Minor hockey prices on the rise

by Sean Previl

Windsor’s hockey parents will need to start digging deep to pay for their kids to hit the rink come summer, according to a new poll by Scotiabank.

The Scotiabank Hockey Community Poll, conducted in October 2013, surveyed 1,000 Canadians with children under 17 who play hockey.  It found parents expected to pay approximately $850 on average for the upcoming minor hockey season.

In Windsor, however, the average price is likely to be higher than that of Canada with costs higher than that of Canada, according to the Windsor Minor Hockey Association.

President of the WMHA, Dean Lapierre, said costs to play in the organization can reach more than $1,000 because parents have to pay a registration fee as well as even more for equipment.

Lapierre said the price can be the biggest factor, but how much a parent has to pay depends on what league their child is playing in.

“If you play house league, there’s no more fees, you pay that fee (of $500) and you’re done,” said Lapierre.  “While travel (teams), obviously there’s more fees involved with the travel, ice fees, tournament fees, etc.”

The poll showed travel is a big concern for parents with out-of-town tournaments costing more than at-home games.  Parents say food and transportation are the other two aspects of travel they find the most costly.

“It’s not cheap, but you make due.  If you like the sport, you make it happen,” said Daniel Nadeau, manager of the Windsor Minor Atom AE hockey team and parent of two players in the WMHA.

Nadeau said the best way to save is by using carpools or purchasing used equipment.

Using pre-owned equipment is something Canadians said they often do with 56 per cent saying it helps save money. Lapierre cautions about the used equipment parents buy however, saying it can sometimes hurt more than help.

“Don’t scrimp on safety.  Don’t buy a used helmet where there’s cracks in it and don’t buy something that doesn’t fit,” said Lapierre.

Lapierre said a child can become injured and not learn to skate properly if the incorrect equipment is bought, such as bigger skates.

Carl Olender, head coach of the Atom AE, said the main goal of the WMHA is keeping costs low so more kids can play.

“Windsor Minor Hockey in its own right keeps the hockey (cost) down every year,” said Olender.  “It’s very important that we do that.  We do think of the kids, so they can be on the ice as opposed to being off the ice.”

Olender said even with the costs associated with hockey, the most important thing parents should consider is what it can mean for a child to play.

“They have to consider hockey is fun, it should be meant to be fun and (they should) consider the improvement of the kid both on and off the ice mentally and physically,” said Olender.