It isn’t a secret, hockey is an expensive sport. When all is said and done, a player can be skating around in more than $2,000 worth of equipment, easily. Skates get lighter, helmets are getting safer and sticks are made with technology that fifty years ago would have been unthinkable even at N.A.S.A. Some will note that the best pair of skates doesn't make you a good player, that is true. But still, even if you’re looking at a conservative price range of all the equipment that isn’t top of the line or maybe even used, a family that is considering having their child play might be convinced to stay away from the sport altogether. And truly they aren’t crazy for doing so.
It adds up quickly.
Blade Hockey is looking to tackle (or slash) the issue of cost. The Minnesota start-up has launched their brand with a mission to “reduce the cost of playing hockey for families in Minnesota”. Their goal is to provide low cost, but comparable quality equipment and apparel.
It also isn't a secret that hockey has a very tight knit community. Minnesota hockey players have a sense of pride in their hockey roots and the associations that they cut their teeth in. The other, equally important half of Blade Hockey’s two pronged mission is to give a percentage of their sales back to youth hockey programs across Minnesota. 10% of their stick sales go back to those programs and you get to choose which association you would like the donations to go to.
The founder of Blade Hockey has a story that is not too unfamiliar for many in the State of Hockey. He played youth hockey, high school, juniors and finished his playing career at a D-3 M.I.A.C. school. He knows what quality gear feels like, because he’s seen and experienced the progression throughout his career.
I tried the Blade RZ stick out for myself the other day. It is a one-piece that has a very similar feel to a Bauer. The reason the price can be lower than the bigger names is because he is cutting out the middle man and selling directly to you. The pre-order price for a senior model is $149.00, with multiple different flex and curve pattern options and $99.00 for a junior model. And again, 10% of the stick sales go back to a youth association of your choice!
Check them out at http://bladehockeyus.com/ .
Play hard, play fair and have fun
-Taylor