Itech
Canadian hockey brand known for pioneering plastic face shields.
Itech was a Canadian ice hockey equipment brand, now owned by Bauer Hockey. It was founded in 1984 by former NHL player Robin Burns through his company, Itech Sports Products Inc. The brand is best known for introducing plastic face shields to the NHL.
Burns left his role as president of skate manufacturer Micron in 1984 to start Itech Sports Products Inc. in Kirkland, Quebec. The company initially focused on designing and producing plastic face shields. The idea came after Burns took a stick to the face during an old-timers game in the early 1980s; he told Red Storey he would have a protective mask designed within a year. His design went into production soon after the company launched and was quickly adopted across the NHL.
In 2002, Itech expanded beyond hockey by purchasing Cooper’s baseball assets from Irwin Toy. Two years later, in 2004, Burns merged Itech with California-based Mission Hockey to form Mission-Itech Hockey Ltd. For the next four years, the company produced equipment under both brands. In fall 2008, Bauer purchased Mission-Itech. Bauer continued selling Itech gear for a short period before discontinuing the brand in 2009. Since then, the Itech name has not appeared in the hockey market.
Quick Facts
- Currentowner
- Bauer Hockey (2008–)
- Country
- Canada
- Introduced
- 1984
- Discontinued
- 2009
- Previousowners
- Itech Sports Products Inc. (1984–2004) · Mission-Itech Hockey Ltd. (2004–2008)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In 1984, Burns stepped down as president of the ice skate manufacturer Micron and started his own company, Itech Sports Products Inc., in Kirkland, Quebec. Initially, Burns set up the company to design and produce plastic face shields. At an old-timers game in the early 1980s, Burns was clipped in the face with a stick. After the game, he said to Red Storey that he would 'have some sort of protective mask designed by that time next year.' Burns's design went into production shortly after he started the company, and was soon adopted widely in the NHL.
In 2002, Itech diversified beyond hockey when it purchased the Cooper baseball assets from Irwin Toy. In 2004, Burns merged Itech with Mission Hockey, which was based in California, to form Mission-Itech Hockey Ltd. For the next four years, the company continued to produce equipment under both brands. In the fall of 2008, Bauer purchased Mission-Itech. After the acquisition, Bauer continued to sell Itech equipment for a short time before phasing out the brand in 2009.
Reader's Guide
Itech's significance lies in its role as a pioneer of protective face shields in professional hockey. Founded by former NHL player Robin Burns after a personal injury during an old-timers game, the brand's plastic face shields were quickly adopted across the NHL, marking a shift in player safety equipment. The brand's history reflects the consolidation of the hockey equipment industry: after merging with Mission Hockey in 2004 to form Mission-Itech Hockey Ltd., the combined company continued producing both brands until its purchase by Bauer in 2008. Bauer sold Itech equipment for a short time before phasing out the name in 2009. Since then, the Itech brand has been absent from the hockey market. Its legacy is tied to the widespread acceptance of face protection in the NHL and the broader trend of corporate consolidation in hockey equipment manufacturing.
Did You Know?
- Itech was created by former NHL player Robin Burns in 1984.
- The brand was initially set up to design and produce plastic face shields.
- Burns's inspiration for the face shield came after he was clipped in the face with a stick at an old-timers game.
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