ATLANTA -- National Hockey League officials and local law enforcement are warning hockey fans about the possibility of fake NHL memorabilia as the All-Star Game hits Atlanta.

Officials from the Coalition to Advance the Protection of Sports Logos said the NHL has seized more than 9 million pieces of counterfeit merchandise worth more than $329 million at events since 1993.

More recently, some 1,100 items were seized at the NHL Winter Classic event in Orchard Park, N.Y., officials said.

"We want our fans to understand that you get what you pay for when it comes to counterfeits," said Michael Gold, NHL Enterprises senior counsel, legal and business affairs. "A counterfeit T-shirt is not a keepsake if it contains a typo or shrinks three sizes when you put it in the laundry."

To avoid being victimized by counterfeiters, Gold urged fans to:

Look for the NHL hologram sticker or hangtag and a sewn-in label identifying the merchandise as "official," as authorized by the NHL.
Shop at official NHL and Atlanta Thrashers stores and souvenir stands, NHL.com and other legitimate retailers, rather than buying items from street vendors, flea markets, or other questionable sources.
Beware of ripped tags, typographical errors, poor quality screen-printing, or irregular markings on apparel.
Be suspicious of items whose price is too good to be true.

"We strive for the highest level of quality control," Gold said. "Not only do we want to protect legitimate local businesses who play by the rules, but we also want to ensure that our fans take home memorabilia that will last along with their memories of the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta."

The 56th NHL All-Star festivities begin Friday and end with the game on Sunday at 6 p.m. Fans can see the Eastern Conference All-Stars practice at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, while Western Conference fans will have to wait until 10:30 a.m.