Born on the water. Built in Canada. 

Grey Owl Paddles was founded in 1975 by Brian Dorfman — a stockbroker who loved paddling more than the markets. Brian noticed a gap: most paddles were either cheaply mass-produced or handcrafted in small cottage shops, with very little in between. He wanted something better. So he built it.

Starting with a few prototypes and a lot of conviction, Brian set up shop in Cambridge, Ontario with a straightforward goal: combine traditional craftsmanship with smarter production methods to make truly great paddles more accessible to more people. Working with local engineers and machinists, he developed custom tools and machinery to bring his designs to life — and partnered with nearby colleges to bring in students and scale production.

It worked. Grey Owl paddles quickly gained traction across Canada, and the line grew to serve recreational paddlers, competitive racers, and eventually international markets. A purpose-built 12,000-square-foot facility in Cambridge became home base. Today, Grey Owl ships over 50,000 paddles annually to paddlers across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Through it all, Brian stayed close to the water — testing paddles, refining designs, and never straying far from the craft he started. His first canoe trip was over six decades ago. He hasn't looked back since.

A New Chapter

In May 2025, Grey Owl Paddles was acquired by Roustan Sports Ltd. — experts in premium wood-produced products and the team behind several respected hockey stick brands available at STIX.com. Grey Owl's custom machinery and manufacturing equipment has been relocated to Roustan Sports' 130,000-square-foot facility in Brantford, Ontario, setting the stage for the next era of the brand.

For Grey Owl's established dealer network, it's business as usual. For direct customers, select inventory is available right here on our website.

Where Hockey Meets the Water

Canada runs on two things: hockey and the outdoors. So it only made sense to bring them together.

Through our relationship with True Hockey, Grey Owl is proud to introduce the NHL Decal Paddle Collection — a full-size 54" basswood Scout paddle available in all 32 NHL team editions. Beautifully finished and designed for display, each paddle is a celebration of the two things Canadians love most. Whether it's mounted in a cottage, a games room, or an office, it's a conversation piece, a collector's item, and a perfect gift for the hockey fan in your life.

50 Years In. Just Getting Started.

2025 marks Grey Owl's 50th anniversary — and we couldn't be more proud of where this brand has been, or more excited about where it's going. With renewed energy, a focus on innovation, and a deep commitment to the paddling community, we're writing the next chapter of this iconic Canadian story.

Welcome aboard!