SKINS® Compression Clothing Named Official Recovery Sponsor of Four Top-Ranked NHL Teams

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SKINS^® Compression Clothing, the leading gradient compression sportswear company, is proud to announce it has been selected as the “Official Recovery Compression” brand of the National Hockey League’s leading West Conference teams: San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars.

“The SKINS recovery products are essential for our players' recovery and performance”

The full roster of each team was custom-fit with SKINS RY400 recovery compression equipment designed specifically to accelerate muscle repair and reduce fatigue. Emerging from a four-month lockout without regular practice and intense training, speed of recovery between games and injury prevention can make the difference given the strenuous back-to-back NHL post-lockout 48-game schedule. The Sharks (#2), Blues (#4), Ducks (#5), and Stars (#10) have rebounded successfully from the lockout, clinching top ten spots in the Western Conference rankings thus far.

“With the accelerated schedule and increased travel of this lock out season, we have less time to recover between games,” said Mike Hannegan, Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Anaheim Ducks. “SKINS helps us recover and be ready for the next game in shorter time.”

Designed to help reduce exercise induced muscle damage, the SKINS RY400 product range will help the athletes quickly bounce back to their maximum, regular-season level of performance. SKINS compression clothing works by increasing circulation, accelerating the delivery of oxygen to muscles and improving the lactate shuttle. Unlike its A400 range designed for active use, SKINS RY400 product line is designed specifically to apply the compression needs of muscles in the passive, rebuilding state. The gradient compression in SKINS performance apparel will be key to maintaining the players’ stamina, active recovery time and overall top-level performance throughout this year’s highly-aggressive training program and travel schedule by helping them recover faster while preventing injury.

"The SKINS recovery products are essential for our players' recovery and performance,” explained Brad Jellis, Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Dallas Stars. “With our demanding game and travel schedule, SKINS allow players to recover quicker and be at their best for the next competition.”

SKINS compression wear is designed to help athletes reach their peak performance with products developed for specific sports and levels of activity. Whatever the sport, SKINS allows athletes to train harder, compete longer and recover faster.

For more information about SKINS Compression Clothing, visit the brand online at www.SKINS.net or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/skinsusa.

About SKINS Compression Clothing

SKINS rules the world in gradient compression performance equipment and is worn by professional athletes and active consumers worldwide including cyclists, runners, and triathletes. SKINS best in class gradient compression is supplied to top professional teams across many disciplines of sport. Including professional cycling team Lotto Belisol, throughout the NFL, NBA, and NHL with exclusive partnership of the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks hockey teams, and professional football players Brian Scott, Chase Blackburn, Brian Rolle and Peyton Hillis.

Originally developed in Australia in 1996, the brand was designed to take on a massive challenge: create a sports garment that improved performance and aided recovery. SKINS invested heavily in research to make this happen and is now Australia’s leading therapeutic compression brand and is gaining similar recognition around the world.

Bringing this unique line of performance apparel to the United State in 2007, SKINS continues to make their number one focus research and development in order to improve, rigorously test and expand its range of products. SKINS is the only therapeutic compression sportswear brand supported by numerous independent studies published in peer reviewed medical journals. SKINS is also the only compression garments recommended and endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association. For more information, visit the brand online as www.skins.net.

About the San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). They play their home games at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, known locally as the Shark Tank.

About the Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Since their inception, the Ducks have played their home games at the Honda Center. The club was founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a name based on the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks. Disney sold the franchise in 2005 to Henry and Susan Samueli, who changed the name of the team to the Anaheim Ducks before the 2006–07 season. In their 18-year existence, the Ducks have made the playoffs eight times, winning one Pacific Division title (2007), two Western Conference Championships (2003 and 2007), and one Stanley Cup Championship (2007).

About the Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The franchise relocated to Dallas for the 1993–94 NHL season. The Stars have won seven division titles in Dallas, two President's Trophies as the top regular season team in the NHL, the Western Conference championship twice, and in 1998–99, the Stanley Cup.

About the St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) owned by David W. Checketts and play in the 19,150-seat Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the expansion teams during the league's original expansion from six to twelve teams.