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02-23-2020, 04:49 AM #1
In Canada, the Cost of Youth Hockey Benches the Next Generation
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard was a teenager when his parents sat him and his older brother Jérémy down in their Roberval, Quebec, home for an uncomfortable conversation that would dramatically alter their lives.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/22/s...ckey-cost.html
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02-25-2020, 09:19 AM #2
I don't have kids in hockey.... but If I did, I'm sure the costs would be driving me crazy.
Truth is, if you've got a kid playing "house league" the costs aren't too bad. Cheap? No, but they're manageable (though if you're a single parent, or two lower income parents.... probably not manageable).
The costs involved in playing any sort of "rep" or "travel" hockey - They've ballooned to the point where it's a joke.... and the teams do plenty of things that needlessly increases costs.
Have to wonder how many potential pros will never get a shot now...... simply because the thousands of dollars it costs for a 13 year old to play high level hockey is too much.... or because by 13 or 14 that star player is tiered of the year-round, 6-day-a-week commitment that his team demands.
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02-25-2020, 11:41 AM #3
A few years ago there was an interview with Matt Duchene's parents and they said is cost them over $200,000 for the years he played minor hockey. He started with Brampton when he was about 16, so from let's say 5 to 16 that works out to almost $20,000 a year!!
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02-25-2020, 11:55 AM #4
I remember that one..... and I don't think the $200k was inclusive for all of those years. I think the $200k was spent in the last 4 or 5 seasons, leading up to junior.
Same article, they interviews the Staal's mother. She said that they did not keep track of what they spent - because if they had, they probably would have stopped.
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02-26-2020, 08:27 PM #5
That's the thing. House league isn't bad (and Rep, depending on where you are) and is great for most players, but once you start getting into the higher levels of minor hockey, it's just straight up insane for some teams. Even the 'lower level' AAA teams are a good chunk of change, not to mention the travel, gear, etc.
I've seen first hand how much it can cost a family if their kid plays high-level hockey leading up to even the NHL...
I'll keep his name out of it, but my first cousin currently plays in the NHL, and me and my family have all heard horror stories of his teams and the costs associated with these minor hockey teams growing up. It's just bonkers.Jhonas Enroth Card Collector & Host of the Hidden Content
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