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RESEARCH NEWS
2020 Business of Ice Hockey Report Now Available to HDA-NSGA Members
 Did hockey participation change in 2019? What percentage of hockey participants were female? What other sports were hockey participants more likely to play also?
The 2020 Edition of the HDA Annual Business of Ice Hockey Report and has all the information you need for your business. HDA members will be receiving the report as a membership benefit. The cost of the report for non-members is $295, so if you join HDA today for $150, you will receive this excellent informational resource along with other benefits!
For more information, please contact HDA Managing Director Marty Maciaszek at
mmaciaszek@nsga.org or (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260 or Tom Van Jacobs at
tvanjacobs@nsga.org or (847) 296-6742, ext. 1290.
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STATE OF THE GAME
USA Hockey Chief Medical & Safety
Officer Says It's Safe to Play Now
 Dr. Michael Stuart, USA Hockey's Chief Medical and Safety Officer, did a Q&A on whether it is safe to return to the rink to play hockey. He discusses what players, coaches, officials and parents should be doing on and off the ice to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and provide safe return to hockey.
Confusion Mounts Over Youth Sports Reopening Rules in Massachusetts
Guidelines for phase 3 for youth sports in Massachusetts has caused some confusion among different sports organizations. Summer league games for ice hockey were canceled due to the guidelines being unclear and unexpected, this caught some players and parents off guard. Sports that are considered "higher risk" by state health officials, like ice hockey, are limited to no-contact workouts, individual skill work, drills and aerobic conditioning. Other sports that are considered "moderate risk" and "lower risk" are allowed to play games and host outdoor tournaments respectively.
Joe Baudo Has Led a Surge of Youth Hockey Participation in New York
 Joe Baudo has been the president of the New York State Amateur Hockey Association since 2000. He has grown the participation of hockey in New York by nearly 20% since he has become president. Baudo has led many efforts to provide as many opportunities for young players as possible. "
One of our biggest goals is trying to keep the younger numbers up," Baudo said. "If we do that, that will carry through to the older ages."
U of C Engineer Invents Duffel Bag That Freshens Sports Gear and Clothes
 A Calgary-born engineer is on a mission to take the stink out of sports gear, even the dreaded hockey bag. The bag removes smells and bacteria through a self-ionizing process. Aram Razouki developed the technology while at the University of Calgary. Learn how it works and the idea behind it.
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Bauer Announces Line of Facial
Protection For Hockey Community
Bauer Hockey
announced a new line of products to help enable the safe return of hockey. Bauer launched the Reversible Fabric Mask and Integrated Cap Shield to provide protection off the ice for coaches, fans and others. They have also have launched a Concept 3 Splash Guard to work exclusively with the Concept 3 player face mask to protect the player.
California Community Colleges Move
Fall Sports to Spring For 2020-21
 The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Board of Directors overwhelmingly approved implementation of its Contingency Plan which will shift all sports in the fall season to the spring season, including football. All of the sports for the 2020-21 season will have a reduction in the maximum number of contests or competition dates that they are currently permitted by 30%.
NHL's Bottom Line Facing Short-term Blow
NHL has many issues ahead of them similar to other professional leagues in North America. Larry Quinn, former Buffalo Sabres managing partner, could see the NHL's bottom line be sheared in half in the short-term. The anticipated drop in revenue has already caused a large ripple through the league. Teams have had to lay off employees and executives are taking pay cuts. The Canadian dollar plays a major role in league finances which could have an impact on the salary caps if the Canadian dollar declines.
IIHF Chief Encouraged by NHL's
Potential Return to Olympics in 2022
Rene Fasel, chief of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), does not foresee any major stumbling blocks leading up to the 2022 Beijing Games aside from the uncertainly raised by the pandemic to get NHL players back into the Olympics. There are a few challenges that the NHL and its players would have to resolve with the IIHF and the International Olympic Committee like health insurance, travel costs and marketing rights. Don Fehr, NHLPA executive director, described the decision to skip the 2018 Games as a lost opportunity to showcase the sport.
NHL Focused on Off-Ice Safety
NHL players will not be expected to wear full face shields when games resume, but there could be plenty of covered faces around them. Coaches could wear medical grade off-ice visors which will provide a measure of protection against spreading or contracting COVID-19.
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COVID-19 INFORMATION
NSGA Reopening Resources Library
The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has produced a library of resources to help prepare for the reopening of the economy and return of hockey and other sports. The library includes new videos from suppliers such as Augusta Sportswear Brands and OC Sports, new information on high school sports restart guidelines, a presentation on preparations for reopening your store and access to information on topics such as the Paycheck Protection Program and Business Interruption Insurance.
Additional Resources for HDA Members
Do you need information on the Paycheck Protection Program through the CARES Act? Looking for resources available in your state? Need some business tips related to COVID-19? Go to the COVID-19 Information and Resources Page to help you navigate this challenging time.
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JOIN HDA NOW!
Why join HDA? Members join to be more profitable with industry intel provided by the Annual Business of Ice Hockey research report, to network, and stay current with peers in the Hockey Dealers Network. And those are just a few of HDA's membership benefits.
Click here to join and become part of the voice for hockey dealers!
Sincerely,
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Tom Van Jacobs
tvanjacobs@nsga.org |
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NSGA Verified Dealer Program
NSGA's Verified Independent Dealer Program recognizes the most qualified independent dealers and retailers in the sporting goods industry.
At no additional cost, learn about the benefits of becoming a verified dealer by
clicking here!
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Retail Reports Available to Members
 "Retail Audit Insights" and "Guide To A Better Retailing Experience" are two comprehensive reports produced by the National Sporting Goods Association. The reports are available for free to all HDA and NSGA members.
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Apply Now for HDA/SDC
Hockey Collaboration
The collaboration for the purchase of hockey equipment by U.S. hockey dealers between HDA, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) and Sports Distributors of Canada (SDC) continues to grow.
Click here to learn more about the collaboration and to fill out an inquiry form to start the process. Members of the collaboration have access to a variety of products and discounts to help boost the 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.
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Did you know?
The NHL player with the most penalty minutes is Tiger Williams with 4,421 minutes, including playoffs.
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| Please Contact Us |
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c/o NSGA
3041 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 210, Downers Grove, IL 60515
(847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260.
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