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MEMBER NEWS
Strauss Skates and Bicycles Makes Impact with Adaptive Bikes
 Strauss Skates and Bicycles has been a fixture in ice hockey and ice skates for 130 years in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Strauss, a member of the National Sporting Goods Association since 1985, has also become a big part of the community for kids with special needs in the last decade with its production and sale of adaptive bicycles.
Thanks to the work of adaptive manager Jack "The Bike Guy" Carlson, Strauss is creating solutions for kids with a variety of needs so they can experience the excitement of riding a bike at an affordable cost. Strauss now sells an average of 150 adapted bicycles a year.
Click here to view a video about the work by Strauss with adaptive bikes.
Click here to read the full story in the July-August issue of NSGA
NOW magazine.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
TRUE Hockey Opens
Skate Factory in Winnipeg
 TRUE Hockey will host a grand opening of its new custom skate facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sept. 19. The 17,000-square foot facility will house the TRUE Hockey product showroom and offices and the factory for the new True Pro Custom skate line.
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EQUIPMENT CORNER
Sanctions Prevent North Korea from Keeping High-Tech Sticks Used at International Tournament
 North Korea's ice hockey team was provided with high-tech carbon fiber sticks when it arrived for an April tournament in New Zealand with battered wooden sticks. However, the North Korean team could not keep the new sticks because exports of luxury goods would have violated United Nations sanctions over its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The North Korean Sports Ministry official at the tournament protested the decision to no avail and blamed it on "hostile US forces." He also believes North Korea will "dominate the US in the sports sector in a few years."
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PARTICIPATION NEWS
Hockey Hall of Fame Honors Canadian Who Brought Sport to Costa Rica
Bruce Callow missed hockey after moving from Canada to Costa Rica in the 1990s. Twenty years ago Callow got the sport started in the Central American country and for his efforts a jersey worn by his Costa Rican-born son Anthony is now displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Washington Capitals Refurbish
Four Area Street Hockey Rinks
The Washington Capitals are trying to grow the game as they completed the refurbishment of four street hockey rinks in the area. The Capitals used money from the NHL's Industry Growth Fund to make the rinks usable year-round, adding, replacing and repairing flooring, boards, benches, scoreboards and fencing with the help of a manufacturer from Ontario, Canada.
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RESEARCH NEWS
2017 Annual Business of Ice Hockey Report Now Available
The Annual Business of Ice Hockey is a great resource of information on participation and sales data in the United States. The 2017 Edition of the report is now available!
Overall, participation in the U.S. increased slightly from 2015 to 2016, but overall sales for the categories of hockey equipment and ice skates decreased for the second straight year.
Members of the Hockey Dealers Association, and National Sporting Goods Association members with an interest in hockey, receive a free electronic copy of the report. Printed copies of the report are available to members upon request.
The cost of the report is $395 for non-members. Purchasing a one-year membership in HDA ($125 for retailers and team dealers; $545 for manufacturers and wholesalers) is a great way to not only receive the Annual Business of Ice Hockey report, but also to keep up with news and information on the industry and to utilize various cost-saving services.
For more information on HDA membership, or to learn more about the Annual Business of Ice Hockey report, contact HDA director Marty Maciaszek at
[email protected] or at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260.
Click here
for more information about joining HDA.
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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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NSGA Research Now Available
NSGA's 2017 editions of its Sports Participation and Sporting Goods Market reports are now available. These are must-have resources for anyone in the sporting goods industry. Click here for more information.
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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 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!
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Did you know?
On Dec. 31, 1988, Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux became the only player in NHL history to score five goals five ways. Lemieux scored at even strength, on a power play, shorthanded, on a penalty shot and into an empty net as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat New Jersey 8-6.
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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?
Have an issue or problem related to the hockey industry? A concern about equipment or rules that you'd like to share with everyone?
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| 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.
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| Please Contact Us |
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c/o NSGA
1601 Feehanville Drive Suite 300
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
(847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260.
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