HARTFORD, Conn. -- It’s been more than a decade since NHL hockey left Hartford, but there’s still a big demand for anything featuring the famous Whalers logo.

Now it’s possible to buy brand-new, official Whalers gear, and that has fans celebrating.

The new line of authentic Whalers merchandise showed up at South Windsor arena and was instantly a big hit.

“We had some Wesleyan University hockey players come in; they saw the hats -- we had 24. We ended up selling them out that day,” said Steven Grigorian of South Windsor Arena.

The Whalers jersey is also featured in the new NHL 2K10 video game, where one of the vintage teams for players to choose from is the Whalers.

The trademark protection for the logo just expired, so for the first time since the team left Hartford, the whale is fair game.

“I’ve seen so many knock-offs and rip-offs on eBay and Craigslist that it’s just crazy. The money they’re getting for them, it’s about time somebody smartened up,” said Marty Evtushek of the Hartford Whalers Booster Club.

Evtushek, the club’s vice president, besides fighting for the return of NHL hockey to Hartford, collects everything Hartford Whalers.

The South Windsor Arena said it expects to sell out of all Whalers gear by the weekend.

“I think it’s a dream that people keep dreaming, and hopefully maybe it will come true,” said Grigorian.