Jan. 17, 2024
The Carnegie Initiative (The CI) and CCM Hockey, a leading manufacturer of hockey equipment, have agreed to an extension of their partnership that includes a number of new elements.
CCM will introduce two versions of special edition t-shirts featuring Hockey Hall of Famer and social justice icon Herb Carnegie. In addition, CCM is a partner for The CI’s upcoming annual conference in Toronto on January 30-31, 2024.
“We are thrilled to grow our association with CCM, a company with a 125-year history that has been an integral part of the lives of hockey lovers and the Carnegie family for generations. We are excited to launch this amazing next level of collaboration with CCM,” The CI’s Executive Director Shelley Nicholls stated.
The partnership between The CI and CCM launched last year with the creation of a collector’s edition Herb Carnegie Legacy Skate. The skate commemorated the past and present noting that Carnegie finished his hockey career in 1954 on CCM skates.
“CCM is pleased to build on our relationship with The Carnegie Initiative. The work being done by The CI to make hockey more welcoming and inclusive is reflective of CCM’s pillars that include virtues such as empowerment and respect,” Dale Williams, Global Sports Marketing Manager at CCM, commented.
Williams, who has spent more than 20 years in sports and athletes marketing, will be among the featured speakers and panelists at The CI Summit 2024: For the Love of the Game. The two-day conference will convene hundreds of hockey’s leaders and influencers and focus on sharing progress, challenges, and insights necessary for the ongoing growth of hockey and its culture. Williams will help lead the discussion of “Business Case for Inclusion,” as panelists share insight into how expanding teams in business and sports is yielding effective social and financial returns.
The special edition Herb Carnegie t-shirts will be revealed later this month. The shirts will be available for purchase at The CI Summit 2024. Limited quantities of the shirts will also be available through CCM’s website starting on February 1 to help kick off Black History Month.
The timing of the t-shirts that celebrate the legacy of Herb Carnegie provides CCM and The CI the opportunity to create more awareness of Black excellence. All proceeds from the sale of the Herb Carnegie T-shirts benefit The CI and its mission to “work to ensure that hockey is inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.”
