Bauer Hockey Partners with BCHL as Official Provider of Uniforms, Apparel & Equipment

Elite Junior League Cites Trusted Brand, Player Demands as Contributing Factors

EXETER, NH, March 14, 2013 /CNW/ - Bauer Hockey, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of ice hockey equipment, announced today that it has become the new official uniform, equipment and apparel provider for the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), one of the top junior organizations in North America.  This exclusive three-year partnership starting with the 2013-14 season will include uniforms, equipment and apparel for the BCHL's approximately 360 players.

"As one of the premier Junior 'A' leagues in Canada, we're proud to be partnering with Bauer Hockey because they consistently deliver the best quality and performance in hockey equipment and have recently expanded into uniforms," said John Grisdale, who played eight seasons in the NHL and is now Commissioner of the BCHL.  "Bauer is a known and trusted brand that is demanded by our elite players, and I'm looking forward to this partnership."

With a storied tradition dating back to 1961, the BCHL currently has 16 teams in the province of British Columbia.  This agreement includes 22 players per team, plus an estimated 10 front office staff and volunteers per team and about 40 on-ice officials across the league.

Between 2000 and 2010, 69 players were drafted directly from the BCHL by teams in the NHL, and it is the No. 1 feeder league into college hockey in the United States.  Each year the league sends between 100 and 130 graduates on to NCAA and CIS scholarships.

"We're excited about this new opportunity that offers growth for our company as well as the chance to showcase our innovative products in this elite junior league," said Kevin Davis, President and CEO of Bauer Performance Sports.  "This exclusive agreement is a significant step forward for our new but growing team apparel program.  We are a one-stop shop for associations, teams and leagues with our ability to now provide uniforms as well as high performance equipment."

This agreement includes team uniforms, helmets, visors, sticks, gloves, pants, apparel and bags.  Bauer Hockey's new team program provides convenience and consistent branding to its partners and to both youth programs and the most elite level teams around the world.

ABOUT BAUER HOCKEY
Bauer Hockey is the world's most recognized designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment. Founded in Kitchener, Ontario in 1927, Bauer Hockey developed the first skate with a blade attached to a boot, forever changing the game of hockey. Since then, Bauer Hockey has continued to develop the most sought after products in the industry, including the widely successful SUPREME, VAPOR and NEXUS lines of products. Bauer Performance Sports, a publically traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, is the parent company of Bauer Hockey, and its affiliated entities own Mission Roller Hockey, Maverik Lacrosse, Cascade Sports and Inaria.  For more information, visit Bauer Hockey's website at www.BAUER.com.

ABOUT THE BCHL
The BCHL is in its 51^st season of operation and has 16 franchises around the province of B.C. The league is noted for its strong coaching and player development and is heavily scouted every season by evaluators at the college and professional level. This season, there are 28 league graduates playing in the NHL, about 250 others playing collegiate hockey in Canada and the United States along with countless others playing professionally in North America and Europe.

SOURCE: BAUER HOCKEY, INC.

MEDIA INQUIRIES
Brent Mutis, BCHL communications
[email protected]
604-422-8783

Tory Mazzola
Global Communications Manager
Bauer Hockey
Phone: [phone] x 5908
[email protected]