January 2017
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INDUSTRY NEWS

PSG Seeks Court Approval for 
Sale to Sagard, Fairfax 

Performance Sports Group announced Jan. 26 it will seek court approval to sell substantially all of its assets and its North American subsidiaries to an investor group led by Sagard Holdings Inc., and Fairfax Holdings Limited for $575 million (U.S.).

PSG said in a company release it will seek approval of the sale by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at the final sale hearing scheduled for Feb. 6.

On Jan. 24, PSG received court approval to sell Inaria, the manufacturer of soccer uniforms, apparel and equipment. Inaria was sold back to Saverio Michielli, who founded the brand, for $1.58 million.

Click here to read more.


Changes Atop USA Hockey,
Hockey Canada

The national organizations of hockey in the United States and Canada will undergo changes this summer. Dave Ogrean announced his retirement as executive director of USA Hockey on August 1 and Scott Smith will take over as president of Hockey Canada on July 1.

Ogrean served as executive director of USA Hockey since 2005 and from 1993-99. USA Hockey president Jim Smith said he hopes to have Ogrean's replacement on board for USA Hockey's Annual Congress on June 7-10 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Scott Smith has been with Hockey Canada since 1995 and was named Chief Operating Officer in 2007. Smith takes over for Tom Renney, who is staying on as the CEO.

Click here to read more about these changes.


Bauer Extends Partnership with BCHL, Adds NHL Goalies to Roster

Bauer extended its multi-year partnership with the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) as the official equipment and apparel provider to the league and its nearly 400 players. Each BCHL team will continue to exclusively wear Bauer uniforms, helmets, gloves, pants and off-ice apparel. The agreement also provides each team in the league with Bauer sticks and bags.

Bauer also announced it added four NHL goaltenders to its athlete roster and extended multi-year partnerships with three other NHL goalies. One of Bauer's other top goalies is Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk, who leads the league in Goals Against Average and save percentage and was named to the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.

Click here to read more.


EQUIPMENT CORNER

The Evolution of the Goalie Mask and its Impact on the Game

The Toronto Globe & Mail takes a look at great Canadian innovations and how the goalie mask didn't just offer protection for goaltenders but changed how the game is played.

Legendary Montreal goaltender Jacques Plante was the first to wear a mask in an NHL game in 1959. But the story looks at how masks were used before Plante and how the evolution of the masks allowed goalies to change their style of play.

Click here to read the full story.


From Equipment Man
to NHL Goalie 

Carolina Hurricanes equipment manager Jorge Alves experienced a thrill of a lifetime on New Year's Eve. Alves wound up as the Hurricanes' emergency goalie when regular backup Eddie Lack couldn't play because of illness.

And a memorable night saw Alves play for the final 7.6 seconds of a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 37-year-old Alves, who played in the minor leagues and club hockey in college, led the Hurricanes out on the ice for pregame warmups and received the game puck from teammate Jeff Skinner.


SHOWTIME

Let's Play Hockey Expo
March 10-11 in St. Paul 

The 28th annual Let's Play Hockey Expo, the world's largest consumer hockey trade show, will be held March 10-11 at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Expo has attracted more than 40,000 fans as it is held during the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament in the adjacent Xcel Energy Center.

The Expo features a wide range of exhibits from major manufacturers to smaller entrepreneurs trying to break into the marketplace. Hockey legends such as Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur and Bobby Hull have appeared at the show.

This year's Let's Play Hockey Expo will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, March 10 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. For more information, click here to go to the Let's Play Hockey website or call (320) 333-3279.
 

VIDEO VAULT

Stick(less)-handling Show by
Top-Ranked Denver University 

The top-ranked Denver University team was forced to get creative at a skate-around a day before a pair of big games at Western Michigan because there wasn't enough room for all of its gear on its flight to Kalamazoo. 

Click here to see the video from KUSA-TV.

Denver apparently played as if its sticks didn't arrive as it was shutout for the first time this season in its first game 3-0. But it rebounded for a 7-2 victory to split the series.
 

JOIN OR RENEW NOW!
    
Now is the time to become a new member or renew your membership with the Hockey Dealers Association.  Click here to fill out an application and learn more about the benefits of being a part of the voice for hockey dealers.



 
Sincerely,
 

Marty's signature.jpg
Marty Maciaszek
mmaciaszek@nsga.org 
 

                      
 
        
 
                                                     
In This Issue
NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit

May 21-24, 2017

Registration is now open for the 53rd Annual NSGA Management Conference & 19th Annual Team Dealer Summit on May 21-24, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Join your colleagues for this event packed with a variety of opportunities, including education, networking, innovation and industry recognition.

Please click here for more information.
 
Apply Now for HDA/SDC
Hockey Collaboration
 

The collaboration for the purchase of hockey equipment by U.S. hockey dealers between the HDA and National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) and SDC (Sports Distributors of Canada) continues to grow as it enters its third year.

 

Click here to learn more about how the collaboration works and to fill out an inquiry form to start the process. Members of the collaboration take advantage of access to various products and discounts to help their bottom line.

 

There is no obligation to complete the form. Criteria used by SDC to determine participation may include a minimum sales volume of $200,000 in annual wholesale hockey products, credit rating, proximity to existing members and meeting certain store standards.

 

Don't delay and inquire today! 

 

NSGA 2016
Research 

Purchase the 2016 editions of NSGA's Sports Participation in the United States and Sporting Goods Market Report. These are great resources for anyone in the sporting goods industry.  Click here  for more information.

If you are interested in HDA's Annual Business of Ice Hockey 2016 Edition please contact Marty Maciaszek at mmaciaszek@nsga.org or (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext.1260. It is available for free to HDA and NSGA members and costs $395 for non-members.
Did you know?

The first outdoor game in NHL history took place on Feb. 2, 1954 when the Detroit Red Wings played a team of inmates at the Marquette (Mich.) Branch Prison.

Hall of Famers Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk, Red Kelly and Alex Delvecchio played in a game the Red Wings led 18-0 after one period before approximately 600 convicts at the maximum-security prison.
Subscribe to
NSGA Scoreboard 

The NSGA Scoreboard gives you all the sporting goods industry news you need in one place. The Scoreboard is sent twice a month and includes content about research, advocacy, NSGA, team dealer and sales agent issues and industry news. Subscribe today !

What's your beef?
 
Have an issue or problem related to the hockey industry? A concern about equipment or rules that you'd like to share with everyone? 
Click here to let us know about it.

Join HDA now! 

Become a member of the Hockey Dealers Association and help us build a voice for the independent hockey dealer. Visit our website
by clicking here or calling (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260 to join today.

Please Contact Us 


c/o NSGA

1601 Feehanville Drive Suite 300

Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

(847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260.

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