Photo credit: Paige Bednorz
Marcus Pacheco is dressed for success

Fashion Forward

Oct 19, 2023 | 10:00 AM

Coaches love it when players have hockey sense. In a nutshell, hockey sense is a player who has situational awareness, is good at decision-making, and can execute the game plan while on the ice.

For Kelowna Rockets third-year forward Marcus Pacheco, his fashion sense could be greater than his situational awareness when he is all geared up with his skates attached to his feet, his shin pads on, and his helmet locked to his cranium.

RocketFAN would suggest, the 18-year-old may be the best dressed on the 23-man roster.

“Thank you,” Pacheco bashfully says when the subject of his strong wardrobe in brought up in discussion. “I love it [dressing up]. Coming to games, I have always loved looking good, or what I think looks good. Even outside of the rink, I feel confident when I am wearing the stuff that I like.”

Calvin Thurkauf and Dillon Dube are two other Rockets alumni who come to mind as being sharp dressers, not only at home but also on the road. Dalton Yorke, who was one of the players sent to the Prince Albert Raiders in the Leon Draisaitl deal, was also fashion conscience, and even dabbled in modeling.

“I may have an expensive taste with clothes,” Pacheco added. “Sometimes that comes with the territory.”

Pacheco admits he watches pro athletes, whether it be NHL, NFL or MLB, and see how they can pull off certain fashion trends.

“I will go on Instagram and all the pro teams I follow in different sports and the pictures of the guys walking in wearing different brands, different styles, and I like to take little pieces of what they do and then bring them into my style.”

Pacheco has been seen at home games this season wearing a suit, having missed the opening nine games after being hurt in pre-season.

Which is the most overlooked piece of wardrobe among men? Pacheco believes it is the dress shoe.

“I love shoes,” Pacheco said, not shying away from the subject. “I will always check out who is wearing what shoes,”

The trend, specifically among the younger set is no dress socks with dress shoes, but Pacheco again says you must be careful.

“It depends on which shoes you wear,” Pacheco said seriously. “If they [shoes] are the cutoffs, the closer to the toe, like loafers, then I say no socks. If they are full-on dress shoes, then you have to rock the socks to match the tie or the handkerchief.”

A proponent of wearing bowties, Pacheco says he wants to have colour in the suits he wears, whether it is a jacket or a complimentary piece.

“I think you have to stand out,” Pacheco tells RocketFAN, referencing that bold is like gold.

“You have to bring some subtlety to it [wardrobe] with a tie or different accents, but I like things that pop, and simple stuff as long as it goes together.”

Comments

Leave a Reply