Toledo Retro Hockey sells Toledo Goaldiggers clothing

Toledo Local Features  |  01/10/2014

David Hamilton understands that retro sports clothing is in right now, but he's more than an opportunist. Since starting Toledo Retro Hockey around a year ago, he not only sells memorabilia of Toledo's former (1974-1986) International Hockey League team, The Goaldiggers, but Hamilton is also collecting photos and facts, with hopes to create an intricate timeline of Glass City hockey. So, first and foremost, he's a fan. He fondly recalls the Miracle on Mainstreet, when an underdog Goaldigger team won the 1975 Turner Cup. Then watching Goaldigger forward and 1980 Team USA captain Mike Eruzione score the game-winning goal against Team Russia in what became known as the Miracle on Ice. Toledo.com caught up with Hamilton to talk about what inspired him to start Toledo Retro Hockey, his first year in business and possibly expanding his line. 

On what inspired him to start the business. 

"There is a part of me that has wanted to do something like this for a long time. I just didn't know that it would take this long. I've had the idea in my head for 20-some years. But, what really brought it to the forefront was last year, during the holiday season: I was online, looking around, and, as a big fan of the Toledo Goaldiggers, was looking to order for myself. Through a lot of research, I found that the reason I couldn't find anything was that someone owned the trademark for the logo, which was Classic Sports Logos out of Texas. From there, I was seeing if I could connect with the person who owned the logo and, one thing lead to another ? it actually took about two and a half months ? and I worked out a licensing agreement."

On his first year.

"The one thing that I've learned from being in business for the first year is the biggest challenge is to not put yourself out of business. It's very easy to do. If you don't make the right decision, it can be catastrophic. The other aspect of this is ? I grew up a big fan of the Goaldiggers ? my intuition told me that I can't be the only one that is this enthusiastic. But, you can write the best business plan in the world, but you just don't know until you go and do it."

On collecting photos and facts. 

"I have gotten a lot of support. There is a small group of people in town that are collectors. Many of them go from the Mercury, all the way to the Storm and the Walleye. It's kind of been a combination of me being able to find things through eBay and through the web; another part of it is to work with a handful of folks willing to provide me stuff. Our goal, on the website, is to be able to encompass, slowly but surely, the full history of minor-professional hockey in Toledo."

On expanding. 

"The longterm goal is to expand to these other brands, but there are things that have to be explored and worked out. If we continue to be successful with the Goaldiggers and interest continues to grow, we'll pursue these other teams." 

On the popularity of vintage sports clothing. 

"If you look around, in all sports, vintage is in. Whether it's the professional teams wearing their retro uniforms or people wearing old logos, there's a lot of demand for vintage things these days. So, obviously, hockey is no different, especially in Toledo." 

For more info ? or to buy some Goaldiggers clothing ? visit www.toledoretrohockey.com or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToledoRetroHockey?fref=ts.