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INDUSTRY NEWS
Pure Hockey Rebrands
Total Hockey, Hockey Giant
 Pure Hockey, which also owns the Total Hockey and HockeyGiant brands, announced Sept. 7 it will begin rebranding of all of its retail stores as Pure Hockey. Pure Hockey acquired Hockey Giant in September 2015 and Total Hockey in August 2016, for a total of 53 retail locations in the United States and four ecommerce sites specializing in hockey, goalie and lacrosse equipment.
Pure Hockey also announced a four-day "Grand Re-Opening" event that took place Sept. 14-17 to celebrate the start of the rebranding process and the launch of a new "Pure Rewards" customer loyalty program.
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EQUIPMENT CORNER
Bauer Launches Innovative
Head Protection Product
 Bauer has launched the first athletic product clinically shown to help protect the brain from the inside during sports-related impacts. The Bauer NeuroShield collar is worn around the neck and applies light pressure which mildly increases blood volume in the venous structures around the brain. The NeuroShield collar does not prevent concussions.
Ovechkin Weighs
Equipment Options
 Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin's six-year deal with Bauer has expired so he was seen at practice using CCM gear. Ovechkin used CCM earlier in his career and also alternated between CCM and Bauer gloves at a recent practice. He has not made a decision on which brand he will use, according to his agent.
Logo Causes Controversy in Calgary
A 7-year-old girl in Calgary has refused to wear the jersey of a local hockey association that features a First Nations "warrior" wearing feathers. The family said the insignia is offensive.
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MEMBER NEWS
Risk Has Its Rewards for
Source For Sports Skaters North
 Paul McLean's interest in opening a hockey store paid off in a partnership and now his ownership of Source for Sports Skaters North in North Bay, Ontario, about four hours north of Toronto. The emphasis on service has turned Skaters North into a destination spot for many in the area.
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GROWING THE GAME
Organizations Collaborate on
Initiative to Grow Hockey
 The NHL, USA Hockey and the International Ice Hockey Federation were among 17 organizations that teamed up to develop a "Declaration of Principles" which they hope will boost participation in the sport. The effort even earned praise from Pope Francis.
The declaration said hockey's greatest value is in the development of character and life skills and there are significant benefits for kids who play multiple sports. It also said programs should provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for all players and families and there are ways to play for fun at a reasonable cost.
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IN MEMORIAM
John Egart, Helped Popularize
In-Line Skating, Dies at 67
 John Egart, who was instrumental in the popularity of in-line skating in the 1980s and 1990s, died Aug. 22 at 67 after
a 6½-year battle with bone marrow cancer. Egart incorporated First Team Sports in May 1986 and made the Ultra Wheels line of skates.
The company had endorsement deals with Wayne Gretzky and figure skater Katarina Witt at a time where the sport peaked with 27 million participants in 1996, according to the National Sporting Goods Association.
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SAFETY CORNER
Study: Orange "Look-Up Line"
Could Lead to More Injuries
 A one-meter orange line painted around hockey rinks was designed to warn players to keep their heads up as they get close to the boards. But a study led by the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary said the "look-up line" could increase the risk of serious injury with players looking down as they get close to the line.
Lead researcher Joan Vickers, a University of Calgary professor, said more research needs to be done to determine the effects of the safety line in a competitive setting.
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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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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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