With the winter Olympics in full swing in Canada, on this side of the Atlantic one local business is a bit of a specialist when it comes to providing clothing and promotional merchandise for ice-hockey teams.

After rescuing Division One leaders Invicta Dynamos at the beginning of the season, Recognition Express Kent now produces the teams training hoodies, replica strip and all of the merchandise for the ice-hockey club and has just designed the new 2010 jersey for the youth teams.

Owners of Recognition Express Kent, Steve Randerson and Paul Slack came to the rescue of the Dynamos when their new strip hadn’t turned up in time for the opening fixture of the English National Hockey League Division 1. The ice hockey team, which plays at Gillingham Ice Bowl, faced an automatic 5-0 defeat forfeit for the match if they played without numbers on their jerseys.

Steve and Paul have their own production facility in Rochester where they can personalise promotional items and clothing on the premises. As a result within just 24 hours of the call from Invicta Dynamos general manager Martin Ryder, the team were on the ice wearing their practice jerseys – complete with numbers- and won the match against the Oxford Stars 11-3.

Said Steve Randerson: “It was a big challenge, but we knew how serious the situation would be if the team got penalised. So it was all hands on deck working round the clock to meet the deadline.”

Commented Invicta Dynamos general manager Martin Rider: “The Recognition Express boys really came up trumps. We were impressed by their work ethic and willingness to do whatever it took to get the jerseys done for us. As a result we have given them more business, safe in the knowledge that because they control their own production they will never let us down.”

Recognition Express also provides sports kits and merchandise for the Howard School and Greenacre School Partnerships and produces the leaver merchandise for the University of Kent.