I just don't know why we have to keep dumbing down the game for kids and why Hockey Canada has to keep changing things or copying other countries. Let's just play some hockey. We've been pretty good at it for a hundred years haven't we?
Two reasons;
1. Money. Don't ever think for a second that Hockey Canada cares about anything other than making a profit.
They are freaking out about the fact that registration drops every year.
With cross-ice games, they can fit more kids on the ice at once.
2. Fear of falling behind the European countries.
And if European countries take over the NHL, that means even less Canadian registrations which leads to less money.
This country is so dumb when it comes to its obsession with hockey.
Instead of kids playing road hockey or pond hockey they're playing hockey 12 months a year or are on a skating treadmill.
They don't have time to play 'regular hockey'.
A local association charges $80 for travel tryouts. We had 36 kids in one division. Doing the math, it's a $2600 donation towards the travel team before even stepping on the ice.
I am so sick and tired of the politics and BS that has become youth hockey.
When my youngest son was in Timbit hockey, the convener took away games. As a coach, I told him that was a mistake as games keep kids interested.
Eventually, enough parents complained and he added games after Christmas. But he chose the Sunday time slot of 7AM.
Again, I told him this was a mistake as 7AM would prevent a lot of grandparents and family members from watching the kids.
He asked why that was important. I said "Because it excites them to play in front of family and friends. It's FUN".
His response? And this is a direct quote "What does 'FUN' have to do with hockey".
How do you argue with that!?!! I was floored. I couldn't believe what I heard.
But this is what sane people are dealing with when they decide to get their kids into hockey in Canada these days.
In the end, these cross-ice games don't mean squat. NHL players are born. McDavid would have made it whether he was playing cross-ice games or on a lake in Manitoba.
They're also born in extremely rich families. If your household makes less than 90K, forget about playing travel hockey.
Go play basketball. That's precisely what was I told when I argued with the local board that travel hockey was too expensive.
Why do we need 4 tournaments on the road? Why does every parent have to spend $600-$750 on hockey 'swag' that has absolutely nothing to do with helping the kids improve their hockey skills?
I was unaware that it's impossible to get to the next level without a travel ONESIE to sleep in!??!!
Hockey Canada sucks bigtime.
If at all possible, have your kids play as much street hockey and pond hockey as possible. And let them be kids. Let them play multiple sports and enjoy playing in an environment with less structure and the ability to be creative.
If we really wanted our young kids to be good hockey players, one practice a week would be nothing but pond hockey. No offsides, no structure and no parents on the ice.
Bobby Orr became Bobby Orr by playing a crap-tonne of pond hockey in Owen Sound.
He said, in his biography, that there were many times the games were 10-on-10. He said his stickhandling developed by having to skate through and around 19 other skaters.
We, as Canadians, have lost our minds when it comes to this game. It's a GAME. Let the kids figure it out - like they did for decades before every parent became obsessed with their kid being the McDavid of their team.
