$200: the final straw for this Gopher alum & lifelong fan

[GopherGrit]

Money and the fact that you have to start young are the main limitations to hockey. You can’t pluck the most athletic kid in middle school and turn him into a great HS player.

Not sure outside the metro, but in the metro I feel like hockey is a game for rich folks. Damn expensive equipment. Have to pay for ice time at a limited number of facilities, so guessing you pay top dollar for a decent time or you take a terrible time. If you don't start early, you have no chance at making a competitive team. Then if you want your kid to be good it's year round plus you're probably paying for separate training (dry land/weights, as well as hockey specific).

Maybe it's more subsidized (in some cases) than I'm imagining.

 

[upnorthkid]

Not sure outside the metro, but in the metro I feel like hockey is a game for rich folks. Damn expensive equipment. Have to pay for ice time at a limited number of facilities, so guessing you pay top dollar for a decent time or you take a terrible time. If you don't start early, you have no chance at making a competitive team. Then if you want your kid to be good it's year round plus you're probably paying for separate training (dry land/weights, as well as hockey specific).

Maybe it's more subsidized (in some cases) than I'm imagining.

Depends on the “level” you want them to play at. If you’re envisioning high school, unless they’re a super good athlete at baseline (think someone like Mason West) then yes you’re absolutely correct and personally I think it’s kind of shit what hockey has turned into.

Playing peanut hockey and stuff not as big a deal if you just want them to have a Taste of the sport and there are clubs that do equipment share. Small towns have varying levels of support for equipment and other things as well.

 

[SeaBee_Gopher]

Money and the fact that you have to start young are the main limitations to hockey. You can’t pluck the most athletic kid in middle school and turn him into a great HS player.

Right! I was told being a hockey parent is basically a lifestyle choice and, when my sons were young, I didn't want that lifestyle. I knew I just had to keep them away from it past early elementary school. One son did eventually ask me about playing and I was like so sad too LATE!