Since the planning of Wells Gray Outfitters began, we have been committed to offering the community of Clearwater a specialty sporting goods retail store. We carry premium products from brands we trust at competitive prices.

When it comes to hockey, no brand name is more trusted than Bauer. Over 40% of NHL players use a Bauer stick, and 68% of NHL players use Bauer skates making them the #1 brand in hockey. Unfortunately, since we first contacted Bauer in 2022, they have indicated they are not interested in adding new dealers to their existing dealer network. As a result, we have been purchasing Bauer hockey products from a 3rd party distributor, which has allowed us the opportunity to access the brand but restricts our access to popular/premium products like Bauer Mystery Mini Sticks, Nexus Tracer hockey sticks, Vapor Hyperlite 2 hockey skates and other "Elite" level products.

We intend to send the following letter to Bauer, requesting they reconsider their current stance and allow us to submit a new dealer application. We are seeking the community’s support in the way of signatures and testimonials, acknowledging your support of our business and your interest in purchasing Bauer hockey products from Wells Gray Outfitters.

We are proud to be Clearwater’s hockey store, and would appreciate your support in this matter.

Attention Bauer Hockey,

On behalf of Wells Gray Outfitters, which services the community of Clearwater, British Columbia, and the surrounding North Thompson Valley, I am writing to request access to your dealer network. Our local hockey community want Bauer products, including Bauer Elite products, that currently cannot be purchased locally, and we cannot source through a third-party distributor.

Our local Minor Hockey Association: Clearwater District Minor Hockey, is a thriving rural hockey association with 130 players registered making up teams from U7 to U18. On top of Minor Hockey, Clearwater has men’s, women’s, and senior’s leagues with another 100+ players, and Clearwater hosts Mike Brown’s annual summer hockey school which saw 150 players registered in 2024. This 2024-25 season, Clearwater will host 11 tournaments, welcoming 60+ teams from all over British Columbia and Washington State.

Wells Gray Outfitters is Clearwater’s hockey store, and the only place to go for a skate sharpen, a new stick or roll of tape for over 130km (80 miles). Despite having the market cornered, Wells Gray Outfitters is committed to providing Clearwater an elevated shopping experience by offering stick demos, experienced custom skate fitting, fast and convenient skate sharpening services & price matching within Canada. We honour Bauer’s 30-day stick warranty independently despite our distributor not covering warranty claims and have even warrantied a stick for a customer mid game!

Along with providing Clearwater access to hockey equipment and services, Wells Gray Outfitters also provide jobs to young hockey players/alumni and are strong community partners of Clearwater Minor Hockey. As a result of our commitment to our customers, the local hockey community and players visiting for tournaments want to support our business, and they want to be able to purchase the same high quality Bauer products carried in larger sporting goods stores.

To demonstrate the community’s support of our business, and their desire to have a local authorized Bauer dealer, we asked the players and their families to sign this letter in hopes that our voice can be heard, and Bauer re-consider their stance on accepting new dealers, and review our dealer application for Fall of 2025.

Respectfully,

Maveric Northcott