Hockey industry veteran Charlie Gualtieri has been named the recipient of the 2015 Bob Perani Lifetime Achievement Award.
Gualtieri is a Massachusetts native who graduated from Somerville High School in 1960 and then joined the Army. Shortly thereafter, he began his career in the sporting goods industry with the Hyde Show Company in 1962. He then worked for CCM as a sales representative and then graduated internally to Vice President of U.S. Sales for CCM.
In 1987, Gualtieri picked up the Blademaster line of skate care equipment and supplies, eventually becoming the exclusive distributor of Blademaster in the United States. Along the way, he picked up the Sherwood category of hockey products and in 1993 began to make hockey bags.
Gualtieri’s company today, New England Sports Sales, is a family operation with son Chuck deeply ingrained in the business.
“I’m in love with the industry. I love my job and what I am doing,” Charlie Gualtieri said.
“Charlie always treated my dad fairly. But no matter who you were in the industry, he treated everyone fairly and with respect. These are amazing qualities to have and this is why he is so deserving of this award,” said Robert Perani, Bob’s son.
This award is given in honor of the late Bob Perani. Winners of this award are individuals in the hockey industry who live up to Perani’s standard of passion, dedication, commitment, responsibility, hard work and integrity. Perani was a long-time hockey person who played collegiately at St. Lawrence University and later professionally for the Flint Generals. He then founded Perani’s Hockey World and built this business into 24 national stores. The inaugural award winner was Bob Naegele Jr., and last year’s recipient was Bill McLean.
The Bob Perani Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at a reception on Friday, March 6 in St. Paul, Minn., in conjunction with the 26th Annual Let’s Play Hockey Expo. In addition, long-time sales reps and dealers will be honored at the reception.
