The instant you walk into Bauer’s Own The Moment Hockey Experience retail store you realize that it was made for Minnesota and our love for the game of hockey.  The store, the second of its kind in the country for Bauer (the first is located in Burlington, MA near the company’s corporate offices) features large murals throughout with scenes from Minnesota youth hockey and the high school state tournament.  Also prominent is a University of Minnesota locker display and HD screens galore looping videos of hockey scenes from youth to NHL players.  However, once you get past the eye candy of the displays, you will see that this store has something of substance for every hockey player and fan to experience. 

The store has its grand opening this Saturday, November 14, at 9am.  Bauer has invited all of last year’s Minnesota Youth Hockey State Championship teams to be their guests of honor as they cut the ribbon on this hockey retail mecca.  They will christen the ice with a ceremonial puck drop and Minnesota Wild national anthem singer James Bohn will knock out the national anthem.  The store is sure to appeal to everyone from the casual hockey fan to the hockey player seeking to find a new edge to their game.   Own The Moment Hockey Experience is located at 758 American Blvd. West in Bloomington.   Hours are Monday thru Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 9am-6pm and Sunday 10am-5pm.   

The immediate focus of this store is the gear and there is no shortage.  Bauer has its full line of equipment in seemingly every color.  From sticks to protective equipment it is all displayed and ready for purchase in a very consumer friendly manner.  A large central section features the full Bauer skate line and promises to offer the best in finding the correct boot for each skater.   And yet another part of the store specializes in a complete and impressive section for goal tenders and their specific equipment needs.  All the gear is serviced by Bauer’s Personal Fit Experts.  These highly trained store employees are focused on getting hockey players in the right equipment and sizes to optimize their comfort and performance on the ice.  Speaking of ice, the store prominently features an 80 x 40 foot ice rink where players can take Bauer gear for a test drive to assure the fit is correct before they take it home.  The rink is resurfaced by a mini Zamboni (not for sale) that will be the envy of every pond hockey rink manager in the state.  The store also touts a synthetic ice lane specifically designed to assist players in selecting the proper stick. 

According to John Mullins, Bauer’s Head of Retail, while the gear is a large part of the hockey experience, the concept store encompasses the entire hockey lifestyle and exemplifies Bauer’s passion for the game.  The store has sections dedicated to knee hockey, accompanied by a small rink to test out mini gear, street and inline hockey, referee apparel, as well as hockey lifestyle clothing.

And for the future Jonathan Toews and Alexander Ovechkins out there, a special section was created for mites to get their own start up needs met.   Another unique focus for this store is complete team service.  The hockey experience has a team lounge and full locker room that caters to teams allowing them to meet with Bauer product experts and address their team’s full equipment needs.   And lastly, no hockey store would be complete without a full service skate shop for expert sharpening, repairs, and adjustments and Own the Moment obliges here as well.