Pure Hockey, a national retailer specializing in selling hockey equipment, apparel, and accessories, announced this week that it has acquired all 22 Perani’s Hockey World locations, including the Flint location in the Dort Mall. A temporary sign covering the old Perani’s sign is already up outside the store at the Dort Mall.
Perani’s Hockey World launched in 1976 by Bob Perani, a former professional hockey player and legendary Flint Generals fan favorite. Perani played collegiately at St. Lawrence University and had stints in the IHL, AHL, and OHA. He moved to Flint in the 1960s and began building his highly successful sporting goods business, which eventually expanded to dozens of locations in the U.S. and Canada, in Flint.
Perani, whose No. 1 was retired by the Generals, was also briefly part of an ownership group that owned the team before it folded in 2010 and the arena they played in (now named Dort Federal Arena). Perani died in 2012 at age 69, but his name and the many connections he has to Flint area hockey, have continued to live on. The Perani’s Hockey World website even references two hockey Hall of Famers, mentioning that Mike Modano bought his first pair of skates at one of their stores and Pat LaFontaine briefly worked at a Perani’s Hockey World.
In a Facebook post, Rico L. Phillips, a Flint native and member of the Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame and founder of the Flint Inner City Youth Hockey Program, reflected on what Perani’s Hockey World meant to generations of hockey players, coaches, and families over the years.
“Perani’s Hockey World was my hockey home—just as it was for so many of us who grew up visiting the shop owned and operated by the beloved Flint Generals goalie from the late ’60s and early ’70s,” Phillips wrote. Locals remember the tiny, cram‑packed store on Davison Road, overflowing with hockey gear and even more customers. It felt small because it was always full—players stopping in for a new stick or whatever else they needed to play the game. My mother bought my very first set of equipment from Perani’s, and I still remember being helped by **Bob Perani himself**. That kind of personal, genuine customer service was the foundation of the store’s success—and it remained the constant through every chapter.”
Phillips acknowledged a consistently vital part of the experience at Perani’s Hockey World was the staff. In their news release announcing the acquisition, Pure also referenced the staff and, it seems, that operations at the former Perani’s locations will continue without much change.
“This is an exciting day for Perani’s Hockey World and our customers,” said Kevin Ward, president of Perani’s Hockey World, said in a news release. “This next chapter allows us to enhance the overall in-store experience while continuing to deliver the personal service our customers know and trust. We are proud of what we’ve built and excited to grow under the Pure Hockey brand. There are no words that fully express our gratitude for all the support through the years.”
David Nectow, CEO of Pure Hockey, said in a statement that Pure has had an interest in acquiring the business for years because of the reputation Perani’s has built over their decades serving the hockey community.
“The late Bob Perani started a hockey business many years ago and built an incredible foundation. Kevin Ward and Robert Perani Jr. and their team have done a remarkable job with the Perani’s business over the past 15-20 years,” Nectow said in a statement. “We’ve had many conversations over the years about doing something together and thankfully for us, the timing is now right. We’re acquiring a business with a remarkable legacy rooted in exceptional service, strong community connections, and a genuine passion for the game. Their presence across the Midwest makes this an especially meaningful addition as we continue to grow in key markets. We look forward to building on that foundation with our expanded assortment, services, and resources.”
Pure Hockey has an FAQ page set up for Perani’s Hockey World customers who have gift cards, store accounts, and other questions about the acquisition.
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