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INDUSTRY NEWS
Let's Play Hockey Expo
Celebrates 25th Anniversary March 7-8
The 25th annual Let's Play Hockey Expo is right around the corner on March 7-8 in St. Paul, Minn., at the St. Paul RiverCentre. This consumer show typically attracts more than 40,000 visitors and is held in conjunction with the Minnesota Boys' State High School Hockey Tournament, which is one of the largest high school sports tourneys in the country.
Also incorporated into the Let's Play Hockey Expo is the Let's Play Hockey and Lacrosse International Expo, an industry trade show which was moved after 15 years in Las Vegas. Click here for more details at the Let's Play Hockey website.
Reebok-CCM elbow pads recalled
 Reebok-CCM has recalled 3,700 elbow pads sold in the United States and Canada because they can crack prematurely. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in conjunction with Canadian regulators, said the EP20K Senior Hockey Elbow Pads can crack, fracture or split and increase the risk of injury.
Reebok-CCM reported one player in Canada suffered a broken elbow, according to the CPSC. The elbow pads were sold across the U.S. from April through November of 2013 for about $110. The foam-constructed pads are white with gray and black colored fabric and the name "Reebok" in the upper and lower arm sections.
Consumers were advised to stop using the elbow pads and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or replacement. Consumers can call (800) 451-4600 for more information.
STX Springs Forward Toward
Hockey Product Launch
 STX announced three significant steps in mid-January as it prepares to begin hockey equipment sales this spring. The Baltimore-based manufacturer signed NHL standout Matt Moulson to an endorsement deal, secured an on-ice NHL equipment license and reached a multi-year agreement with USA Hockey.
Moulson is now with the Buffalo Sabres after three 30-goal seasons for the New York Islanders. He signed a multi-year deal to use STX sticks in games and will wear STX gloves when the product is finalized. He will also provide feedback to help STX design and develop equipment.
STX will be an official sponsor and equipment supplier for USA Hockey through a four-year partnership. That makes STX the official sponsor of Toyota-USA Hockey Youth, Girls and High School National Championships. STX will also equip the National Team Development Program and the U.S. Olympic Teams.
Bauer, Hockey Canada announce next phase of "Grow the Game"
 Bauer and Hockey Canada have announced the next phase of their Grow the Game partnership to attract new families to hockey. They will expand the Big Assist pilot programs into four markets in Canada and add a program director at Bauer focused on the growth of the game.
The first round of pilot programs were held in Scarborough, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Every on-ice Big Assist session was filled and approximately 84 percent of the participants signed up with their local associations.
The Grow the Game initiative was launched in 2012 with a goal of adding 1 million new players to hockey by 2022.
Easton-Bell hit by data breach
 Easton-Bell, one of the top hockey and sports equipment manufacturers, announced in late January that it was one of the latest victims of a cyber attack. Nearly 6,000 customers who shopped on its website in December had information stolen by hackers.
Easton-Bell said hackers accessed its vendor servers with malicious software. The manufacturer said it shut down the affected servers after the breach and hired investigative consultants to determine how it happened. Target and Neiman Marcus are among the other high-profile companies that have been hit with recent cyber attacks.
The National Sporting Goods Association is trying to help members prevent damaging cyber attacks by holding a session, "Data Breach Break Down," on Monday, April 28 at its 50th Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit in Indian Wells, Calif. Two experts in the area will lead a discussion about the risks and the importance of having insurance should you get hit with a cyber attack.
Click here for more information about the Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit.
Is Adidas looking to lower Reebok's NHL profile?
Adidas is looking at lowering the team-sports profile of its Reebok component, and the move may first be seen in the NHL, according to a New York Post report. In locker rooms at the NHL Stadium Series games at Yankee Stadium, the cold-weather gear for players on the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils was the Adidas brand and not Reebok.
Because the NHL has not approved a supplier change, it told players to cover up the Adidas logo when the media is in their locker rooms, according to Post sources. Reebok's exclusive contract with the NHL expires after the 2016-17 season, but the Post also cited a source saying a change could occur earlier.
An Adidas spokesperson said in a statement to the Post "there are no plans to change on-ice branding with the NHL at this time."
Click here to read the New York Post story.
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Stall & Dean's storied history as a uniform and sporting goods equipment manufacturer dates to the 1890s. It was the first company to make uniforms for professional hockey teams and invented the first hockey helmet after the legendary Eddie Shore suffered a head injury.
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We'll be updating the New Product 
