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GROWING THE GAME
NFHS Hockey Participation Numbers Show Very Slight Decrease
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) released the results of its annual high school athletics participation survey and ice hockey in 2017-18 showed a very slight decrease from a year earlier. In 2017-18 there were 44,669 boys and girls ice hockey participants and in 2016-17 there were 44,809.
The number of states with ice hockey played under NFHS rules is 18 for boys and 17 for girls.
Arizona Becomes Hockey Hotbed
Arizona is No. 1 for player growth among states with an NHL team, according to a report by The Associated Press. In the past five years hockey registration has increased 109 percent to more than 8,600 players. Arizona is also third for youth hockey growth and No. 1 for girls hockey growth in the last five years.
In 1996, Arizona had approximately 2,100 registered youth and adult hockey players and three ice rinks (two in Phoenix and one in Flagstaff. There are now nine ice rinks in the state.
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Proposed New York Ice Skating Complex
Could be Step Closer to Reality
A group trying to convert an old armory in the Bronx borough of New York City into the world's largest ice-skating complex says it has secured financing for the first phase of construction, according to Crain's New York Business. The plan to redevelop the five-acre Kingsbridge Armory into a skating center with nine rinks was formulated six years ago but has been stalled because of a lack of financing.
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EQUIPMENT CORNER
Legendary Stan Mikita An Equipment Innovator
Stan Mikita, who died Aug. 7 at 78, was honored as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the league. Mikita, who had 541 goals and 926 assists in his 22-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, also played a key role in two areas of equipment.
He popularized the use of a curved stick blade by accident when it bent during a practice. Mikita continued to practice with it, liked the speed and movement of the puck on his shots and started using a heating process to curve all of his blades.
Mikita also started wearing a hockey helmet more than a decade before it became mandatory and designed his own model. After he started wearing it he said, "Next summer I want to be able to mow the lawn, not push up daisies."
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ASSOCIATION NEWS
NSGA Announces Class of 2019 for Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame
Two prominent members from the team dealer community, Ronny Flowers of Athletic Supply in Odessa, Texas, and Bob Dickman of BSN Sports and from Richmond, Indiana, were selected for induction in the Class of 2019 of the NSGA Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony and dinner will be on Tuesday evening, May 21, 2019 at the 55th annual Management Conference and 21st annual Team Dealer Summit in Braselton, Georgia.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Carleen Gray Named CEO
of GroupeSTAHL North America
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GroupeSTAHL Executive Chairman Ted Stahl and new North American CEO Carleen Gray
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Carleen Gray was named the new Chief Executive Officer of Michigan-based GroupeSTAHL North America. Gray has been with the manufacturer of garment decoration materials and equipment for more than 20 years and was its executive vice president sales and marketing and chief marketing officer. She succeeds Chris Lawson, who left STAHLS' earlier this year.
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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.
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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 SDC (Sports Distributors of Canada) continues to grow.
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!
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Did you know?
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 50-year drought since winning their last Stanley Cup in 1966-67 is the longest in the NHL. The St. Louis Blues haven't won the Cup in their 50 years of existence and the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks haven't won it in their 47 years of existence.
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2018 Annual Business of Ice Hockey Report
The 2018 Annual Business of Ice Hockey Report is a great resource on participation and sales data in the United States. It is available for free to HDA members and costs $295 for non-members.
To learn more about the report contact Marty Maciaszek at mmaciaszek@nsga.org or (847) 296-6742 (NSGA), ext. 1260.
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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
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What's your beef?
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Become a member of the Hockey Dealers Association and help us build a voice for the independent hockey dealer. Visit our website
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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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