Home of Cleveland Crusaders Throwback Gear

• WHA-era authenticity. Period-correct color values, proportions, and stitching for the 1972–1976 Cleveland Crusaders.
• Authentic period-correct construction. Twill stitched crests, sublimated fabrics on custom builds.
• Free customization on most jerseys. Name and number at no extra cost.
• Sizes Small through 5XL. No big & tall upcharge.
• Cross-shop the broader WHA collection for related franchises.

Quick Buying Questions

What sizes do Cleveland Crusaders jerseys come in?

Small through 5XL on virtually every jersey style.

Can I customize my jersey?

Yes — most styles offer free customization. Custom items are final sale and made to order. Allow 7–10 business days for production.

What materials are jerseys made from?

Heavyweight twill on most replica jerseys, sublimated polyester on custom and remix styles.

How accurate is the design?

Color palettes, lettering style, sleeve striping, and crest detail match 1972–1976 game-worn references.

How fast does it ship?

Standard products ship within 3–5 business days. Custom items ship within 7–10 business days.

Gift Ideas for the Cleveland Crusaders Fan

• For the WHA-era hockey historian: Authentic Gerry Cheevers throwback gear honoring the 1972–1976 franchise.
• For the cult-rarity collector: Cleveland Crusaders gear is genuinely rare on the open market — a deep-cut WHA gift.
• For the customization fan: Free name-and-number personalization on most jerseys.
• Year-round demand. WHA nostalgia plays year-round.

What Were the Cleveland Crusaders?

The Cleveland Crusaders (1972–1976) were a major professional ice hockey franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio that played four seasons in the World Hockey Association. The Crusaders were a WHA charter franchise, founded for the league’s inaugural 1972–73 season. The franchise played its home games at the Cleveland Arena before relocating to the Richfield Coliseum (now Quicken Loans Arena) in 1974. The Crusaders’ most successful era was driven by goaltender Gerry Cheevers, who defected from the Boston Bruins to the WHA in 1972 and anchored the franchise through 1976. The franchise made the WHA playoffs in three of four seasons but never advanced past the second round. In 1976 the franchise relocated to Minnesota to briefly become the second-iteration Fighting Saints, who folded mid-season the following year.

The Greatest Cleveland Crusaders Players

Gerry Cheevers. The mask-painting Hall of Fame goaltender. Defected from the Boston Bruins to the Crusaders in 1972 and anchored the franchise through 1976. Returned to Boston after the Crusaders folded.

Other notables. Paul Shmyr, Wayne Muloin, Jim Wiste, Skip Krake, Bob Whitlock.

Venue

The Crusaders played at the Cleveland Arena (1972–74) and then the Richfield Coliseum (1974–76). Cleveland has not had major-league hockey since.

How to Identify Authentic Cleveland Crusaders Throwback Apparel

• Verify the WHA-era color values. Authentic franchise colors have specific Pantone-matched values.
• Check for the WHA-era logo. The 1972–1976 franchise used a specific stylized crest.
• Era-specific design matters. Make sure the throwback represents the actual WHA-era franchise.
• Royal Retros standard: Every product is reviewed for period accuracy.

More Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Cleveland Crusaders exist?

The WHA-era Cleveland Crusaders existed from 1972–1976.

Did Royal Retros carry the full franchise lineage?

Yes — cross-shop the related franchise collections in the WHA collection.

Where can I find related Royal Retros collections?

The Cleveland Crusaders connect to multiple collections: the broader WHA collection, the Legacy Hockey collection, and our broader hockey collection.

WHA Cross-Shop

• The WHA collection — for fellow WHA franchises including Winnipeg Jets, Houston Aeros, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and the rest of the league.
• The Legacy Hockey collection — for fans of other defunct franchises.

Cleveland Crusaders at Royal Retros — Authentic 1972–1976 WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL.