My Story

The Fight Behind the Brand: The Story of Gloves Off®

In the world of ice hockey, "gloves off" is a moment of raw, unfiltered intensity. It is the moment when the pretenses are dropped, the stakes are raised, and the real battle begins. But for our founder, the toughest fight didn't happen on the ice under the bright lights of a stadium. It happened in the quiet, suffocating darkness of a car on a cold Scottish night in 2005.

The Coldest Night:

At 29, life looked successful from the outside. A pro hockey career had transitioned into a "real job" in insurance to support a young family. There was a nice home, a great salary, and the love of a beautiful wife and 3 amazing kids. Yet, that night, the engine was off, but the internal struggle was deafening. I couldn’t get out of the car. I couldn’t go and sell. I was 29 years old, and I was completely consumed by a depression I didn't yet have a name for or understand. I felt like the loneliest man on earth, and the weight of silence was crushing. I had lost my father to an accident at 21— then becoming a father myself just the day after his funeral. I had retired from the game I loved at 23. I was carrying the ghosts of a career ended too soon and a grief never fully processed. That night, through the tears, a realization took hold: I needed to fight back, but not with my fists. I needed a different kind of strength.

Born from the Struggle:

In those weeks that followed, my car became my sanctuary and my studio. Instead of selling insurance, I sketched. I brainstormed. I poured my pain into paper. I wanted to build something that connected the grit of ice hockey with a message of resilience—a brand that would stand for the internal battles we all face but rarely discuss.

GLOVES OFF® was born. Not as a fashion statement, but as a manifesto.

The Long Road to Reality:

The path from that cold night to the brand you see today was not a straight line. It was marked by further loss, the shadows of addiction born from hockey-related spine surgeries, and the humbling reality of starting over as an adult apprentice joiner just to find a world without the pressure of the "hard sell." It took a second bout of serious depression and the courage to seek professional help to finally realize the truth: my struggles weren't unique, but they were mine to own. I learned that the demons might never fully leave, but they can be understood, lived with, and fought every single day. In February 2014, with the unwavering support of my wife Shirley and our family, GLOVES OFF LTD became a reality. 

Our Mission: The Real Fight

Today, GLOVES OFF® is more than apparel or a shop. It is a community for those who know that the hardest hits come from life, not the boards. We create gear for the survivors, the fighters, and the ones who are still in the car, trying to find the strength to open the door. When you wear GLOVES OFF®, you aren't just wearing a brand. You are acknowledging the fight. You are dropping the pretense. You are standing up to the shadows.

I wear GLOVES OFF® with huge pride...... and so should you! 

Every adversity carries with it, the seed of a greater or equivalent benefit!
Scott Plews  #24