December 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

CCM Refutes Report of Sale by adidas

A report that adidas is planning to put CCM up for sale in 2016 was refuted by CCM in a letter sent to its retail partners. CCM said a New York Post story's unnamed source is not credible and it is not the message it has been receiving from adidas leadership.

CCM said there is always the possibility of a divestiture occurring, but added it has not received any signals of that being the case and isn't letting the report be a distraction from its current success.

CCM reported it has tripled the brand's sales in the last three years and said its future looks bright with breakthrough products in all of its categories. It also said it has 2016 plans to upgrade IT systems to offer best-in-class service to retail partners, enhance research capabilities to firmly establish CCM as the innovation leader and increase its strong connections in hockey at the professional level, while also producing strong initiatives for youth and junior players.

The New York Post said adidas was unsuccessful in an attempt to sell CCM for $150 million in 2013.

Report: Former Chairman
May Be Preparing to Buy PSG

Graeme Roustan appears to be gearing up to buy Performance Sports Group, which makes Bauer hockey equipment. According to the New York Post, Roustan, the former chairman of PSG, has bought shares on the open market and doubled his stake in the company to about two percent.

Roustan started and then backed off from a fight to gain a PSG board seat a few months ago.

"I have always believed in the long-term value proposition of PSG, which is why I have continued to increase my stake in the company," Roustan told The Post. "I will continue to buy shares of PSG to continually increase my ownership stake for the foreseeable future."

Roustan said he will keep all of his options open when he was asked if he was preparing to make an offer to buy PSG.

GIVING BACK

SDC Member Helps Ontario
Family and Hockey Program

Soo Source For Sports in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, helped youth hockey players and a family recently struck by tragedy at a fundraising tournament. The 3rd Annual Silver Creek Cup in early December, along with a popular winter golf tournament, has raised more than $30,000 the last three years.

Last summer five local children received new hockey equipment from Soo Source For Sports. This year, the Silver Creek Cup will donate $4,500 to the family of a local player who was paralyzed in an October auto accident. The remaining proceeds will be used next summer for youth players in the area without the financial means to purchase new equipment to be outfitted at Soo Source For Sports.

Click here to read the full story.

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CRITICS CORNER

Outspoken Don Cherry Pulls No Punches
On Some Key Hockey Issues

Don Cherry's attention-grabbing wardrobe and opinions on hockey have made him one of the most recognizable figures in sports broadcasting. The ex-NHL coach and former professional player hosts the "Coach's Corner" on Hockey Night in Canada.

Cherry recently shared some of his thoughts on the state of the game, including the size of goalie equipment, concussions and fighting, in a recent interview with The Globe and Mail from Toronto. As expected, Cherry doesn't hold back one bit.

Click here for more on the Don Cherry Interview.

The Great One Checks In
On NHL Goal-Scoring

Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record for points scored in consecutive games with 51 for the 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers. With the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane at 23 (as of Dec. 10), the Chicago Tribune caught up with Gretzky and asked on how the NHL can increase scoring.

"One of the best scenarios that I heard from a friend of mine is to sort of shave the post on the net side so that they're angled more toward the middle of the net," Gretzky told the Tribune. "So if pucks come in and hit the post, more pucks will go in than off the post. I think that's something we should really look at."

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SHOWTIME

27th Annual Let's Play Hockey Expo
Set for March 4-5, 2016

The 27th Annual Let's Play Hockey Expo is set for March 4-5, 2016 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn. The world's largest consumer hockey trade show has attracted more than 40,000 hockey fans to the free event.

The Let's Play Hockey Expo is held in conjunction with the Minnesota boys state high school hockey tournament at the Xcel Energy Center, which is attached to the RiverCentre and gives fans easy access to the show. Major manufacturers and entrepreneurs get the opportunity to display their unique hockey products to attendees.

Mike Vaughn will also receive the 2016 Bob Perani Lifetime Achievement Award in a presentation on March 4. Vaughn started his goalie equipment company in his garage in 1981 and now 82 percent of all NHL goalies wear a major piece of Vaughn gear that is sold world-wide.

Click here for more about the Let's Play Hockey Expo.

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EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS

Niemi Latest NHL Player to Have Name Spelled Wrong on Jersey

There was something noticeably wrong with Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi when he came out to warm up for a mid-November game in Buffalo. His last name was spelled incorrectly as Nieme on the back of his jersey.

The Stars training staff did have an extra jersey with the correct spelling before he headed out to start the game. But as Jared Clinton of The Hockey News pointed out, Niemi joined a group of players to suffer a uniform typographical error that includes legendary Wayne Gretzky, Rob Niedermayer and Nicklas Grossmann.

Click here to read more.

HOCKEY BUSINESS

2015 Business of Ice Hockey Report

Now Available

HDA members received an electronic copy of "The Annual Business of Ice Hockey Report: 2015 Edition," which includes data on consumer purchases of equipment, trends in participation and a look at the cost of doing business. It's a great resource to help you with your business and is one of the great benefits of your HDA membership.

If you are interested in becoming an HDA member and receiving this report, or if you are a member and would like a printed copy, please contact HDA managing director Marty Maciaszek at (800) 815-5422, ext. 1260 or by email at mmaciaszek@nsga.org.

The report costs $395 for non-members.

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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. You can do it easily by clicking here to fill out an application and learn more about the benefits of being a part of the voice for hockey dealers.

Sincerely,

Marty Maciaszek
mmaciaszek@nsga.org

In This Issue

INDUSTRY NEWS: CCM Refutes Report of Sale by adidas

GIVING BACK: SDC Member Helps Ontario Family and Hockey Program

CRITICS CORNER: Outspoken Don Cherry, Wayne Gretzky Share Thoughts on the Game

SHOWTIME: 27th Annual Let's Play Hockey Expo Set for March 4-5, 2016

EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS: Niemi Latest NHL Player to Have Name Spelled Wrong on Jersey

HOCKEY BUSINESS: 2015 Business of Ice Hockey Report Now Available

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!

NSGA 2015 Research Available!

The NSGA 2015 Editions of its Sports Participation and Sporting Goods Market reports are must-have documents for any organization looking for key insights into the Sporting Goods Industry.

For more than 30 years, NSGA has been the Industry's leader in providing reliable research and information to sporting goods executives.

Read the topline results.

How many sporting goods shoppers visit a physical store prior to purchasing a product? What about the technology-savvy Millennial generation?

Find out the answers to these questions and get an overview of the topics covered in NSGA's first-ever sporting goods shopper insight study by clicking here.

Did you know?

All of the NHL scoring champions from 1939 to 1969 used the Tackaberry hockey boot with the CCM Prolite blade. In 1905, Manitoba shoemaker George Tackaberry developed a custom leather boot with a reinforced toe and heel after he was approached by his neighbor, future Hall of Famer Joe Hall, for a solution to problems with his skates.

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?

Click here to let us know about it.

We want

your news!

We want to stay on top of the latest industry news and information, so if you have something to share please send an email to Marty Maciaszek.

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 (800) 815-5422, ext. 1260 to join today.

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