Strauss Skates & Bicycles, based in Maplewood, Minn., is a staunch supporter of The Messier Project — and has a great story.

This independent sporting good retailer traces its roots to 1887, when German immigrant John E. Strauss founded the business as a safe and lock company in St. Paul. Using skills he learned making swords, Strauss later began producing figure, speed and hockey skates.  Among his customers were figure skating legend Sonja Henie, other Olympians, and "Original Six" NHL teams and hockey clubs in Minnesota.

You can read the full history of this amazing company at: http://www.buylocaltwincities.com/news/2012/09/2370.

If you're in the Twin Cities, visit Strauss and check out the great service and inventory, including new M11 PRO and M11 helmets.

Left:  Strauss in St. Paul in 1938.  Right: The modern Strauss store in Maplewood, Minn.

The Messier Project is the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Official Helmet Supplier and has outfitted the league’s 26 teams in the revolutionary M11 helmet the past two seasons.

Many NAHL teams and players are transitioning to the new, next-generation M11 PRO helmet for 2012-13. Members of The Messier Project’s team were on hand this weekend at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. at the 10th Annual NAHL Showcase to support players such as Brookings (S.D.) Blizzard defenseman Dylan Zink (below).

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.  You can follow the league at: www.nahl.com.

The Messier Project and Mark Messier have been leaders in the discussion on and evolution of head protection in hockey.

In a story in the Sept. 10 edition of New England Hockey Journal, reporter Jesse Connolly talked to Mark and Mary-Kay Messier about The Messier Project's mission, technologies, new M11 PRO helmet and contribution to the game.

Read the story at:  http://digital.hockeyjournal.com/nxtbooks/seamans/nehj_201209/#/28.

You also can sign up for a free digitial subscription to New England Hockey Journal at http://digital.hockeyjournal.com/splash/seamans/seamans.php.

The Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs AAA Hockey Alliance in London, Ontario supports teams from the Atom to Midget level, and allows players from Elgin and Middlesex Counties to compete at the highest levels of minor hockey in the province.

The Chiefs' 2012-13 Minor Bantam team is out to make a statement on the ice this season — in sharp new black M11 PRO helmets with orange venting that complement the squad's uniforms. Good luck and thanks for being part of The Messier Project Community!

The Messier Project's partners at London's Source For Sports, a premier hockey dealer in the area, outfitted the Chiefs' Bantam squad.

The new hockey season is approaching fast, and teams across North America are joining The Messier Project Community for 2012-13 by switching into the new M11 PRO helmet, the next evolution in head protection.

• Western Ontario University Mustangs Men’s and Women’s Teams (London, Ontario. Canadian Interuniversity Sport – CIS)
• Acadia University Axemen Men’s Team  (Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Canadian Interuniversity Sport — CIS)
• Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) North Stars AAA Midgets.  The host team for 2013 Telus Cup Canadian National Midget AAA Championships.
• University of Guelph (Ontario) Gryphons Women’s Team (Guelph, Ontario. Canadian Interuniversity Sport — CIS)
• Carleton University Ravens Women's Hockey Team (Ottawa, Ontario. Canadian Interuniversity Sports - CIS)
• University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women’s Team (South Bend, Indiana)

Both stock and custom models of the M11 PRO are rolling off the line at our state-of-the-art facility in Liverpool, N.Y.  Check them out at hockey specialty dealers across North America.

Like the groundbreaking M11 helmet, the M11 PRO is built around 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.

He'll Continue Personal Involvement in Equipment Development and Player Education Following Bauer Acquisition of Cascade Sports and The Messier Project

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Making hockey safer and improving player protection remain multi-faceted, intertwined and long-term challenges. But Mark Messier believes progress is being made in the mission, one the Hall of Famer has championed personally.

A big step just took place: Bauer Performance Sports has concluded its acquisition of Cascade Sports and The Messier Project. 

The Messier Project, a collaboration between Cascade and the NHL legend, has raised awareness for player safety and head protection issues since its launch in 2009. The Messier Project’s helmets — the groundbreaking M11 and new M11 PRO — have given hockey players new technology in the battle to reduce the risks of concussions and other head injuries.

The Messier Project, its technology and Mark's personal commitment will not only continue, but be amplified under the banner of the industry-leading Bauer Hockey brand.

“When we launched The Messier Project, our goal was to make a difference,” he said. “It was an extension of a personal mission to better protect players and make the game safer through education and awareness, and product innovation. 

“We’ve made great strides with this initiative,” Mark added. “And now the acquisition of Cascade by Bauer Performance Sports is exciting for The Messier Project and for me personally.

“I’ve always believed from early on that a major hockey company could make an enormous impact on helping to accomplish our mission. In meetings with Bauer it is clear we share a collective mission to protect the players. With the power and extension of the Bauer brand, and the combination of both our resources and assets, I feel extremely confident about our future direction.”

Mark has been involved personally from start-to-finish in the development of The Messier Project’s helmets. An admitted perfectionist when it comes to his own equipment, he has applied the same insight and scrutiny to the M11 and M11 PRO.

Now Mark will be able to partner with the combined resources of Bauer and Cascade in future product development.

“I look forward to working together with the Bauer and Cascade teams to continue to drive our mission,” he said. “I am very optimistic about our ability to accelerate progress in improving player protection, and deliver the most innovative head protection in the game of hockey.”

Mark remains active in the rollout of The Messier Project’s new M11 PRO helmet, the “next evolution” of the groundbreaking M11.

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

Mark points out that the M11 has been widely embraced by hockey players, teams, coaches and parents at grassroots and developmental levels of the game. The design and features of M11 PRO are part of an effort to get the same advanced technology and protection onto the heads of elite players.

“After two years on the market we received a lot of feedback from the players,” Messier said. “At the elite level, players felt really positive about the protection and comfort of the M11, but wanted a more streamlined design and look.

“We know from experience that we can’t ignore elite players' demands for the right design — the 'mirror test' for hockey helmets,” he added. “We’ve responded to that with the M11 PRO, a model that offers advanced protection and pro-level performance. The M11 and the M11 PRO give players two great options for advanced head protection.”

Mark was adamant on achieving an optimal fit with the M11 and M11 PRO, one that makes the helmet an extension of the player and completely unnoticeable during games. Players are telling him The Messier Project has accomplished that with both helmets.

“Comfort plays a role in protection,“ he said. "By eliminating pressure points, players are more likely to achieve a snug fit that keeps the helmet in place during play and on impact. The ProFit system is positioned low below the natural curve of the head with a mechanism that adjusts the entire helmet shell to provide a true, 360° custom fit.”

The Pro Fit system was first introduced in Cascade Sports’ top-selling line of lacrosse helmets and updated for the M11. The enhanced Pro Fit2 in the M11 Pro is a high precision, 15-point, no tool micro-adjustment system with a new ultra-compact, tapered design. 

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. Like the M11, the M11 PRO can be custom ordered in one of 256 color combination to help build team identities.

It’s prospect camp season around the NHL, and left winger Max Friberg shows off his M11 PRO helmet during the Anaheim Ducks’ 2012 camp in Anaheim, Calif. The 19-year-old Swede was drafted in the fifth round by the Ducks in 2011.

Expect to see helmets from The Messier Project on more young players in the NHL as they climb through hockey’s elite ranks.

Many of the 31 players at the New York Rangers 2012 Prospect Development Camp are skating in The Messier Project's new M11 PRO helmet as they take part in on-ice drills and scrimmages at the MSG Training Facility in Tarrytown, N.Y. June 25-30.

The NHL hopefuls are enjoying wearing the latest helmet developed under the auspices — and watchful eye — of NHL legend and former Rangers captain Mark Messier, who has been on hand at the camp as a member of the Rangers’ executive hockey operations staff. 

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

Mark pointed out that the M11 has been widely embraced by hockey players, teams, coaches and parents at grassroots and developmental levels of the game.  The design and features of M11 PRO are part of an effort to get the same advanced technology and protection on to the heads of elite players, like the skaters at the Rangers’ camp.

“After two years on the market we received a lot of feedback from the players,” Mark said  “At the elite level, players felt really positive about the protection and comfort of the M11.  

“We know from experience that we can’t ignore elite players demands for the the right design — the “mirror test” for hockey helmets,” he added.  “We’ve responded to that with the M11 PRO, a model that has the same DNA and advanced protection of the M11, combined with a more streamlined look and pro-level performance. The M11 and the M11 PRO give players two great options for advanced head protection.”

Mark admits that as a player he was very particular about his equipment.  He was adamant that the fit of the M11, and now the M11 PRO be so comfortable that wearing the helmet wasn’t noticeable on the ice.

“Comfort plays a role in protection, because players don’t want to notice their gear or have it distract them,” he said. “The M11 PRO has an enhanced fit system them that keeps it snug with no pressure points, and that keeps it in place on through all motion and impacts on the ice.

"We're getting great feedback from the players here at the Ranger's camp on the M11 PRO, and most of them are wearing it."

N.Y. Rangers forward prospect Jesper Fast runs through drills in his new M11 PRO.

Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan was named the recipient of the 2011-12 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, presented by Bridgestone during the 2012 NHL Awards ceremony at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on Wednesday night, June 20.

The award, which was presented personally by Mark to Doan, recognizes the individual who is a superior leader in hockey and as a contributing member of society. It honors the individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes.

"I am thrilled to receive the Mark Messier Leadership Award," Doan said. "Growing up in Alberta, I was a huge fan of Mark Messier and to receive this award from one of the greatest leaders to ever play in the NHL is a tremendous honor."

Doan was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1995 and has played all 16 of his NHL seasons with the franchise. He has served as the Coyotes' captain since 2003 and this past season, led the team to its first division title and first appearance in the Western Conference finals in franchise history.

"It is hard to imagine a more worthy recipient of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award than Shane Doan," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. "The leadership and inspiration he displays daily in our locker room is only exceeded by his selfless giving in our community. It's a well-deserved honor."

Doan also serves as an ambassador for Coyotes Charities and works with a number of organizations including: United Blood Services, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Flashes of Hope and Children First Academy -- a kindergarten through eighth grade school for homeless children.

Mark solicits suggestions from club and league personnel and NHL fans through nhl.com in compiling a list of potential candidates. However, the selection of the three finalists and the ultimate winner is Mark's alone. The other two finalists for the award were Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown and New York Rangers forward Ryan Callahan.

You can view the presentation here at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD3hXhYNPJg

Today marks a new and exciting chapter for Cascade Sports and The Messier Project. Earlier today, Bauer Performance Sports, the parent company of Bauer Hockey, Mission Roller Hockey and Maverik Lacrosse, agreed to purchase our company.

In addition to Cascade’s significant lacrosse brand, the acquisition also includes Cascade’s hockey helmet business, which as you know, has experienced success in the industry by partnering with hockey icon Mark Messier to develop and market the M11 and M11 PRO helmet. 

Combining Bauer’s strong hockey brand and its leading R&D capabilities with Cascade’s patented hockey helmet technology as well as Mark Messier’s stature, experience and influence in hockey combine to further advance our collective mission to evolve player protection. Bauer, Cascade and Mark Messier (through “The Messier Project”) all share the same passion to make the game safer through technological advancements, education and awareness, and the combination of these efforts can be extremely powerful for us moving forward.

Joining the Bauer team allows our team the opportunity to reach more players and influencers to promote the education and awareness programs we successfully built through The Messier Project. I will also continue to lead all efforts associated with the M11 and M11 PRO, including sales, marketing and promotion, in order to fully support the products at retail.

Moving forward, we plan to share relevant Cascade and Bauer technologies to develop the best comprehensive helmet line in the industry.

In addition to combined technologies, Bauer will look to leverage our unique manufacturing capabilities. We will continue to manufacture lacrosse and hockey helmets in Liverpool, N.Y. and provide our 48-hour turn-around for custom helmet orders (over 750,000 unique color combinations). In addition to our current product line, Bauer expects to expand manufacturing at the facility to offer Bauer-branded helmets with the same quick turn around and custom color options.

We are extremely excited to join Bauer Performance Sports and look forward to delivering the most innovative head protection in the game.

If you have any questions or inquires, please email us at: contact@themessierproject.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Best regards, 

Mary-Kay Messier