HE IS THE VERY SHARP DOUG
MEEHAN.
DOUG: AT SPARKS HOCKEY, THEIR
BUSINESS IS WRITING A RAZORS
EDGE.
OR IN THIS CASE, A HOCKEY SKATE
BLADE’S EDGE.
>> WE MAKE A SKATE SHARPENER
USED FOR CONSUMER AND
PROFESSIONALS.
DOUG: THE FOUNDER AND CEO HAS
BEEN PLAYING HOCKEY SINCE HE WAS
A KID.
AND IT WAS A GRADUATE SCHOOL
PROJECT WHILE HE WAS AN
ENGINEERING STUDENT AT
NORTHEASTERN THAT EVENTUALLY LED
HIM TO COMBINE HIS PASSIONS.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST SHARPENER
RIGHT HERE.
THAT WAS QUITE FAR FROM WHERE WE
ARE TODAY.
DOUG THE GOAL FOR THIS
MASSACHUSETTS MANUFACTURER, MAKE
IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO SAFELY
SHARPEN SKATES AT HOME RATHER
THAN RUNNING OUT TO THE RINK.
>> THE CONVENIENCE MAKES IT SO
EASY TO DO THAT YOU NEVER EVEN
THINK TWICE ABOUT DOING IT.
DOUG: IS NOT JUST THE PEEWEES.
THE PROS ARE USING THEM.
OVER 20 NHL TEAMS INCLUDING YOUR
BOSTON BRUINS ARE KEEPING A
COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH SPARKS.
>> WE HAVE OVER 20,000
SHARPENERS IN THE MARKET, BOTH
CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL, WITH
OVER 1500 IN THE COMMERCIAL
SECTOR.
NHL TEAMS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
COLLEGE TEAMS, AS WELL AS ALL
THE RETAILERS IN BETWEEN.
DOUG: EVER EVOLVING AS A
COMPANY, THEY HAVE TEAMED UP
WITH THE BIG NAMED LEAH -- BLADE
MANUFACTURERS AND SOON WILL BE
OFFERING SOME RATHER SHARP
CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS.
>> YOU CAN HAVE YOUR NUMBER,
PLAYER NAME, TEAM LOGO.
WE ARE GOING TO BE PUSHING THIS
INTO THE NHL.
DOUG: EVEN THOUGH SPARKS IS A
MASSACHUSETTS-BASED COMPANY,
THEY REALLY ARE A GLOBAL
OPERATION.
WHEN WE VISITED, A HUGE DELIVERY
WAS HEADED OUT TO SWEDEN.
AND THEY HOPE TO BE INVOLVED
WITH THE NEXT WINTER LIMPET
GAME
