What started out as a small local sports store, where you could get your skates sharpened and gear fixed, has now made its way to the big leagues.
From Newfoundland to Colorado, Fix My Gear by the Sports Shack provided handmade skate guards for the Colorado Avalanche during the 2020 NHL Stadium Series game—a hockey game played outdoors at the Air Force Academy in Colorado this past weekend.
(Photo courtesy Colorado Avalanche.)
Owner and operator Scott Thorne says it was a week before Snowmageddon that they were contacted by the Avalanche’s Equipment Manager, who they have done work for in the past.
He liked their product so much, he wanted Thorne to make the skate guards for the coveted outdoor game. They were able to ship them off just in the nick of time before the storm hit.
Thorne says it was incredible to see their product on the big stage. He says it was exciting to see the guards and known that their gear is being worn.
The players had to walk a mile in the skate guards, so they wanted to make them as strong as possible.
Thorne went as far as to put an inch-and-a-half webbing in the inside and out, plus cut-resistant material to beef them up, and make a good impression.
It was a special day for the Sports Shack, and the Avalanche were thrilled with the final product.
As for what’s next, Thorne says they’re going to stay the course until their next Athletic Equipment Manager’s Association convention in Texas this June. They’ll be hitting the convention with fresh products.
Thorne tells VOCM News that he never expected the growth they’ve experienced.
When they started out, a young kid working with them wanted to make a website, which he says planted the seed. Thorne then contacted a local company to develop a legitimate website, and from then on, it snowballed.
Despite the seven-day, 80+ hour weeks he puts in, Thorne says he’s enjoying the ride.
