Reebok's hockey stick product placement is now part of NHL history (Source: Boston Herald)
This amazing diving save by Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas in Game 5 of the NHL playoffs this week was not only a miraculous sports moment. As captured by endless TV replays and Boston Herald photographer Matthew West, it also immortalizes Reebok as a household hockey brand.
Thomas has no official endorsement deal, like the way you see the Nike swoosh all over Tiger Woods. He just happened to like Reebok’s goalie stick! A sports equipment manufacturer could sign deals with all the league’s all-stars and still not score a high profile moment like this one.
As Lou Imbriano, a sports marketing expert at TrinityOne Worldwide, told the Herald: “That was like a movie save. You don’t see that in a regular play, you see that in movies and TV commercials, so (Reebok) got a live-action commercial.”
Of course, one dramatic hockey play (or product placement hit) doesn’t determine who goes to the Stanley Cup. The Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning square off tonight. Will marketing lightning strike twice for Reebok?
If you’re a hockey fan, try snapping pics of your favorite moments during the game and Pongr them to either bostonbruins@pongr.com or tampabaylightning@pongr.com
Pongr itself is game of personal product placement, an opportunity to celebrate our favorite brands with our friends. Even though you won’t hear the roar of thousands of fans, scoring Pongr Bucks for the Pongr Store are a fantastic consolation prize!