Pro Equipment Contracts

[enis750 48]

Tried to search for an answer to this w not much luck

figured there would be some guys in the know here

so ... some of the top players obvs. have certain equipment contracts like gloves, sticks, skates etc... and are poster boys for that brand and not only wear the gear but collect a chq for it too

but what about the 3rd and 4th line guys, that have a certain job & might not huge names

do the OEM's take care of these guys as well, or do they use what the team provides?

seems like some teams favour certain brands, seeing most of the guys in say CCM helmets, or Easton gloves and so on

golf for example, there are a TON of guys on tour who might not move the needle that much, but always seem to have or get some type of small equipment contract

if there is a huge thread on this, I apologize ... point me in the right direction

[DEATHTRON 19]

Well, there are various things to consider.

1. Yes, some players endorse brands and get paid for it. It is worth noting though, that the team still buys their gear, just like any other player.

2. Do the manufacturers take care of them? Well, when they ask for something, they will generally get it as long as it is not a ridiculous request (think Modano and Chelios in old CCM tacks as an example of ridiculous).

3. When you are an NHL player, your team will provide you whatever you want. You want to wear head to toe Warrior/Bauer/CCM/Easton? No problem. Exclusions apply for call ups from the minors. They might keep that minor league player in their CCM/RBK gear until they know for certain that they are going to up longer than a cup of coffee.

4. When you see teams that favor certain brands, it is generally because the pro rep happens to live close to that area, and can generally be in the locker room much more often. You would be surprised how big of a difference that can make for some players. They see their line mate getting better treatment from a different manufacturer, and they might think about switching.

5. Kickbacks - bit of gray area here: There are sometimes where players are offered some kind of incentive to use a companies product, without openly endorsing the product. Example: When mission came out with the Intake helmet, they were supposedly paying anyone who wore one, $5K for the season. I have also heard of this going other ways too. Like getting golf clubs from a parent company that happens to own the equipment company, things like that.

So, to recap: No, no one repaints their sticks to look like a competitors, I don't care what your cousin's brothers kid says. Some players receive incentive to use a certain product while not actually openly endorsing it. Teams still pay for all equipment, sponsored or not.

Now, the real pro's will come in here and rip apart my post I am sure.

Zach

[Miseaujeu 291]

So, to recap: No, no one repaints their sticks to look like a competitors, I don't care what your cousin's brothers kid says.

Thanks for this Zach! I spit up my coffee

[enis750 48]

Well, there are various things to consider.

Zach

thanks for this Zach, that's a lot of great info

looks like it does vary quite a bit from the golf industry then

which is be be expected tho, given the size of the team, exposure etc etc ...

[dsjunior1388 81]

Well, there are various things to consider.

1. Yes, some players endorse brands and get paid for it. It is worth noting though, that the team still buys their gear, just like any other player.

2. Do the manufacturers take care of them? Well, when they ask for something, they will generally get it as long as it is not a ridiculous request (think Modano and Chelios in old CCM tacks as an example of ridiculous).

3. When you are an NHL player, your team will provide you whatever you want. You want to wear head to toe Warrior/Bauer/CCM/Easton? No problem. Exclusions apply for call ups from the minors. They might keep that minor league player in their CCM/RBK gear until they know for certain that they are going to up longer than a cup of coffee.

4. When you see teams that favor certain brands, it is generally because the pro rep happens to live close to that area, and can generally be in the locker room much more often. You would be surprised how big of a difference that can make for some players. They see their line mate getting better treatment from a different manufacturer, and they might think about switching.

5. Kickbacks - bit of gray area here: There are sometimes where players are offered some kind of incentive to use a companies product, without openly endorsing the product. Example: When mission came out with the Intake helmet, they were supposedly paying anyone who wore one, $5K for the season. I have also heard of this going other ways too. Like getting golf clubs from a parent company that happens to own the equipment company, things like that.

So, to recap: No, no one repaints their sticks to look like a competitors, I don't care what your cousin's brothers kid says. Some players receive incentive to use a certain product while not actually openly endorsing it. Teams still pay for all equipment, sponsored or not.

Now, the real pro's will come in here and rip apart my post I am sure.

Zach

Seems pretty on point to me, except the use of the word "sponsor." Players aren't sponsored in team sports, they have endorsements. Sponsorship deals are distinctly different from endorsement deals.

[Chadd 916]

5. Kickbacks - bit of gray area here: There are sometimes where players are offered some kind of incentive to use a companies product, without openly endorsing the product. Example: When mission came out with the Intake helmet, they were supposedly paying anyone who wore one, $5K for the season. I have also heard of this going other ways too. Like getting golf clubs from a parent company that happens to own the equipment company, things like that.

Great post overall, lots of great stories floating around about this part. Since I can't personally verify them, I don't feel that it would be right to repeat them here in print.

[bluebricks 2]

I'll add my two cents to this discussion. I'm just a men's league hockey player now but I played AA baseball a while back. I was a pseudo prospect at best. But i was had a deal with Reebok. I got this through my agent. He had some high profile Big League guys that had big Reebok deals. I got all the Reebok shoes, gloves and under cloths that I needed. I also got $1000 a year to buy any other Reebok gear I wanted. I actually bought some Reebok hockey stuff and since Taylor Made was a sister company I got some golf clubs. Even for guys that did not have deals with any particular company, their agents would buy them any of the baseball gear they wanted. I believe this is somewhat true in hockey as well. A guy I went to high school with played in the AHL. He would come back and train in the off season and he would always have new stuff that he got from his agent.