The Stores: SC Sports in Hamilton and St. Catharines

Second Chance Sports

SC Sports began in 1999 as Second Chance Sports, a shop for new and used hockey equipment on Hamilton Mountain. Its old welcome page put it plainly: the shop wanted to help players play their best with good prices, service and brands in hockey, baseball, lacrosse and more. “Make Second Chance your First Choice.”

The name suggested used gear, and used gear was part of it: skates, equipment and goalie gear second-hand alongside new stock from Bauer, Reebok, Easton and the rest. The same page told visitors not to let the name fool them, because it carried all the latest equipment as well. It also sold football, soccer, inline and weights, and sharpened skates.

Make Second Chance your First Choice.

Two stores

By 2016 there were two stores, one in Hamilton and one in St. Catharines, open seven days a week with late evenings on weekdays. In 2019 the St. Catharines store moved within downtown, and a season of road construction outside its door had it sending customers round the back to free parking.

Its promises were simple and printed on every page: “We match price. We exceed service. Guaranteed.” The price match covered local competitors' advertised prices on identical items, and staff were trained to fit every piece they sold.

Hamilton

The Hamilton store was the original Second Chance Sports, up on Hamilton Mountain, and it is the one that still trades under the SC Sports name today. For its current hours and services, go to the shop's own website or social pages.

St. Catharines

The St. Catharines store served Niagara hockey and baseball families from downtown St. Catharines. In 2019 it moved to a new spot in the same part of town, with free parking at the back.

SC Sports today

The Hamilton store still trades under the SC Sports name, with its own online presence. This website is not part of it: it cannot answer questions about stock, prices, hours or services, and anyone looking for the shop should find it through its own current channels.