Warrior Skates?

[savethechief2011 0]

so I herd a rumor about Warrior comming out with ice hockey skates made by graf with a warrior name. I talked with our stores warrior rep and he said he doesnt think this "holds water". it go me thinking what would they look like? warrior is bright colors and such so will they look like the mission roller hockey boot black and neon colors? and anyone think warrior will try to enter the skate market?

[RussianDangler15 0]

so I herd a rumor about Warrior comming out with ice hockey skates made by graf with a warrior name. I talked with our stores warrior rep and he said he doesnt think this "holds water". it go me thinking what would they look like? warrior is bright colors and such so will they look like the mission roller hockey boot black and neon colors? and anyone think warrior will try to enter the skate market?

I think it'll happen eventually but not soon for example look how long it took easton to get in the helmet game. With warrior i think yea it would look kind of like a roller boot. I wonder what they would name it though.

[savethechief2011 0]

something crazy like all thier stuff lol. somthing like "the proTG" aka Protégée

[Chadd 916]

That rumor has been going around for a while and before that Graf was going to make skates for TPS. It would be something of a departure from the way Warrior has operated though, they tend to buy a company that has design/production capabilities.

[DarkStar50 679]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to go into a category where one brand dominates 70% of the market. You are fighting the other 3,4 brands for a small piece of the pie.

[savethechief2011 0]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to go into a category where one brand dominates 70% of the market. You are fighting the other 3,4 brands for a small piece of the pie.

very true but i feel the helmet is a very likely to come out soon correct me if im wrong do they have a lacrosse helmet?

[Chadd 916]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to go into a category where one brand dominates 70% of the market. You are fighting the other 3,4 brands for a small piece of the pie.

It makes sense if you have something to bring to the table in terms of technology and design. You can be profitable without being the 800lb gorilla, you just have to be realistic and have a good plan. I'm not saying any of those apply here, just that it is possible.

[McDougalfaschnitzer 32]

It makes sense if you have something to bring to the table in terms of technology and design. You can be profitable without being the 800lb gorilla, you just have to be realistic and have a good plan. I'm not saying any of those apply here, just that it is possible.

I think if a company wants to enter the skate market, doing a goalie skate would be a good idea, since it is an area where very little innovation has been attempted (save for the one100).

[greech 4]

I think if a company wants to enter the skate market, doing a goalie skate would be a good idea, since it is an area where very little innovation has been attempted (save for the one100).

In the same vein, the amount of R&D they would have to utilize to make an innovative goal skate probably wouldn't outweigh the benefit of bringing a niche product to an already small market.

[Chadd 916]

I think if a company wants to enter the skate market, doing a goalie skate would be a good idea, since it is an area where very little innovation has been attempted (save for the one100).

There has been quite a bit of improvement in goalie skates over the last few years. You have the supportive boot of the Graf 750, though they could afford to reduce the size of the cowling because of the boot stiffness. Removable/replaceable steel, much lighter cowlings, etc... It's just hard to justify a huge investment on the R&D for a goalie specific skate as the return on the investment takes much longer with a niche market like goalie skates.

[DarkStar50 679]

It makes sense if you have something to bring to the table in terms of technology and design. You can be profitable without being the 800lb gorilla, you just have to be realistic and have a good plan. I'm not saying any of those apply here, just that it is possible.

This is the hockey industry we're talking about. The track record in the skate industry is not that strong over the history of new companies with new products in this category. Even a formerly extremely successful skate vendor is finally getting their product up to their former standards after years of falling short of expectations. Think how long that has taken them. If companies would stick to doing what they do best and not try to do everything, which is usually more than they can do anyway, they could dominate their niche. Instead they get suckered into being what they are not. This is what starts the slippery slope for any of them.

[Chadd 916]

This is the hockey industry we're talking about. The track record in the skate industry is not that strong over the history of new companies with new products in this category. Even a formerly extremely successful skate vendor is finally getting their product up to their former standards after years of falling short of expectations. Think how long that has taken them. If companies would stick to doing what they do best and not try to do everything, which is usually more than they can do anyway, they could dominate their niche. Instead they get suckered into being what they are not. This is what starts the slippery slope for any of them.

I agree with you, trying to flesh out full lines takes a lot of money in development and production. That said, new ideas and innovations are what push the envelope and result in better products for everyone. Unfortunately, the companies that introduce revolutionary products tend to go by the wayside and advancements are rolled into bigger brands a generation or two down the line.

[ungr7 0]

I believe Warrior is a brand under New Balance shoes. Rumor might make sense if NB were to make the skates.

[Eazy_b97 1]

This is the hockey industry we're talking about. The track record in the skate industry is not that strong over the history of new companies with new products in this category. Even a formerly extremely successful skate vendor is finally getting their product up to their former standards after years of falling short of expectations. Think how long that has taken them. If companies would stick to doing what they do best and not try to do everything, which is usually more than they can do anyway, they could dominate their niche. Instead they get suckered into being what they are not. This is what starts the slippery slope for any of them.

In this situation Warrior would be taking over Graf and skates is what Graf does. You'd think, given Warrior's track record, they'd just dress up the current models and it'd appeal toa decent number of skate buyers. The Graf lovers would still have their skate and the Warrior design team would likely reach it's share of non-Graf guys too. Similar to the original Warrior Sticks being re-painted 1100s and TruOnes, you had all of the Inno crowd excited to get these sticks easily (especially here) and then a new group of people who just liked their marketing or through the stick was a good fit for them.

With that said, I don't think it will happen. As Chadd mentioned, this rumour of a Graf buy-out has been around for some time now and it's never happened.

[Chadd 916]

With that said, I don't think it will happen. As Chadd mentioned, this rumour of a Graf buy-out has been around for some time now and it's never happened.

They were going to buy TPS, then TPS was going to buy them and for the last two years people have been saying that Warrior was going to buy out Graf. Even if there is something going on behind closed doors, things change so often that the rumors end up not panning out more often than not in this industry.

[savethechief2011 0]

I agree with you, trying to flesh out full lines takes a lot of money in development and production. That said, new ideas and innovations are what push the envelope and result in better products for everyone. Unfortunately, the companies that introduce revolutionary products tend to go by the wayside and advancements are rolled into bigger brands a generation or two down the line.

I hear that Easton's Hockey division is for sale could Warrior just buy them and boom skates and helmets along with more great sticks.

I believe Warrior is a brand under New Balance shoes. Rumor might make sense if NB were to make the skates.

New Balance makes warriors shoes and clothes not a new balance brand

With that said, I don't think it will happen. As Chadd mentioned, this rumour of a Graf buy-out has been around for some time now and it's never happened.

I was saying i herd graf will make them skates not buy graf

[Chadd 916]

New Balance makes warriors shoes and clothes not a new balance brand

I was saying i herd graf will make them skates not buy graf

New Balance owns Warrior.

Like I said, there have been rumors about graf for years. Warrior has purchased production and design capability rather than contract for it in the past.

[Gummer12 134]

Just for clarification and hypothetical purposes only...Which 'Graf' would Warrior be buying? Cuz isn't Graf/CA just a company Licensing the Graf name from overseas?

[TBLfan 25]

For as long as I remember, the talk has been that they were building their own skate from within the brand... not sure if it was scrapped.

IMO, the smartest acquisition they could go with would be DASC/MLX.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

For as long as I remember, the talk has been that they were building their own skate from within the brand... not sure if it was scrapped.

IMO, the smartest acquisition they could go with would be DASC/MLX.

+1 That would be a great acquisition by Warrior

[Chadd 916]

+1 That would be a great acquisition by Warrior

I'm going to disagree for a couple reasons. Unproven technology at retail and no native mass production capabilities.

[Demangone 0]

I'm going to disagree for a couple reasons. Unproven technology at retail and no native mass production capabilities.

Agreed. MLX hasn't even released a consumer product yet. Revisit the idea in 2-3 years to see what impact they've had on the skate market.

[Krev 86]

I don't see MLX selling out to Warrior. Too soon for them to do that, especially without a retail product.

[Chadd 916]

Agreed. MLX hasn't even released a consumer product yet. Revisit the idea in 2-3 years to see what impact they've had on the skate market.

Plus, the pro skate is not going to be the retail skate. I just don't see them having much success.

[theWB 2]

I hear that Easton's Hockey division is for sale could Warrior just buy them and boom skates and helmets along with more great sticks.

That rumor was floating around a while back at about the time Bauer acquired Mission/Itech. It would give Warrior the ability to be a head to toe brand but I dont see it happening. Easton hockey is rolling along just fine for now.