H&B crosses the border to Canada
The company branched out across the border in the sporting goods industry in 1966, by purchasing a Canadian manufacturer of croquet sets, pool tables and hockey sticks.
The Canadian subsidiary, located in Wallaceburg, Ontario, produces nearly 500,000 "Louisville" Hockey sticks each year in 15 different models. These sticks are made for professional and amateur teams in Canada and the United States. Louisville Hockey sticks also are exported to Europe and Japan. The famous "Louisville" goalie stick has become a visual fixture of many National Hockey League teams.
NHL players using Louisville Hockey sticks exclusively include Mark Messier, Sergei Fedorov, Dave Gagner, Joe Sakic, Keith Primeau, and Adam Oates.
H&B of Canada also distributes Louisville Slugger bats and PowerBilt golf clubs. Internationally, our baseball, softball, golf and hockey products enjoy fantastic success. It is one of the fastest growing areas in the company.
From the splinters of Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning's broken bat grew today's Hillerich & Bradsby Co. H&B has evolved from a small manufacturer of tenpins and swinging churns to a world leader in high-quality wood and aluminum bats, gloves and mitts, golf clubs and hockey sticks for U.S. and international markets.
Historic Dates in the History of Hillerich & Bradsby
