Why have many of the older hockey equipment brands disappeared?

Question

As a goalie I grew up with Brian's, Heaton, Vaughn, Louisville, Cooper, Winne-light, Mattingly, Northland pro, Christian, Sherwood...and many more. Where did they go? Where they bought out by other brands?

Answer 1

Brian's, Vaughn, Sherwood still exist and have NHL licences.

Heaton was acquired by CCM, and then by RBK.

Louisville is part of TPS.

Answer 2

alot have been bought up or bought out by other big brands, CCM, Nike, Reebok.  These companies were able to spend more on developping technology and eventually took over the market.

Answer 3

Brian's http://www.briansmfg.com/BriansMFG.html

Vaughn http://www.vaughnhockey.com/

Louisville http://www.hockeygiant.com/hockey-compan...

Cooper was bought out by bauer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Cana...

Sherwood http://www.sher-wood.com/protection.html

Christian http://www.hockey1.com/products-result.a...

Most of the old hockey suppliers were bought out by bigger companies.

Answer 4

I used to own a catcher's mitt made by Cooper. Best one I ever had! Almost looked like a goalie glove too, and just as strong. Never saw another one like it.

Habs Fan-  Yeah, way back in 1979, before most of these kiddies were born,lol. My first hockey stick was a Sherwood back in 1970. Now I feel old too, LOL. Wait, I am!!

Answer 5

I still have two of my old Titan sticks and one Sherwood....though the only use they get anymore is for wrist shooting rocks at the cats that come thru the yard.....should last me forever at this rate!

Answer 6

Yeah, most have been bought by bigger brands or gone out of business. Even CCM is owned by Adidas now, same people who run Reebok.

Answer 7

economies of scale  

Answer 8

AWESOME QUESTION ..

makes me feel really old looking at my gear !!

Goalie:

helmet - Itech

chest pad - Vaughn

trapper - Brian's

blocker - ditto

cup - Vaughn

breezers - Bauer

leg pads - Franklin

skates - CCM

stick - Koho

Player:

helmet - CCM HT-2

shoulder pads - D&R or Cooper

elbow pads - Jofa or CCM

gloves - Winwell

cup - Itech

breezers - Cooperall

shinguards - Easton

skates - CCM Super Tacks

stick - Easton z-core shaft (similar to Ultra Lite) w/ wood blade

ps: If I need proof of feeling old: I have a couple Northland sticks at my Mom's.

Laying Low : welcome to the club! My first-ever goalie stick was a Cooper

Oh and LL : my first player stick was a Victoriaville (still have a couple Northland's at Mom's lmao)