Hockey equipment maker Bauer shifts to medical supplies to help fight pandemic

Instead of making hockey face shields like the one modeled above, Bauer is converting its factories to produce face shield for medical professionals fighting the coronavirus pandemic. | Handout

Hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer said it is making face shields for medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients.

In a tweet Wednesday, the company said it is repurposing its facilities to convert the face shields hockey players use into equipment for medical use.

Protection that allows athletes to give everything for their team is our heritage.

Right now, we're all on the same team. We're repurposing our facilities to make face shields so that medical professionals battling COVID-19 can safely continue to help those most vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/pBiZuUWdVl

— BAUER Hockey (@BauerHockey) March 25, 2020

Bauer CEO Ed Kinnaly told ESPN the company has received order for 100,000 shields from across Canada. Bauer is looking to offer its services to the United States.

”In the U.S., honestly, the word is not out yet.” Kinnaly said. “We’ve been doing outreach to various medical entities ... we’re also going to use our social channels to basically let the medical community know that we have the ability to produce these.”