How Hockey Is Becoming A Game Strictly For The Rich By James Mirtle Summary

James Mirtle’s article “The Great Offside: How Hockey Is Becoming a Game Strictly for the Rich” examines how rising costs have resulted in Canada’s native game becoming increasingly reserved for the wealthy. Historically hockey has been viewed as a blue-collar game played by kids from all different backgrounds. The high costs that have came with the advent of travel hockey and the ever increasing value of ice time have forced the sport of hockey to shed its blue collar roots and begin catering to a more upscale demographic. The high costs of hockey have, according to the article, led to a present-day in which only 1-in-10 Canadian youth are playing hockey on a regular-basis. It seems apparent that if something isn’t done soon, Canada’s native sport will begin to resemble golf, tennis and polo and begin to be seen as a sport reserved exclusively for the aristocratic.

The average youth Canadian hockey player in the present is must assuredly a far cry from those of years past. According to a survey referenced in Mirtle’s article, the average Canadian hockey parent spends $3,000 annually for their child to pay hockey. These costs include everything from equipment, team dues, travel fees, and ice time. Although $3,000-a-year would, to the casual

The obvious solution to this crisis is obvious: lower costs. According to a survey presented in the article, if costs were lowered 46% of parents who had recently pulled their kids out of hockey would reconsider their decision. While the solution to this problem is couldn’t be more clear, implementing it will undoubtedly be difficult and costly. The only way I see costs lowering anytime soon is if those who’ve been benefitting from the higher prices, rink owners and hockey equipment manufacutures, begin to be hit where it matters: their balance