To ring in a big new contract extension, William Hartmann entered an endorsement with a local sporting goods store in Edmonton, as being one of the higher-profile players on the SHL team meant lots of eyes on his play. The deal would see Hartmann design a line of skates that would be sold in the store, putting the superstar touch on the ware. Replicas of the Swiss winger's stick styles would also be sold in the shop so that kids could imitate #47 in their road hockey games. Unfortunately, the manufacturer subcontracted the production to a company in Venezuela, and there is currently a lawsuit against both the store and the manufacturer for an issue in which the blade holders snapped off the boot when skating at high speed, allegedly causing at least seventeen broken femurs and several bruised ribs from high-speed impacts with the boards, the net, and other players. The skates have been recalled in embarrassing fashion, and it is unsure when they will hit the market again.