More Money Spent = Better Hockey Player?

[Guest]

Hearing lots of talk about how hockey is an 'elitist' sport and is too expensive for the average person when you consider the cost of registration, equipment, extra development, etc. My kid is 10 years old and I can definitely see a correlation between the best players on the team also being those whose parents throw the most money $ at the sport.

Outside of the rare kid who seems to be naturally gifted, does this hold true for your teams as well? Those who spend the most generally produce the best hockey players? Any advice for a middle-class family with multiple kids in multiple sports, to keep pace with these kids without going into debt?

[Guest]

Hearing lots of talk about how hockey is an 'elitist' sport and is too expensive for the average person when you consider the cost of registration, equipment, extra development, etc. My kid is 10 years old and I can definitely see a correlation between the best players on the team also being those whose parents throw the most money $ at the sport.

Outside of the rare kid who seems to be naturally gifted, does this hold true for your teams as well? Those who spend the most generally produce the best hockey players? Any advice for a middle-class family with multiple kids in multiple sports, to keep pace with these kids without going into debt?

My long story short before I give you a long story is my advice, don't spend a ton at that age. I know many will say this but SO many won't believe it or will simply have FOMO and spend spend spend. This is all my opinion and my own experience with my son.

Nothing matters much until at the earliest U13, and you can strongly argue U14. If your kid loves the game and is competitive around that age, spending more on good training will matter. And the superstar from U11 whose parents spend thousands a year on training at 10 years old...well that kid might decide they aren't interested anymore. Happens all the time.

Background, my son is currently U16AAA. He's not a superstar, decent player, 4/5 Dman on a middle pack team. He likely won't get drafted, but could, most important he belongs and is having fun working his butt off to keep getting better every year. He played select U10>U12, then A in U13, AA U14 and AAA U15 and this U16 season. We started spending more on additional stuff during his U13 season. He was lucky to have great coaching throughout, which helped massively.

Good luck, and enjoy the ride! I'd love to do it again, and wouldn't change anything.

[Guest]

Hearing lots of talk about how hockey is an 'elitist' sport and is too expensive for the average person when you consider the cost of registration, equipment, extra development, etc. My kid is 10 years old and I can definitely see a correlation between the best players on the team also being those whose parents throw the most money $ at the sport.

Outside of the rare kid who seems to be naturally gifted, does this hold true for your teams as well? Those who spend the most generally produce the best hockey players? Any advice for a middle-class family with multiple kids in multiple sports, to keep pace with these kids without going into debt?

My long story short before I give you a long story is my advice, don't spend a ton at that age. I know many will say this but SO many won't believe it or will simply have FOMO and spend spend spend. This is all my opinion and my own experience with my son.

Nothing matters much until at the earliest U13, and you can strongly argue U14. If your kid loves the game and is competitive around that age, spending more on good training will matter. And the superstar from U11 whose parents spend thousands a year on training at 10 years old...well that kid might decide they aren't interested anymore. Happens all the time.

Background, my son is currently U16AAA. He's not a superstar, decent player, 4/5 Dman on a middle pack team. He likely won't get drafted, but could, most important he belongs and is having fun working his butt off to keep getting better every year. He played select U10>U12, then A in U13, AA U14 and AAA U15 and this U16 season. We started spending more on additional stuff during his U13 season. He was lucky to have great coaching throughout, which helped massively.

Good luck, and enjoy the ride! I'd love to do it again, and wouldn't change anything.

Thanks for sharing. My son has a couple of teammates on U10A and you should see the amount of skates, clinics, camps, spring programs these kids are in .. sometimes they are in a private skate before the team hockey game. Not sure if you have ever come across these maniac Dads that are obsessed with extra skates.

[Guest]

More money won't make you a better player but it will get you on higher level teams.

Money talks in minor hockey.

There is a lot better talent on lower teams due to the rising costs of minor hockey.

It's not a sport where talent alone gets you ahead.

I know of a coach that bought a team for his kid because he was able to get half the budget in sponsorship money.

[Guest]

More money won't make you a better player but it will get you on higher level teams.

Money talks in minor hockey.

There is a lot better talent on lower teams due to the rising costs of minor hockey.

It's not a sport where talent alone gets you ahead.

I know of a coach that bought a team for his kid because he was able to get half the budget in sponsorship money.

Unfortunately you're right...

[Guest]

I mean you may get a more skilled player that does not equate to a better player. You'll see practice kids on a lot of teams. Kids who look fantastic during skates or practices and that does not always translate well into game settings

[Guest]

You have seen Canada fall behind in hockey because it's so expensive.

The average person cannot afford the costs to play AAA and attend all the skills sessions and play on spring teams.

The problem is that it's all about making money, rather than development at a reasonable price.

How does house league cost $500 but AAA >$5000? HL is on the ice 2x per week while Rep is normally 4x per week? Should the cost not be around $1000-$1500? With rep you get 2 jerseys, 2 sets of socks, which are a bit better quality but should it really be 10x the cost?

[Guest]

You have seen Canada fall behind in hockey because it's so expensive.

The average person cannot afford the costs to play AAA and attend all the skills sessions and play on spring teams.

The problem is that it's all about making money, rather than development at a reasonable price.

How does house league cost $500 but AAA >$5000? HL is on the ice 2x per week while Rep is normally 4x per week? Should the cost not be around $1000-$1500? With rep you get 2 jerseys, 2 sets of socks, which are a bit better quality but should it really be 10x the cost?

500 for HL ? Where is that?

Gthl rep costs ya 900+ for gthl reg then your association cost 800+ gthl cost is for games.

Then all the extra crap of track suits a second ice time, team party, coaches and team things add up.


Biggest add on in rep is tournaments some teams play 3-4.

[Guest]

You have seen Canada fall behind in hockey because it's so expensive.

The average person cannot afford the costs to play AAA and attend all the skills sessions and play on spring teams.

The problem is that it's all about making money, rather than development at a reasonable price.

How does house league cost $500 but AAA >$5000? HL is on the ice 2x per week while Rep is normally 4x per week? Should the cost not be around $1000-$1500? With rep you get 2 jerseys, 2 sets of socks, which are a bit better quality but should it really be 10x the cost?

500 for HL ? Where is that?

Gthl rep costs ya 900+ for gthl reg then your association cost 800+ gthl cost is for games.

Then all the extra crap of track suits a second ice time, team party, coaches and team things add up.


Biggest add on in rep is tournaments some teams play 3-4.

https://rosedalehockey.ca/Public/Docume ... on_(1).pdf

Rep hockey around here is $3500+

[Guest]

You have seen Canada fall behind in hockey because it's so expensive.

The average person cannot afford the costs to play AAA and attend all the skills sessions and play on spring teams.

The problem is that it's all about making money, rather than development at a reasonable price.

How does house league cost $500 but AAA >$5000? HL is on the ice 2x per week while Rep is normally 4x per week? Should the cost not be around $1000-$1500? With rep you get 2 jerseys, 2 sets of socks, which are a bit better quality but should it really be 10x the cost?

500 for HL ? Where is that?

Gthl rep costs ya 900+ for gthl reg then your association cost 800+ gthl cost is for games.

Then all the extra crap of track suits a second ice time, team party, coaches and team things add up.


Biggest add on in rep is tournaments some teams play 3-4.

https://rosedalehockey.ca/Public/Docume ... on_(1).pdf

Rep hockey around here is $3500+

https://brantfordminorhockey.com/Pages/ ... formation/