Bauer recalls thousands of children’s hockey sticks

Bauer Hockey is recalling thousands of children’s hockey sticks across North America after Health Canada warned the company of possible lead content.

The recalled junior and youth sticks were manufactured in the company’s Chinese factory, and an order has been issued to have them pulled from stores, according to a Health Canada report.

Meanwhile, the Hockey News is reporting the number of recalled sticks might be as high as 100,000.

Canadian Tire, one of the largest distributors of Bauer sticks, has been advised they are not affected by the recall.

"We haven’t been told about any of our sticks that need to be pulled from our shelves," said Canadian Tire spokeswoman Joanne Elson.

The larger recall follows an earlier Health Canada warning about the Nike Bauer Supreme One50 composite stick JR-52. Health Canada said their testing showed the yellow paint on the hockey stick contained lead in excess of the allowable limit.

Lead is toxic if ingested by young children, but no illnesses have been reported to Health Canada.