Sidney Crosby and Sport Chek aim to get more Canadians in the game

Sidney Crosby's SC87 equipment line exclusive to Sport Chek is comfortable, functional and affordable

TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - With hockey registration and pre-season right around the corner, August and September are big ticket months for hockey parents. As the late summer months mark the highest grossing period for hockey equipment sales at Sport Chek, parents are faced with the difficult decision - another expensive season of sport, or opting for less expensive pastimes during the winter months in Canada.

Sidney Crosby and Sport Chek are working on solutions to make hockey more affordable for Canadian youth. Equipment such as Sidney's Reebok SC87 line which is exclusive to Sport Chek offers durable, trusted, yet affordable equipment - with sticks for $14.99, gloves for $39.99 and appealing product offerings, a youth player can be completely suited up for the season with a price tag of less than $350.

"As a kid who grew up playing hockey in Canada, you hope every child in Canada will have the opportunity to enjoy the national pastime. Growing the game of hockey is something I am very passionate about," said Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. "I partnered with Reebok and Sport Chek to develop an affordable line of equipment for youth hockey players so that kids from coast to coast can play the game. SC87 is not only functional and comfortable, but also helps parents keep costs down - so more kids are able to experience the joy of the sport." 

"Between 5:00 a.m. practices and hours spent in arenas coast-to-coast, it's evident how passionate Canadians are about hockey," said Frederick Lecoq, VP of Marketing and E-Commerce, FGL Sports Ltd. "As Canada's leading sporting goods retailer, it's our job to help this passion stay alive and ensure everyone has the opportunity to play in 'Canada's game'."

To accompany the more affordable product lines, Sport Chek has various programs and promotions to aid in the affordability of the game. Sport Chek's Junior Skate Exchange Program allows consumers to bring in their Used Junior skates to receive up to a 50 per cent credit on the value of the old skates to put towards a new pair. Combined with sales such as 'Buy One Get One' and the Mix-n-Match Junior Protective Gear Promotion that provides increasingly larger discounts with every additional piece purchased, earning a savings of up to 25 per cent, Sport Chek is pushing the boundaries and proving that affordability can go hand-in-hand with quality and style.

About FGL Sports: 
FGL Sports Ltd. is Canada's largest national retailer of sporting goods, offering a comprehensive assortment of brand-name and private-brand products and operating more than 400 stores from coast to coast, under the following corporate and franchise banners: Sport Chek, Sports Experts, Atmosphere, National Sports, Intersport, Econosports, Nevada Bob's Golf, Hockey Experts, Fitness Source, and S3. FGL Sports also has websites for several of its corporate and franchise banners which can be accessed through its main website at www.FGLSports.com.

SOURCE: FGL Sports Ltd.