It’s a well-known tradition among hockey fans that Canada always plays its first game of theWorld Junior Hockey Championshipon Boxing Day.It’s also a tradition for Active for Life to take this moment to reflect on the state of hockey in Canada.
We began in 2014 when we applauded Brent Sutter, who had just coached the Canadian team to a disappointing fourth-place finish, when hespoke his mindthat Canadian hockey needed a makeover. He said that our development system had to prioritize more speed, skills, and fun.We called it the “new normal” in hockey.
Where are we eight years later?
We see three trends that could greatly affect Canadian hockey: the first trend is positive, the second one is a good first step but needs a lot more work, and the third trend could kill Canadian hockey as we know it.
Trend #1: The culture at the grassroots of hockey is evolving for the better
The culture of minor hockey has evolved for the best. The new norm for the majority of parents and minor hockey coaches is to respect the fact that kids are kids. Although you still find a few dinosaurs in the stands or behind the bench, most stakeholders are respectful and understand thatdevelopment programsmust emphasize skills and fun for all kids in minor hockey.
An example of how this shift has taken place was when Hockey Canadamandated smaller ice surfaces for kidsin 2017. This was a very controversial move. Vocal traditionalists opposed the change, butthesmaller and age-appropriate ice surfacesproved to maximize fun and development for kids and are now the norm.
As it stands, we don’t see how this positive trend can be reversed.
Trend #2: Hockey is on the path to become a safe and welcoming environment for all
2019 marked akey shift in Canadian hockey. In a period of a few weeks, long-time TV hockey commentator Don Cherry was fired for deliveringracist rants on air. As well, two coaches of Canadian NHL franchises—Bill Peters (Calgary) and Mike Babco*ck (Toronto)—were fired for allegedly abusing players mentally and physically.
These were some of the first concrete actions that supported the rhetoric that the National Hockey League was serious about creating a more inclusive and safer environment for all.
“Hockey Canada believes in hockey opportunities for all people regardless of age, gender, colour, race, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic status…”
In 2021 the movement to inclusivity and safety continues as demonstrated by the huge amount of support thatLuke Prokopreceived as the first NHL player under contract to come out as gay.
As well, the ad below from Scotiabank’s “Hockey for All” campaign captures the challenge:that we must eliminate racist, sexist, and misogynistic comments and behaviour from the game.
Sadly, recent events like the 16-year-old goalie whofaced racial slurs both on and off the iceduring a tournament tells us that there is still a lot of work to be done. But hockey has set out on the right path and we believe momentum will grow.
Trend #3: The rising cost of hockey is keeping kids out of the game at the grassroots level and killing the dream of many to play for Canada
Someone once told me, “There might never be anotherGordie Howe,” and the statement wasn’t about Howe’s extraordinary hockey skills, but that he was born to a lower-income working-class family.
Rising costs are affecting hockey in two ways.
First, it’s deterring families from joining minor hockey. According toa study by the Aspen Institute and Utah State Universitypublished on Money.com, minor hockey is the most expensive sport for children in the United States.And if you ask Canadian hockey parents, it’s pretty much the same situation in Canada.
The high cost of joining hockey—registration, equipment, travel—seems to scare families away or pushes them to register kids in other sports and it’s affecting registrations. According toHockey Canada [PDF], the number of registered players slipped from about 644,000 in 2018-19 to 606,000 in 2019-20.
It is almost certain thatthe pandemic played a role in this drop. But the question is: how many families who lived without the high cost of hockey during COVID-19 will choose to pay to get their kids back in the game? The early signs seem to point to not many. In its 2021 annual report, the International Ice Hockey Federation lists thenumber of registered players in Canada [PDF]at approximately 345,000 for the 2020-21 season.
Second, it’s making the elite levels impossible for middle- and lower- income families.
Across the country, thousands of boys and girls dream of making it to the highest level of the game and this goalpushes them to work hard and persevere through an incredibly challenging progression from initiation hockey to the elite. For boys, representing Canada at the World Juniors is one of those dreams. And the same for thousands of girls who dream of wearing the maple leaf at the Olympics.
Everyone knows that this dream is elusive because of the large number of quality hockey players in Canada. But now, cost is making this dream impossible for kids of lower and middle income families.
A conservative estimate puts the cost of playing U18 AAA hockey—the elite level below junior hockey—upwards of $10,000 when you include registration, equipment, and travel costs. This is the kind of cost that many families can’t afford or afford only after making great sacrifices.
But if you take a closer look at the Canadian roster for the 2022 World Juniors, you realize that10 of the 25 players attended a hockey academyin the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).
The CSSHL is an elite league that keeps expanding across the country. And judging by the fact that 40% of this year’s top juniors played in the CSSHL, it seems to offer what’s required to make it to the elite level of hockey. But the cost to play in the CSSHL is even higher than playing U18 AAA.The tuition for some of the academies attended by some of the Canadian junior players range from$18,000to$22,000, and upwards.
There’s nothing wrong with a family choosing to send an aspiring hockey player to a private hockey academy, but the challenge is that it sets a pattern that might never be reversed: If you want your kid to play at the highest levels of hockey, it will be very expensive. This shutsthe door to many families who can’t afford to get their kid into minor hockey, and let alone into the elite levels.
We honestly don’t see how the rising costs of hockey in Canada can be turned back to affordability. The train has left the station, as they say.
What does the future hold for Canadian hockey?
When you combine these three trends, it points to Canada developing even more of its fair share of the best players in the world, ensuring ongoing success in international competitions and in the NHL. It also points to players evolving in a more inclusive, accepting, and safe environment leading to a more positive hockey experience. Sadly though, it also points to a game that will be impossible to afford for many more families.
In short, better hockey,played in a safer and more inclusive environment, but for fewer players.
What are your thoughts on the future of Canadian hockey?
This article was originally published by Active for Life, a national initiative created to help parents raise physically literate children. Atactiveforlife.com, parents, educators, and coaches will find fun activities, engaging articles, and free resources to get kids active, healthy and happy. Sign up for Active for Life’s monthlynewsletters. Connect with Active for Life onFacebook,Instagram, andTwitter.
Overall, the majority of respondents agreed that hockey as a sport is inclusive, that it has inclusive values, and that their own club is inclusive. That is not to deny that there is scope for progress.
The biggest reason is the numbers game. Ontario is the most populous of the Canadian provinces and it also has a slew of great junior programs that allow the best hockey players to develop their talent. Some of the best junior programs in Ontario include the Toronto Marlboros, Toronto Jr.
In June 2022, Minister for Sport Pascale St-Onge froze the federal government's funding of Hockey Canada, and called for an investigation into whether public funds were used to fund the settlement.
Hockey films and documentaries provide a brief glimpse into the darker sides of the sport, such as issues of violence, catastrophic injuries, hazing, sexual violence, and drug abuse. These remain only some of the issues.
Sailing is the most inclusive sport in the world. Prove it! The 2.4mRs are one of the iconic boats of Paralympic sailing, putting disabled and able-bodied athletes on an equal footing. An all-inclusive class.
A new Leger survey for the Association of Canadian Studies (ACS) found there has been a decline in sports viewership amongst most sports, but none as significant as hockey.
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It is the official national winter sport of Canada and is widely considered Canada's national pastime, with high levels of participation by children, men and women at various levels of competition.
Hockey's biggest stage isn't as big as it used to be…
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So will Canada ever succeed in attracting an eighth NHL team? It's doubtful, according to the business economics. So hockey fans, enjoy your favourite existing Canadian NHL team. Welcome the Kraken as a new rival, particularly for the Canucks.
Canada is the leading national ice hockey team in international play, having won the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, a record four Canada Cups dating back to 1976, a record two World Cups of Hockey, a record nine Olympic gold medals, and a record 27 World Championship titles.
You have to work hard, build muscle strength, increase endurance, and hone the stick handling and skating skills required to play at a high level. But you can't just stop at the physical like a lot of hockey players do! To become a champion, you must also work on the mental side of your game.
Downing Edmonton in five games, the series was highlighted by Game 3's “Miracle on Manchester,” which saw the Kings overcome a five-goal third-period deficit en route to earning a 6-5 overtime victory – the largest comeback in NHL playoff history.
Unified Sports brings players both with and without intellectual disabilities together on a team, giving them the opportunity to spend time with one another, and share a common interest. This interaction supports the development of friendships, as well as social inclusion.
Soccer, also known as association football, is by far the most popular sport in the world, despite the fact that it may not be obvious in the United States. Soccer is the most popular sport in practically all of Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and Asia.
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Many families simply cannot afford to have a child to play hockey. Some people don't have easy access to a hockey rink. Ice time can be pricey, and there may be select hours to practice. Markoulis also said the marketability of the NHL's top prospects is lagging when compared with basketball, baseball and football.
The country in which ice hockey remains the most popular is Canada, which is unsurprising since the country is widely recognized as the birthplace of modern organized ice hockey. In 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) declared that the first game of organized ice hockey was played in Montreal in 1875.
Ice hockey is immensely popular in Canada, where it is the national winter sport and arguably the country's most popular game. Hockey is also popular in the United States and in European countries such as Russia, Sweden, and Finland. More than a million registered athletes play regularly in leagues worldwide.
Ice hockey is traditionally popular in Massachusetts (and New England in general), Michigan, New York (especially Upstate New York) and Minnesota within the United States. Minnesota is known as the hockey capital of the US.
The U.S. also won the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, defeating Canada in the finals. The team's most recent medal at the World Championships came with a bronze in 2021. They won the tournament in 1933 and 1960.
Hockey is a very popular sport in the United States. Ever since the first ice rink was built in Baltimore back in 1894, hockey's popularity has been on the rise across the country. The Northeast and upper Midwest part of the country were among the first to adopt hockey due to the cold climate.
So can Canadian players, who live year round in Canada, make up the tax gap by being paid in US funds. A Montreal player with a $1 million salary who nets $490,234 US dollars will make $643,341 Canadian based on today's exchange rate.
A conservative estimate puts the cost of playing U18 AAA hockey—the elite level below junior hockey—upwards of $10,000 when you include registration, equipment, and travel costs. This is the kind of cost that many families can't afford or afford only after making great sacrifices.
Quebec City was by far the smallest market in the NHL; it was also the second-smallest major-league city in North America, behind only Green Bay, Wisconsin; home of the National Football League's Green Bay Packers.
Greater Houston is the largest market in terms of both city proper and metro population in the US or Canada without an NHL franchise; since 2016, Houston is also now the largest metropolitan area without a complete set of teams in the major professional sports leagues.
While there are a few major cities that could take center stage for a new NHL team, Quebec still has a long way to go. The reason Quebec City lost the Nordiques back in 1995 was because they were playing in an old arena. The owner, Marcel Aubut asked the provincial government to help fund a new one and they denied him.
With 11 medals, Canada comes out atop the three recent major international tournaments. They've also secured at least one gold medal from World Juniors, World Championships, and the Olympics, giving them the most tournament wins overall.
Canadian hockey better than American? It's the same league for professional hockey in both countries - the National Hockey League (NHL). However, if you mean hockey in general, there are more opportunities in Canada to play hockey due to our winter seasons and available indoor and outdoor skating rinks.
The Canadian Ice hockey league, “National Hockey League (NHL)” is established both in Canada and the United States. Canada has 7 teams currently playing in NHL, namely Calgary, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.
A main contributor to that number is hockey as 63 of those professional athletes are in the NHL. The study showed that the Midwest produces the most NHL players per capita with Minnesota producing the most NHL players nationwide.
The Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Winnipeg Jets have the lowest non-North American representation with just three players each. The Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders follow closely with just two players not from North America.
It may be surprising to most people that swimming is number 1 in the list of the most mentally challenging sports in the world. Many professional swimmers fall into a 7-day self-sabotage cycle. This is a period where they may doubt themselves and grow continuous stress on themselves.
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Hockey is a sport played internationally by both males and females, however in some countries, such as the United States, it is predominantly played by females.
Racket Sports — such as tennis, squash, badminton and table tennis. Hockey Sports — such as field hockey, ice hockey and roller hockey. Paddling Sports — watercraft sports in which you move using a paddle. Volleyball-Type Sports — sports like volleyball which involve hitting an object back and forth over a net.
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Some of the most coveted seats are right up against the glass. Of course, many people are after these because it makes you feel like you're almost right on the ice yourself. If you want to feel like you're part of the game and want to be right next to everything, these seats are perfect for you.
Shaw is pleased to offer NHL Centre Ice for the 2022-2023 hockey season! Delivering up to 750 regular season out-of-market NHL games in high definition, NHL Centre Ice gives you access to every bone-crushing hit, every top corner snipe and every pad-stacking save that takes place outside of your local viewing area.
Playing with boys helps, but it is a personal decision
In conclusion, playing on a boy's team during key developmental minor hockey years appears to provide all the right ingredients for girls to reach their full potential as a hockey player.
bandy, also called Banty, a game similar to ice hockey. It is played almost exclusively in the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic countries, and Mongolia. A team is composed of from 8 to 11 players who wear skates and use curved sticks to hit a ball.
Now consider how ice hockey is played. It functions exactly like HIIT. Players are only on the ice for about a minute or two at a time before rotating out and onto the bench to rest. But, that short amount of time spent on the ice is full of explosive movement that will leave your body exhausted.
/ hockey / noun. a method by which a game is restarted after a stoppage. Two opposing players stand with the ball between them and alternately strike their sticks together and against the ground three times before trying to hit the ball.
Redshirt refers to a year in which a student-athlete sits out for a playing season, but still maintains their four-year eligibility. While redshirt is not an official National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) term, the practice is commonly adopted by NCAA Division I and Division II athletics programs.
First, hockey was described as an authentically indigenous game, a sport first played by northern Natives that was now being reappropriated in this colorful tour. Headdresses, buckskin jer- seys, and invented players' names (e.g., “Tomahawk”) confirmed the Aboriginal nature of the game.
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