ROCKET PRODUCTS DRIES GEAR AND ELIMINATES BACTERIA

When Domenic Ciarallo made a trip to China in 2007 he did more than just visit the sights of what the historic country had to offer.  What he came back to Canada with was an idea to create a portable, lightweight device capable of cleaning garments and athletic equipment in relatively quick fashion after a day’s usage.  Equally important a device that can remove unwanted bacteria and prevent staph infection. The invention became the Rocket Dryer™.

A 53-year-old Montreal native, Ciarallo has first hand of what hockey equipment goes through after toiling as a goaltender during his collegiate days at Middlebury College followed by a professional stint in Italy and Sweden.

But it wasn’t until he visited China where he saw a prototype of what some people in that country used to clean garments and prevent bacterial growth.  “I said that we need to have something like this (in Canada),” he recalled. “It was part of a bigger vision to help with hygiene in sports and recreation.”

Launching the Rocket Dryer™ in 2010 under his Rocket Sport product line, Ciarallo’s initial objective was to target the minor hockey segment. It’s at this competitive level where ominous odours emanating from equipment and garment stored in equipment bags can be overbearing.  Or even in residential garages or basements when equipment is being dried out and rank odours can be dominant.

In addition to cleaning apparel and preventing the spread of bacteria, Ciarallo was quick to point out the Rocket Dryer™ and more recent Rocket Locker™ can extend the lifespan of a player’s equipment.  

“Hockey equipment can cost $750 or more and with the use of the Rocket Dryer™ it can last for longer periods of time rather than having to throw it out,” he said.

In explaining how the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™ operate, Ciarallo said, “It is based on the concept where a combination of heat, UV light and vented air dries most sporting equipment and clothing within 60 minutes.  

Equipment and clothing are hung on a steel frame using S-hooks.  A steel frame is enclosed within a polyurethane-lined fabric dryer bag. The heater unit heats air inside at a constant 70 degrees C.

While Ciarallo initially targeted the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™ for minor hockey usage, he also saw how valuable it could be for other athletes who don heavy equipment while performing highly athletic maneuvers.

Among those include all of the NHL mascots.

“I love it to death. It’s an awesome product,” said Bailey, official mascot of the Los Angeles Kings, of the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™.

“I use it every game. It definitely helps remove any rank odours and it dries my equipment quickly.”  

Ciarallo has a new addition to his Rocket Sport product line after unveiling the Rocket Stall™ during the recent 2018 National Hockey League all-star game in Tampa, FL.

A byproduct of the Rocket Locker™ and Rocket Dryer™, the Rocket Stall™ measures 30 inches in width by 72 inches in height and 30 inches in depth and was created to dry multiple athletic sports gear, Domenic shared.

In creating the Rocket Stall™, Ciarallo was quick to point out it provides added space for performers who don either more bulkier equipment such as a goalkeeper or a team mascot, who often sport apparel that far exceeds their physical frame.

For more information on the Rocket Dryer™ and other products under Ciarallo’s Rocket Sport line, log on to: www.rocketsport.com

Rocket Sport owner: "Domenico Ciarallo, who attended the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi as a guest of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team, says that when sporting events are over for the day, it’s customary for athletes to swing by the Olympic houses of other countries to get to know each other. “The Canadian Olympic House was the center of the universe for us, but after 11 p.m., it was all about the Swiss Olympic House,” he says. “They had a party until 2 a.m. every night with great music, food, drinks, and lots of medalists.”

"In packing for the Winter Olympics, Canadian entrepreneur" Rocket Sport Owner: "Domenico Ciarallo stuffed his bags with hats and t-shirts bearing the logo of his company, which makes locker-room dryers.  Once on the ground, though, he is wary when handing them out to any Olympians even if he sponsors them."

“The athletes put them in their bag right away but they know that they can’t wear these here because you can get caught not wearing official team merchandise,” Ciarallo said.

"Ciarallo’s Montreal-based Rocket Sports, whose equipment keeps ice-hockey gear dry, is among a group of companies, big and small, trying to grab attention at the Pyeongchang Games without infringing on official Olympic sponsors."

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"But guerilla marketing can still find legitimate opportunities at the Games, though it can involve a lot of legwork and can be toughest for small entrepreneurs like Ciarallo who is advertising his presence at Pyeongchang on his website and by word of mouth but can do little else."

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Ciarallo, the entrepreneur with the upstart dryer company, also knows he must be careful. “I’m playing by the rules. If I do something not so kosher, I’m dead.”