What it costs to have kids who play hockey

Reaching the NHL is a dream held by many Canadian children—but what’s the likelihood of getting there?

With league hockey becoming more and more expensive, reaching the NHL is becoming less affordable for many Canadian families. Indeed, a 2011 RBC survey says 40% of parents who pulled children out of hockey programs cited rising fees as the main reason.

If we were to lose hockey entirely, at all levels, and we didn’t replace it with much else, it would shave about a half a percentage point off the GDP.

– Douglas Porter, chief economist, BMO Financial Group

Money matters

Timeline of hockey in Canada

Sources: RBC; QuantHockey.com; Jim Parcels; CapGeek; “The new economics of the NHL” by The Mowat Centre; “2012 Hockey in Canada Public Opinion Survey” by The Environics Institute; Statistics Canada; Professional Hockey Players’ Association; Forbes; Hockey Canada; Ontario Hockey League; Canadian Hockey League; World Bank; Douglas Porter, BMO; “Straight Facts About Making It in Pro Hockey” by Jim Parcels; Collections Canada; NHL.

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Hockey’s place in Canadian culture

The path of a hockey child to the NHL

Women’s hockey