Bauer Hockey Explained

Bauer Hockey
Founder:Roy Charles Bauer
Industry:Sports equipment
Products:
Former Names:Nike Bauer (2005–2008)
Parent:Nike, Inc.
(1994–2008)
Peak Achievement Athletics
(2017–present)
Foundation:Kitchener, Ontario, 1927
Location City:Exeter, New Hampshire[1]
Location Country:United States

Bauer Hockey LLC (renamed Nike Bauer from 2005 to 2008) is a manufacturer of ice hockey equipment, fitness and recreational skates and apparel.[2] Bauer produces helmets, gloves, sticks, skates, shin guards, pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey jocks and compression underwear, as well as goalie equipment. Some of its equipment, such as its ice hockey skates, are also approved for use in the sport of ringette.

Bauer developed and manufactured primarily ice hockey skates until 1990, when it acquired the hockey assets of Cooper Canada Ltd. In 2014, Bauer expanded into baseball and softball by purchasing Easton Diamond from Riddell (BRG Sports). Bauer operates as a unit of Peak Achievement Athletics Inc. in New Hampshire.

History

In 1927, the Bauer family, owners of Western Shoe Company, established the Bauer Skate company as it is known today in Kitchener, Ontario.

Bauer was the first hockey company to begin producing hockey skates in which the blade was permanently secured to the boot.[3] The boot and blade were made by Bauer. In years following, Bauer Skate's top line was originally marketed under the trade name "Bauer Supreme". The company was further popularized by the prominence of Bobby Bauer, a family member through marriage, as a Bauer married a Bauer, and Hockey Hall of Fame member who starred for the Boston Bruins in the 30s and 40s.

In the 1960s & 70's, the company paid superstar Bobby Hull to endorse their skates. As well superstars Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent of the Flyers, Guy Lafleur of the Canadiens and Walter Tkaczuk and Brad Park of the Rangers were signed to endorsement contracts by Pro Department Manager Bill Vanderburg. These moves, and the introduction soon after of the TUUK chassis, ushered in a new era for the company.

Then in the early 1970s, Jim Roberts, also of the Canadiens, began wearing the TUUK blade. High-profile teammates Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt and Jacques Lemaire soon followed. By 1995, the various Canstar skate brands (Micron, Bauer, etc.) had a 70% NHL market share while their TUUK and ICM holders combined for a 95% share. (Note: Bauer no longer offers the ICM holder on player skates, although it is still offered with goalie skates, in addition to the TUUK cowling.)

In 1994, Bauer began producing the perforated TUUK chassis, which is the piece of equipment that connects the steel blade to the actual boot of the skate. This allowed skates to be made lighter, as well as more durable.[4]

In 1994, Canstar, the parent company of Bauer, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike.[5] In 2006, beginning with the release of the Nike Bauer Supreme One90, the company's products were rebranded as Nike Bauer. This was the first time Nike had ever used a partner brand name on a product. Nike sold the company to investors Roustan, Inc. and Kohlberg & Co. for $200 million on February 21, 2008, and the company was once again known as Bauer.[6]

On September 25, 2008, Bauer announced the purchase of rival Mission-Itech.[7] Mission and Itech gear was rebranded as Bauer beginning in 2009.

Timeline:

Acquisitions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old PSG Wind-down LTD. (Formerly, Performance Sports Group LTD.) Profile.
  2. Web site: Bauer Hockey Appoints Kevin Davis as President & CEO . 2009-05-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080621095147/http://www.bizofhockey.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=111&Itemid=1 . 2008-06-21 .
  3. Book: Lace Up: A History of Skates in Canada. Jean-Marie. Leduc. Sean. Graham. Heritage House Publishing Co. 2017. 978-1-77203-228-4 . 23 May 2024.
  4. https://www.olisskateshop.co.uk/history-bauer History of Bauer
  5. Web site: Nike sells Bauer Skates to private equity investor W. Graeme Roustan for $200 million . 2009-05-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090504035726/http://www.bloggingbuyouts.com/2008/02/22/nike-sells-bauer-skates-to-private-equity-investor-w-graeme-rou . 2009-05-04 .
  6. Web site: Nike sells Bauer Hockey for $200 million. TSN . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080225100443/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230199&hubname=nhl . 2008-02-25.
  7. News: Bauer, Mission-Itech create hockey behemoth . Toronto . The Star . Dana . Flavelle . September 25, 2008.
  8. Web site: Generations Church Home . www.generations.ca . 2016-10-26.
  9. Web site: Bauer Performance Sports Ltd . 2016-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160521012835/http://www.performancesportsgroup.com/site/investors/releases/09_06_11.php . 2016-05-21 . dead .
  10. Web site: Performance Sports Group Acquires Easton Hockey.
  11. News: McFarland . Janet . Pelligrini . Christina . Nelson . Jacqueline . Bauer owner files for bankruptcy protection, gets lifeline from Fairfax, Sagard . 13 October 2017 . The Globe and Mail . 31 October 2016.
  12. Performance Sports Group Completes Sale of Substantially All of Its Assets to Investor Group Led by Sagard and Fairfax Financial.
  13. Web site: Rawlings Purchasing Easton Diamond Sports - Team Insight.