Hockey In Canada

For as long as any Canadian can remember when winter comes, bringing with it all the usual cold, snow, and ice, Canadians young and old are struck by the passion known as hockey. Whether on a backyard rink, playing minor league, rep or professional, the level hardly seems to matter as the players skate up and down the ice trying to shoot and score. Whether this is because it’s a nationally loved sport, developed in Canada or because it simply provides a way of embracing relief from winter, this game with pucks and sticks has changed drastically from its simple origins, now severely restricting the opportunity to take part in it at an organized level. As always, children and adults alike will play pick-up hockey on ponds and frozen rivers, …show more content…
Hockey provides many of the physical and mental benefits associated with regular exercise. Played in an environment that allows for social interactions between individuals and groups and positive group dynamics can foster growth in teamwork, leadership and co-operation. As a result of equipment changes, the game is faster –paced, shots are faster and more accurate and players are better protected. Increased opportunity to play occurs as a result of more teams in more places at more levels. With additional off-season skills development opportunities, skill levels have increased at all levels and the resulting competition has seen improvement at all levels. However, this has come at a cost: equipment is more expensive, faster shots are more dangerous, registrations costs have become higher, `and more travel occurs and with it, associated costs and increased stress levels. Off-season skills development adds costs and increased competition levels have also increased stress to perform. One could argue that these costs outweigh the benefits and have ruined, not improved, hockey in …show more content…
John Gardner, long time president of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, stated that “the game has changed in this respect. It used to be that you had the right to play. Now it’s can you afford to play,” (as cited in Mirtle, 2013, p.1). A variety of factors have conspired to make minor hockey more expensive which means that the sports’ ‘blue-collar’ roots are changing. Players like Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky who came from modest backgrounds, might have a harder time making it in today’s hockey culture. The costs for a season of hockey include registration and ice time, skates and equipment as well as travel and accommodations. This can push the cost of even minor (AAA) hockey to between $4500 and $12,000 a season. With the dream of their child being scouted and discovered for the OHL, NHL or receiving an NCAA scholarship, the drive is to be on an elite team. This requires off-ice and off-season training. Personal trainers, skills development programs, spring seasons, summer camps and even hockey academies are becoming increasingly the norm. Parents will pay up to $40,000 a season for teens to incorporate hockey into their high school education (Mirtle, 2013,