EDITORIAL: The wonder and joy of . . . hockey
Hockey is special in Canada, and between a half-million and one-million people in this country play either registered hockey or some form of hockey either regularly or semi-regularly.
Canada has the largest percentage of its population registered for hockey yearly in the entire world, and also the largest number of citizens who play hockey. Because of its costs, public interest, political and economic situations in countries with much larger populations, Canada is able to have many more people registered for hockey than even other hockey powers like the United States or Russia.
A lot of adults play organized hockey either in professional leagues like the NHL or AHL, or in hundreds of senior and recreational leagues. But the sport’s bread and butter is still Minor Hockey.
In Canada Minor Hockey is structured so well, and so specifically to benefit the experience of children, that it is really no wonder we still produce the most professional talent and generate the most interest in the sport in all the world.
Coaches are very well trained to teach each level of the sport, and parents now even have to go through conduct training of their own regarding how to treat their child and how to respect other parents and spectators. Volunteers who help out each team like; managers, treasurers, coaches and assistants, all are required to have police criminal checks and child intervention checks. . . . contd.
