Hockey industry veteran Mike Vaughn has been named the recipient of the 2016 Bob Perani Lifetime Achievement Award.
Vaughn is a Michigan native who played hockey through Juniors. When he was 14 years old, Mike first met Bob Perani and got to know him well when he was a small pro shop owner. He first worked for Bob at his pro shop at the Lakeland Arena in Waterford, Mich., in 1979.
“Bob was always great with the customers and was very engaging. He also was a great storyteller,” said Vaughn.
In 1981, Mike started his goalie equipment company in his garage. Now, 34 years later, his products are sold around the world and 82 percent of all goalies in the National Hockey League wear a major piece of his product.
Vaughn is the only independently-owned company in hockey. Besides the Vaughn brand, he also owns Eagle and is the majority owner of Brian’s.
“We could not be more thrilled that Mike is receiving this award. Not only has he revolutionized the goaltending industry, but his connection with our family makes it even more special,” said Robert Perani, Bob’s son.
The Bob Perani Lifetime Achievement 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. Past award winners include Bob Naegele, Jr., Bill McLean and Charlie Gualtieri.
The Bob Perani Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the 27th Annual Let’s Play Hockey Expo in St. Paul, Minn., on March 4, 2016.
