and they say we have ISSUES!

Justin and I at The Hockey Card Show have never shied away from expressing our opinions while sitting on the couch and having a few - whether it’s about players, coaches, the media, or the game itself. I know all fans have an opinion and rightfully so. With this week’s events about to unfold I thought I would start with some preliminary thoughts.

When you think about kids playing hockey, you can help but smile. I know I can’t anyway. Often times when I think of playing as a kid whether it was organized or just on the ponds and driveway it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Perhaps the greatest thing about hockey is your first discovery of the game. The first game you watch (live or on TV), the first time you get your dad to tie up your skates, or the first time you go out and rattle a few balls of the garage door.

As a parent I am seeing this is my son over the last 6 months or so. My oldest boy who is 8 doesn’t seem to have an interest in the game and I am alright with that as well. My youngest boy’s passion is growing. He is 6 and some would say he is behind. As a great lover of the game I have never pushed them to play just because I played. He played organized ball hockey at the age of 4, and while it was comical (he was the youngest kid and smallest little guy who just ran over to the glass to wave to me), he didn’t seem keen on playing again. Now, with playing with his friends at school, and watching Daddy talk hockey on The Hockey Card Show (another shameless plug) he is very keen. We will shoot balls in the net on the driveway (well I shoot them in the net, he shoots them off the garage doors and my legs), and then he will ask me for once again another pack of hockey cards to add to his ever growing collection. Watching as his passion for the game grows, and seeing him feel the way I did as a kid is an amazing thing. He is already asking if maybe he could play hockey again. I told him that he can do whatever he wants. Isn’t this what every parent should say? Even with ever growing costs associated with the game (even at a young age) it is my opinion that every parent should be able to say this. Every kid should have the opportunity to play this great game.

This is a problem for a lot of families…MONEY. While I don’t foresee it being a problem with our family (yet) as we are a double income household, while there are single income families, or lower double income families struggling to make ends meet everyday. Having a child play hockey may not be an option, or at least at a high level. What if the child has talent? What if he is asked to play rep. hockey? The costs associated with this opportunity are at times, staggering! That is a sad reality that can wipe that smile off yours and your child’s face real quick. When did the mighty dollar become more important than the game? I understand the growing costs of everything that we could breakdown to a very skate lace, and the tough economic times we are in, but still!

Is soccer the way of the future in Canada, with the economics in its favor and the already huge popularity it has on a world wide scale? AS A HOCKEY FAN I DOUBT IT...AND HOPE THAT IS NEVER THE CASE! Anyone who has ever played or watched either game knows there is no comparison between the two. Soccer (football) on a world wide scale while it does boast some tremendously conditioned athletes, but is at many times boring to watch. While our great game, on the other hand has a fast pace and is a thrill to play or watch.

While hockey registration may be up in some other countries, is it somewhat stagnant here at home? I wouldn’t say it is something that should have everyone worried, but still something that should be looked at. Soccer on the other hand seems to be growing in popularity among the youths here in Canada. Is this for their or their parent’s great love of the game, perhaps but I think not. Once again in my opinion it has come down to money. The same reason you could possible say soccer is so popular world wide. There is of course the low cost of playing and the actual learning of the game. While to play hockey you need to be able to get ice time in order to learn how to skate, and of course come up with the necessary funds to pay for this as well as the equipment that will be required to play. Are there ways to increase popularity in our great sport world wide? Are some countries lacking the resources to do so? Should we consider ourselves lucky we are in the shape we are in compared to other countries?

As you may know 2 of the topics at the Summit are Growing Participation in Hockey: Growing hockey means both recruiting new players and retaining our current ones. It is important to promote positive messaging about our game and share best practices from around the world…AND… Player Skill Development Initiatives: Understanding the need for and establishing a long term plan for player development will assist player recruitment and retention and provide opportunities for a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience in youth hockey and foster long term participation in the sport at all levels of play - Two topics that will be very interesting indeed, considering the economic restraints I have mentioned. To put it in layman’s terms…has hockey more than ever before become a sport for only the rich kid?

A friend of mine who lives in a small town in Ontario has seen first hand the money issue I have just mentioned. His son plays Novice rep hockey. He has told me the AAA center starts at $1500 for Major Atom…just to register. Whereas it is $110 to register the child in soccer in this same small town, and you get a uniform and all you need to buy are shoes. We all know soccer can be played in the summer here in Canada, and hockey in the winter, but you can also see a growing number playing indoor soccer as well.

My friend has told me that to him it seems like soccer has almost become the social thing to do for your kids, which back when him and I were kids it was hockey. Both of my boys have played soccer in the summer and where I reside in Kitchener it is very popular.

Here are some statistics he has presented me from his town. Population 22,000, his son’s hockey age group (novice) was which consists of 7 & 8 year old had 1 rep. hockey team and 4 house league teams. Their local soccer for the same age group had 1 rep. team & 14 house league teams. This is the same group of kids! Obviously, many of them are not playing hockey! He and I, and many others agree…it is the cost associated with the game.

Another friend here in Kitchener has a son playing Bantam rep. hockey. He has pegged his costs to be around $8,000-$10,000 for the last season. This of course includes everything from registration fees, gas, lodging for out of town tournaments, equipment repairs or replacement and is minus any fundraising that may have been done by the kids.

Whereas if his son played decided to not play rep. and the OHA lost another talented kid, he would save a bundle. High school hockey, $150 sign up fee and $35 extra a tournament with the cost of one away tournament. Now obviously there is a difference in games played and caliber of hockey but you see the numbers.

Perhaps what they say is true - money IS the root of all evil. I could touch on other things related to money, like the cost of taking your family to an actual pro game. Which we all know is ridiculous, but I will save that for a later time. Besides, hockey at the pro level is a business, and I understand that so I will try to stay on topic.

So, as far as the kids go what is the answer? Who knows really…it will be interesting to see what the powers of the hockey world have to say at the upcoming World Hockey Summit. Will they touch on this at all? Will they only focus on safe practices? Will they talk about the assistance programs in place to subsidize the costs for a child to play and the public awareness that they are there? Will they only focus on getting proper fundamental teaching programs in place? Will they only focus on the coaching? All of these are great issues and should be looked at too, but I think the money factor can’t be overlooked. It was a problem when I was young where you knew some kids weren’t playing hockey because they couldn’t afford it. It seems as though it has escalated over the years as the costs have ballooned.

Oh so many questions before it all begins, and hopefully soon some answers, or at least a direct approach or direction in the years to come for our great game. I thank Molson for allowing Justin and I the opportunity to be part of something so special and important for the game. I look forward to hearing first hand some of the hockey elite's thoughts and opinions as this is a topic that is an everyday reality for many families. We need to keep the smiles on those little ones faces. Hockey should always do that!

-Darrin (DINK)

The Hockey Card Show