MONTREAL (CP) - Producing the slightly smaller goalie equipment that will be in use when the NHL restarts will keep The Hockey Company's two Quebec plants busy through the summer.
Leg pads will be 11 inches wide instead of 12 as was the case during the 2003-2004 season, and gloves and upper-body pads also will be altered to fit the league's desire for more goals. Blockers will be one inch shorter.
"We've been told by the NHL that these rules will apply at the beginning of the next season," J. C. Bergeron of The Hockey Co. said Wednesday. "For us to make the equipment, and we have a lot of players in the NHL, AHL and ECHL, it's going to be a time issue.
"We've told the NHL we'll do everything we can do to be in time. We've had meetings with our people and it's a big, big challenge. The PA (NHL Players' Association) is telling the players they have to be patient."
Also to be changed are hockey pants goalies will wear. The league is asking for slimmer fits so players all have to be remeasured.
Most of the equipment for the nearly 100 goalies the company supplies has to be custom made so meticulous manufacturing is required by the 60 workers involved. Retooling machines to turn out the new sizes is a major cost. The company produces CCM, Koho and Reebok brands.
Among the 25 goalies the company supplies are Martin Brodeur, Ed Belfour, Roberto Luongo, J.S. Giguere and Marty Turco.