The Messier Project Begins Shipping New M11 PRO To Retailers

May 17th, 2012

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. –  The Messier Project, a collaboration between hockey icon Mark Messier and the head protection experts at Cascade Sports, has begun shipping the M11 PRO, a new evolution of the brand’s game-changing M11 hockey helmet, to hockey specialty dealers across North America. Consumers should be able find the helmet on U.S. and Canadian retailer shelves within days.

The M11 PRO is built around Cascade Sports’ revolutionary Seven Technology, an impact attenuation liner system that’s designed to more effectively manage energy transfer from direct impact. The M11 PRO blends the exclusive advanced protection with a new streamlined design, aggressive styling and improved features to create a new level of elite performance, fit and comfort.

The Messier Project’s M11 helmet has revolutionized head protection since its release in 2009. Today, more than 700 hockey teams and associations across North America wear and trust the M11. These players and teams are part of The Messier Project community, sharing a passion for the sport of hockey and a commitment to making head protection a top priority. 

Designed and manufactured at Cascade’s new state-of-the-art Liverpool, N.Y. facility, the M11 PRO is a direct response to feedback from The Messier Project community over the past year.

“I’ve long said that when it comes to protection in the sport of hockey, the helmet is an athlete’s most vital piece of equipment,” said Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion. “The Messier Project’s rapid growth over the past two years is a testament to the fact that priorities in our sport are finally starting to change. 

“The hockey community is listening and we in turn are listening to our players. Since Cascade Sports makes all of its products in the U.S., we were able to react quickly to develop the new M11 PRO, which brings the performance level up to match the advanced level of protection.” 

The M11 PRO was previewed at the NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game on Dec. 31 as Messier — along with 11 other former New York Rangers and three ex-Philadelphia Flyers — wore the new helmet during the outdoor game.

Two top Minnesota boys high school teams — Hill-Murray and Minnetonka — were the first organized teams to wear the M11 PRO, switching from the M11 during the 2012 Minnesota state playoffs. Harvard University then became the first NCAA team to wear the M11 PRO, in the 2012 ECAC playoffs and tournament. Several NHL players also wore the M11 PRO at the close of the 2011-12 season.

Like the M11, the M11 PRO features Cascade Sports’ Seven Technology. On impact, Seven Technology compresses to laterally displace energy and within seconds, it completely resets to be ready for the next impact. Hockey is a multiple impact sport, and Seven Technology is proven to have total material reset and performs better than expanded polypropylene foam (EPP) on successive impacts*. 

In addition to its advanced protection, the new M11 PRO is built for maximum performance and extreme comfort. The M11 PRO’s new, streamlined shell features a lower profile, sleek side lines, aggressive styling, and improved liner ventilation.
 
The new helmet also features an enhanced Pro Fit system, now called the Pro Fit 2. First introduced in Cascade Sports’ top-selling line of lacrosse helmets and updated for the M11, the Pro Fit is a 15-point, no tool micro-adjustment system for a truly customized fit. The new, high precision Pro Fit 2 system in the M11 PRO has an ultra-compact, tapered design for an enhanced 360° fit that eliminate pressure points for increased comfort. 
 
The M11 PRO is available in a full size range (s-m-l), and a Combo version that includes a perfectly fitted Cascade certified steel wire face protector in a neutral gray color for enhanced vision.
 
In addition to the launch of the M11 PRO, The Messier Project’s mission to better protect the players has continued during 2011-12 hockey season with education on the important factors that contribute to – and affect – helmet performance. The “Get Tuned” educational campaign, which launched at the 2011 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, has expanded across North America with a grassroots marketing program and a public relations campaign aimed at hockey players, coaches and parents.  Helmets are high tech gear, and just like your sticks and skates, proper care is essential for maximum performance – and when it comes to helmets, protection is performance

For more information on The Messier Project, the M11 PRO, the M11 and the “Get Tuned” campaign, visit www.themessierproject.com. Also get the latest news from The Messier Project on Facebook and Twitter.

*Cascade Sports’ testing shows that the Seven Technology (liner system within the M11 and M11 PRO) typically performs 26% better than traditional EPP foam (the liner material within a standard hockey helmet) after the first impact, 107% better than EPP after the second impact and 140% better than EPP after the third impact.  

 

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Texas Tornado Win NAHL Robertson Cup

May 9th, 2012

The Texas Tornado won the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Robertson Cup National Championship with a 4-3 overtime victory over the St. Louis Bandits on Tuesday, May 8.  Congratulations to Tornado coach and general manager Tony Curtale and his players.  

For details, visit: http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/05/tornado-takes-advantage-of-second-chance.html  

The Messier Project is the NAHL’s Official Helmet Supplier and last season outfitted the NAHL's 26 teams in the revolutionary M11 helmet. NAHL clubs will begin transitioning to the next-generation M11 PRO next season.

The three-year partnership between The Messier Project and NAHL was announced at the start of the 2010-11 season. The NAHL is among the more than 700 leagues, teams and associations across North America encouraging better head protection across all levels of the sport as part of The Messier Project. 

Tornado captain Jack Prince was named the 2011-2012 recipient of The Messier Project Leadership Award for the NAHL on May 6. The Messier Project Leadership Award was established in 2010-11, and recognizes the NAHL player who best exemplifies strong leadership both on and off the ice. See our earlier post on News & Events or visit: http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/05/tornado-captain-jack-prince-recognized-w.html

The NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior A league boasting 26 teams from across North America, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. For more information on the NAHL, visit www.NAHL.com.  

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From left to right: Texas captains Taylor Herndon, Jack Prince, NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld, John Kirtland and Mico Solorzano are presented with the NAHL's Robertson Cup.

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Kings, Mitchell and M11 in Western Conference Finals

May 7th, 2012

The Los Angeles Kings, defenseman Willie Mitchell and The Messier Project’s M11 helmet are headed to the Western Conference finals.

The eighth-seeded Kings finished a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues with a 3-1 victory on Sunday, May 6, advancing to the conference finals for just the second time in club history. 

In the first two playoff rounds, Los Angeles has stunned top-seeded Vancouver and second-seeded St. Louis with eight wins in nine games.  

And Mitchell has been in the middle of it. The veteran D-man has averaged 25:04 of ice time per game, second only to Drew Doughty on the Kings roster.

Mitchell, from Port McNeill, B.C., has been a strong supporter of The Messier Project. 

The Kings made their only previous trip to the conference finals in 1993, when Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille propelled them Angeles past Toronto and into their only Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to Montreal.

The Kings won just one playoff series in the ensuing 17 seasons before routing the Presidents' Trophy-winning Canucks in five first-round games last month. 

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Los Angeles D-man Willie Mitchell (33) shows off his Messier Project "M" while jumping on a loose puck near the Kings goal.

 

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Texas Tornado Captain Jack Prince Wins 2011-12 Messier Project Leadership Award for the NAHL

May 6th, 2012
 
The Messier Project and six-time Stanley Cup-winning captain Mark Messier are proud to recognize an up-and-coming hockey captain.
 
Forward Jack Prince, 21, of the Texas Tornado is the 2011-2012 recipient of The Messier Project Leadership Award for the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Messier Project Leadership Award was established in 2010-11, and recognizes the NAHL player who best exemplifies strong leadership both on and off the ice. 
 
Prince, a native of the United Kingdom, helped lead the Tornado back to the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament this season as the team’s captain and leading scorer. The 6-foot-4 forward recorded 39 goals — second best in the NAHL — and 39 assists in 60 regular-season games in 2011-12, and ranked fourth in the league with 78 points.
 
Prince, who his completing his third season with the Tornado, became Texas’ all-time leader in points (188) and assists (100) at then end of the 2011-12 campaign. Since joining the club, he has progressed impressively to become a complete player who will move on to Division I college hockey next season. 
 
“Jack is not only our leading scorer, he’s developed into our best defensive player,” Tornado general manager and coach Tony Curtale said. “He has a great combination of skills, work ethic and character, and is a good-natured kid.”
 
Prince was presented with The Messier Project Leadership Award at the Banquet of Champions, the NAHL’s yearly awards ceremony, on Sunday, May 6 in Frisco, Texas.  NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld was on hand for the presentation, which included a personal “captain-to-captain” video message to Prince from Mark Messier.
 
“Jack is a reminder to us all that with hard work, dedication and perseverance, you can overcome many hurdles and challenges along your journey,”  Mark said. “He has demonstrated leadership qualities on and off the ice. His selfless attitude in the community was recognized by his peers and coaches, and appreciated by the fans. Congratulation, Jack!”

The Messier Project is the NAHL’s Official Helmet Supplier and outfits the league’s 26 teams in the revolutionary M11 helmet, which uses Seven Technology, an impact attenuation liner system that’s designed to more effectively manage energy transfer from direct impact.  NAHL teams will transition to the new, next-generation M11 PRO helmet next seson.

With its three-year partnership, announced at the start of the 2010-11 season, the NAHL is among the more than 700 leagues, teams and associations across North America encouraging better head protection across all levels of the sport as part of The Messier Project.

Prince joined the Tornado in 2009 after completing two major midget seasons in the Detroit Little Caesar’s program. Curtale liked what he saw in Prince, although the forward needed to work on his skating and game.
 
Prince did, and has flourished in with the Tornado, which plays in the 6,000-seat Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, a Dallas suburb.
 
“Jack came to the United States from Great Britain as an unpolished and inexperienced hockey player,” Curtale said. “He was big, but he was told he was slow.
 
“Now Jack is close to securing a NCAA Division I scholarship and embodies everything that is right about the NAHL player,” Curtale added.  “He came to the league, grew as a player and person, developed his skill and his leadership qualities to finish as one of the most prolific scorers in NAHL history and one of the great captains and leaders in the 12-year history of the Texas Tornado.”
 
Curtale praises Prince as an on-ice leader who can dominate thanks to being strong on his skates, protecting the puck, seeing the ice well, and having a powerful shot. In 2011-12, Prince earned ample ice time in even-strength, power-play and short-handed situations as one of the NAHL’s top stars.
 
“Jack not only let his play lead his team, but he led with his composure,” Curtale said  “He plays the game with a respect for his opponents, totaling just 87 penalty minutes in three seasons.
 
“He’s a leader who cares about his team and what a captain is all about,” Curtale added. “During the last couple of years he has been a big part of our wins, although not everything he does stands out as being visible.”
 
Prince’s achievements are especially impressive considering he had limited ice time in England until he came to the U.S. at age 13 to play for a bantam program in Chicago.
 
Off the ice, Prince has been an enthusiastic ambassador for the Tornado organization’s community outreach by speaking to kids at schools and visiting young patients in hospitals. Prince even helped out at the Tornado’s offices as the team prepared to host the 2012 Robertson Cup at the Dr Pepper Arena.
 
“And he never misses an opportunity to talk to fans, making sure every autograph is signed and every hand is shaken before leaving the arena,” Curtale said.
  
The NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior A league. boasting 26 teams from across North America, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. For more information on the NAHL, visit www.NAHL.com
 
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Kings, Mitchell and M11 Move on to Second Round of Playoffs

April 23rd, 2012

Los Angeles defenseman Willie Mitchell, who wears the M11, and the Los Angeles Kings are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs following a 4-games-to-1 upset of Vancouver in the the teams'  Western Conference quarterfinal series.  

Mitchell has been an anchor on the Kings blue line, averaging 25:27 of ice time per game as Los Angeles stunned the Presidents Trophy winner Canucks.  Fellow D-man Drew Doughty was the only Kings player to see more action than Mitchell in the series.

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NAHL Sets Attendance Record

April 18th, 2012

The North American Hockey League (NAHL), a partner of The Messier Project, set an attendance record during the 2011-12 season.   

The Messier Project is the official helmet supplier to the 28-team league, the largest USA Hockey-sanctioned Junior A (Tier II) circuit, with teams in 14 states and British Columbia.

You can read about the NAHL's growth at:

http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=5402

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D-Man Chay Genoway Wears M11 PRO In NHL Debut

April 8th, 2012

Defenseman Chay Genoway made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild on April 7 in the The Messier Project's new M11 PRO helmet. Genoway was called up to the Wild from the AHL Houston Aeros to cap a successful rookie pro season following a four-year career at the University of North Dakota.

Just a few days before joining the Wild, Genoway was named the Aeros winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year Award for his contributions in the Greater Houston community during the 2011-12 season,

Read details at:

http://theahl.com/ahl-man-of-the-year-team-winners-announced-p176907/t-mobile_news_article&bblh=other

and:

http://www.aeros.com/Gameday/news/index.html?article_id=3380

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The Captain Helps Unveil Ranger Playoff Express Subway Train

April 6th, 2012

Heading into the final weekend of the 2011-12 NHL season, the New York Rangers had clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference and were battling with Vancouver and St. Louis for the President’s Trophy.

So hockey playoff fever has gripped the Big Apple at a pitch not seen since 1994 when Mark captained the Rangers to the Stanley Cup.

To help stoke the excitement, Mark, along with fellow former Rangers Adam Graves and Rod Gilbert, christened a special New York subway shuttle train decorated in the team’s colors and with images of current players on April 3. The train runs from Grand Central Station to Times Square.

Check out the train and the festivities at:

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M11 PRO Wearer Chay Genoway Named Houston Aeros Man of the Year

April 3rd, 2012

Houston Aeros defenseman Chay Genoway, one of the first pros to wear the The Messier Project's new M11 PRO helmet, has been named his team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year Award for his contributions in the Greater Houston community during the 2011-12 season.

Genoway is wrapping up a successful rookie pro season following a four-year career at the University of North Dakota.

Read details at:

http://theahl.com/ahl-man-of-the-year-team-winners-announced-p176907/t-mobile_news_article&bblh=other

and:

http://www.aeros.com/Gameday/news/index.html?article_id=3380

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New M11 PRO at USA Hockey Tier I Nationals in Buffalo Area

March 27th, 2012

The Messier Project's slick new M11 PRO helmet will be showcased by Great Skate Hockey during the USA Hockey Tier I National Championships at the Northtown Center at Amherst near Buffalo, N.Y. on March 28-April 1.  The facility is located at 1615 Amherst Manor Drive in Williamsville, N.Y.

A rep from The Messier Project will be on hand on Thursday, March 29 to answer questions about the M11 PRO, which made its team debut with two top Minnesota high school teams — Hill-Murray and Minnetonka — and Harvard University earlier this month.  The helmet will ship to hockey specialty dealers in April.

Top midget (18 and under and 16 and under), bantam and pee wee teams from across the U.S. will compete in the championships. Games start from the afternoon through the evening.

Here are links to the schedules from USA Hockey:

12U: http://usahockey.com/Boys_12U.aspx

14U: http://usahockey.com/Tier-I_14U.aspx

 

 The rink website, including a map, can be found at:

http://www.amherst.ny.us/govt/recreation/ice_detail.asp?dept_id=dept_17&div_id=div_24&menu_id=menu_00

 

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