Hockey Safety Panel Formed by Industry Leaders to Conduct Live Broadcast on Safety Issues and Education

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Some of the most influential organizations in hockey will take part in the third Be Hockey Safe panel discussion to promote hockey safety and awareness. The discussion, led by Bauer Hockey, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada, will be broadcast live and linked to from Bauer.com, USAHockey.com and HockeyCanada.ca on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 8:00 a.m. EST

“The goal of the Be Hockey Safe panel is to promote the sport of hockey at all levels through better education and communication of the safety issues faced in today’s game”

Bauer Hockey initiated the panel in an effort to strengthen communication surrounding safety issues such as concussion awareness and management, and injury prevention. The safety panel includes representatives from Bauer Hockey, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada as well as leaders in the medical community. The panel, which first convened in 2010, will hold its third public discussion at Bauer Hockey’s BauerWorld event in Orlando, Florida.

“The goal of the Be Hockey Safe panel is to promote the sport of hockey at all levels through better education and communication of the safety issues faced in today’s game,” said Ken Covo, Senior Director, Research and Development, Bauer Hockey, who will co-chair the hockey safety panel. “We are excited to bring the panel back together to discuss those issues that our sport continues to face.”

The panel discussion will feature a segment on injury mechanics, and a look into what truly causes concussions as well as the myths and realities surrounding the injury itself. The panel will also discuss new rule changes adopted by both USA Hockey and Hockey Canada to address the continued emphasis on head safety in hockey.

The members of the Be Hockey Safe panel that will take part in the discussion include:

Mike Bertsch – USA Hockey:
In his role as assistant executive director, marketing and communications, Mike works closely with USA Hockey’s membership and leads efforts to increase safety communication throughout the organization. In addition, Mike brings a wealth of hockey coaching knowledge to the panel having coached at both the high school and NCAA Division I levels.

Mark Lovell, PH.D – ImPACT Applications, Inc.
Mark is the co-creator of the ImPACT Test, the first, most-widely used, and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system. ImPACT is currently utilized by every team in the National Hockey League and the National Football League, as well as numerous teams in Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and several other leagues. Mark brings more than 26 years of concussion management experience to the safety panel.

Todd Jackson – Hockey Canada
Todd is the senior manager for insurance and member services at Hockey Canada and brings more than 30 years of experience in hockey safety to the panel. In his role at Hockey Canada, Todd oversees safety and risk management initiatives as well as the components of that national insurance program. In addition, Todd has served as equipment manager for numerous teams, including Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Ken Covo – Bauer Hockey – Co-Chair
Ken is the senior director of research and development for Bauer Hockey. The graduate of McGill University brings more than 15 years of hockey product development experience to the panel and has coached and played hockey at various levels.

Larry Weber – Bauer Hockey – Co-Chair
Larry serves as the director of risk management for Bauer Hockey and has been with the company for more than 14 years. In his role, Larry is deeply involved with safety issues in the sport of hockey and works closely with Bauer’s research, design and development teams.

The Be Hockey Safe panel will gather numerous times throughout the year and publish information for the hockey community that will be distributed online, in-store at hockey specialty retailers across North America and at the grassroots level. In addition to providing readily accessible information, the panel will examine current safety standards and guidelines and recommend enhancements to meet today’s needs as well as gather insight from various age groups and playing levels. Bauer Hockey will also look to leverage the panel’s findings to help guide future product development and enhancements.

To access the live broadcast of Tuesday’s panel discussion, visit Bauer.com, USAHockey.com or HockeyCanada.ca.

ABOUT BAUER HOCKEY
Bauer Hockey is the world's most recognized designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment. Founded in Kitchener, Ontario in 1927, Bauer developed the first skate with a blade attached to a boot, forever changing the game of hockey. Since then, Bauer has continued to develop the most sought after products in the industry, including the widely successful Supreme ® and Vapor ® lines of products. Bauer Hockey, Maverik Lacrosse and Mission Roller Hockey are brands under Bauer Performance Sports, a publically traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BAU).

ABOUT BAUER PERFORMANCE SPORTS LTD.
Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. (TSX: BAU) is a leading developer and manufacturer of ice hockey, roller hockey, and lacrosse equipment as well as related apparel. The company has the most recognized and strongest brand in the ice hockey equipment industry, and holds the top market share position in both ice and roller hockey. Its products are marketed under the Bauer Hockey, Mission Roller Hockey and Maverik Lacrosse brand names and are distributed by sales representatives and independent distributors throughout the world. Bauer Performance Sports is focused on building its leadership position and growing market share in all product categories through continued innovation at every level. www.bauerperformancesports.com