NHL Reaches Deal with Maintenance, Repair and Operations Company

The National Hockey League has reached a multiyear deal to name Fastenal as the official maintenance, repair and operations partner for the league through the 2023–2024 season, a partnership that will also extend to ice rinks across North America.

Maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) encompasses the wide-ranging products and services needed to keep venues up and running, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing products used to maintain rinks, sanitation and janitorial supplies required to keep facilities clean and safe, and power tools and accessories used by players and equipment managers to prepare gear for game play.

Under terms of the deal, Fastenal will receive a presence at future NHL events, including corner in-ice advertising positions and in-arena branding at the NHL Winter Classic, the NHL All-Star Weekend, the NHL Global Series and the NHL Stadium Series.

The league intends to use the company’s supplier network to provide a variety if MRO supply needs. Fastenal also intends to offer products used to maintain safe environments, including PPE (personal protective equipment), sanitizer and cleaning supplies.

In an additional component of the deal and in an effort to keep ice hockey sustainable and rink operations cost-effective, the partnership will tap Fastenal’s nationwide branch network to offer services to 4,800-plus community rinks across North America.

“We are thrilled to welcome Fastenal to the NHL family,” said Max Paulsen, NHL director of business development. “Our facility operators, equipment managers and trainers can immediately benefit from Fastenal’s wide assortment of MRO products for all their specialized needs. This partnership reinforces the League’s commitment to community rinks via Fastenal’s industry-leading expertise, product inventory and competitive preferred pricing, which will ultimately ensure the continued growth of hockey at all levels.”