OT: Kids and Hockey

[who's ur daddy?]

I have two boys, 4 and 6. They absolutely love ice skating. We actually go every week (even in the summer - there's a community rink that is open one day a week for public skating!) and have a blast.

Wanted to get them into ice hockey, but one of my big concerns is the cost of equipment given that they quickly outgrow them. One of the better buys were these "expandable" molded skates, but the older one will be outgrowing that shortly.

I just started to take adult beginner ice hockey, so I don't really know the ins and outs of kiddie hockey. So, where's a good place to get equipment for reasonable prices? I assume the used equipment places should be the first place? Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hockey is a fantastic sport . Best thing we ever did was get our DS involved at a young age. Its taught him the fine art of teamwork, encouraged sportsmanship and leadership, and offered him innumerable opportunities to meet many new people. Oh yeah, its also provided excellent fitness training.

If you are looking for used equipment, I would suggest a store that specializes in that kind of merchandise. Our local one is called Play It Again Sports, and they usually have a pretty good selection of new AND used items. That said, sometimes you can get new for almost the same price if you watch the pre- and post-season sales. We've often purchased new items from Canadian Tire and Sportchek on sale for 40% off either just before or just following the ice hockey season. We are always as concerned with the safety aspect of the equipment (does it fit right? does it provide the proper protection? is it in good condition?) as we are the cost.

Enroll your kids in inline hockey or ball hockey on the off-season, if either are available in your neck of the woods, to maximize the amount of use from the equipment before they grow out of it.

One thing (in my most humble opinion) I would NOT scrimp on are skates. Our experience is that a great pair of well-fitting skates not only provides superior comfort for your wee ones, but also allows their skating ability to develop to their fullest potential. Not saying they need the $500 super-deluxe, fancy-schmancy pair, but do have them fitted before their season by someone who KNOWS how to properly determine the right size and width for their feet. Best hockey investment you can make!!

My son has taken part in many, many hockey programs over the year (ice hockey in both the summer and winter, power skating, summer hockey schools, inline hockey and ball hockey) at both the rep and house league levels. He even played a season for Team Canada at the tender age of 10 (inline hockey). He's now 13, and we don't regret a moment of it.

 

[zarvgirl]

Our son just finished his third year of hockey.

We actually got him a starter kit for gear at Canadian Tire. It was $99. A great buy, we had to get stick, helmet, neck guard, jock, skates, besides.
He managed to get three years out of it. Definitely will have to upgrade many things next year!!

You have the advantage of having a second son that can use the gear after.

Yes, hockey gear is expensive, but if you look at any organised activity for children many are costly. Ballet for our daughter, costs as much, piano more.

For us, our DS wanted to play as soon as he started school and his buddies were playing, until then we weren't going to put him in!! No regrets, as the PP said many great lessons are learned with organised activities.

 

[endy]

Quite expensive
Hope they don't want to be a goalie in a few years.

I agree with not cheaping out with skates. Not sure how often the younger kids play but my ds12 was on the ice 4-5 times a week with the team plus as many times as he went to the outdoor rinks.
Play it Again Sports is a great place to start also watch for garage sales. My friend got a whole bag of gear for $50, the only thing she had to buy was a mouth guard.
Make sure that helmets have a CSA sticker and best before date. I threw my son's away this year as it expired in 2008 not something you want to take a chance on.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Not sure how often the younger kids play but my ds12 was on the ice 4-5 times a week with the team

Different programs will require different levels of commitment.

For example, our local rep program (where kids try out and have to "make" the team, based on skill levels) will involve the 4-5 sessions per week (practice, power skating, home game, away game) plus a number of tournaments throughout the year (most will be out of town and involve booking a hotel room, paying for meals and gas, etc.). Our local rep program starts at senior tyke (turning 7 by December 31st). There is usually also a fundraising component to any rep team. All rep kids pay the house league registration fee PLUS a rep surcharge, and will need to pay for team wear (usually a windsuit, hat, etc).

Our local house league (where every paying kid gets to play, and has equal ice time no matter what skill level you are at) will only have one practice and one game per week, and all at a local rink. There are no mandatory tournaments, though most teams choose to take part in the one hosted by the local association over the Christmas holidays. No team wear purchase required, and the only fee you need to pay is the one-time registration fee (though some associations do have their house league kids take part in fundraising to offset costs.....our centre, luckily, does not ).

Call or email your local minor hockey association to find out (a) the cost per child (sometimes you will get a family discount if there is more than one participant in the family) and (b) exactly what you get for that cost. Some centres provide jerseys to keep as well as team socks, others provide jerseys on loan and you must provide your own socks. They should be able to tell you when your child's age group will play (ie. game Saturday a.m. at either 7, 8 or 9 a.m. and practices Thursday evening at 5, 6 or 7 p.m.).

Keep in mind that fees will vary widely from centre to centre. For example, our city's minor hockey club charged $320 per player for house league for the 2008-2009 season (with a keeper jersey, year end trophy, 19 regular-season games, 12 practices, and play-offs for all participants). The neighbouring community (just 10 minutes to our west) was $100 more for a very similar program. And our neck of the province has it cheap, compared to some others. I have seen some house league registrations at over $500 a player. I have also seen another local community (to our north) with fees under $300.

Hockey can be a big committment. Check it all out and decide if its an adventure you want to embark on. Its not for everyone (my sister and brother wouldn't enrol their kids in a hockey program to save their souls) but for other families, its a way of life!!

 

[hockeymom3]

Hockey is a huge committment. And while I agree in part with the 'not scrimping out on the skates' - I also disagree at the same time. Kids feet grow so fast - all they really need is a sharp pair of FITTING skates.

I have seen 6 and 7 year old kids in expensive, fancy looking skates that are 2 sizes too big because their parents won't pay the money to replace the skates.

My kids are amazing skaters and do not wear excessively expensive skates. Now, as they get older their skates cost more - but I don't think they need the best skates - they need fitted skates and practice.

 

[dvcdisney]

My son started hockey 3 years ago when he was 6. At that point he had been skating since he was 4. We purchased the shoulder and elbow pads, shin guards/pads from Play It Again Sports and the rest from the local sport store (don't remember what the name was). We didn't want to spend too much since we were not sure how he'd like hockey (even though he said he would love to play.... you never know). But after a year of that, he loved it so much, we invested in better equipment. The sport store here always has some type of sale about 2 times a season, so there is a discount. Also, the store sets aside on day dedicated to a certain hockey association, where we could get discounts for anything we purchase during that day. It does help a little. With all the equipment and registration costs, every little bit helps.

Good Luck. I'm sure they'll love hockey. I never did enjoy watching hockey until my son started playing, now I really get into the game!

 

[endy]

Wow what a difference between communities & provinces.

Here in Calgary there are (I think) 8 or more associations and each charges it's own fees. All governed under Hockey Calgary. The city is divided into areas and several communities will be covered by one hockey association. I'm sure I didn't explain it properly but it's someting like this.

It cost close to $700 for my son's fees. That covered practices, 20 or so games all over the city & play offs, the jersey had to be returned ater each game & we had to buy home and away socks. Tournaments are extra and covered by fundraising or each family, it was decided by parents at start of year not to fundraise.
The community next to us charged over $800 in fees and another one $400.
And the schedule is posted only 1 month in advance so practice and games can be any day of the week and usually very inconsistant.
The younger kids had the earliest ice times like at 5PM. Most people I know work til 4:30 or 5 so you have to leave work early. Young kids also get the early 7AM ice times as well. Then the 13-14's will have a later time and not be off the ice until 10pm.
Calgary also has a rec league where kids don't try out and play 2 games a week. It runs $500 per season.

My son is playing inline hockey right now which is close to $300 reg for late April to end of June twice a week. Other than skates he uses most of his hockey equipment.

As already stated - hockey is a huge commitment.
I only have one kid & it gets harder with two or more. Scheduling conflicts, a game for one and a practice for another in different ends of the city.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina
What is rep league? That must be similar to here where all kids have to be evalutated before being assigned a team.

 

[rjan67]

Our son just finished his third year of hockey.

We actually got him a starter kit for gear at Canadian Tire. It was $99. A great buy, we had to get stick, helmet, neck guard, jock, skates, besides.
He managed to get three years out of it. Definitely will have to upgrade many things next year!!

You have the advantage of having a second son that can use the gear after.

Yes, hockey gear is expensive, but if you look at any organised activity for children many are costly. Ballet for our daughter, costs as much, piano more.

For us, our DS wanted to play as soon as he started school and his buddies were playing, until then we weren't going to put him in!! No regrets, as the PP said many great lessons are learned with organised activities.

We too have gotten the kits from Canadian Tire. A pretty good deal really. We also try to pick up on sales, but don't buy too far ahead as my boys have gone through some pretty quick growth spurts and jumped a size. Although my boys don't have to have the "best" equipment, we do buy them good skates. Being that there are hand me downs for my younger son (equipment wise), we feel its worth the cost for a little better equipment. My youngest son's hockey cost about 700 with equipment. My older son was probably close to 1000 to 1100 with cost of a couple of tournaments. They are enrolled from now til August in a special skills class (1 hour/wk, extra $400 total) that encorporates power skate, stick handeling and drills. I only anticipate that it will get more expensive as they get older! My older son wants to start travel hockey (we are currently house league) which again is more expensive. Only thing about travel is they are not happy about missing tournaments and we have a cruise planned for March break!

Personally, I love it! I am such a hockey mom! There is nothing like watching your child score a goal! Woohoo!!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Try looking on kijiji for used hockey equipment - My older ds' tried 1 year of hockey and decided he didn't like it (phew) BUT I bought all the equipment and it sits gathering dust in the garage now b/c my younger ds' never tried it and went right to english riding and jumping - now there's an expensive sport I'm dreading the day that he needs to get his own pony - I think we've got another year to go though before we cross that bridge!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Wow what a difference between communities & provinces.

It cost close to $700 for my son's fees. That covered practices, 20 or so games all over the city & play offs, the jersey had to be returned ater each game & we had to buy home and away socks. Tournaments are extra and covered by fundraising or each family, it was decided by parents at start of year not to fundraise. The community next to us charged over $800 in fees and another one $400.

The younger kids had the earliest ice times like at 5PM.

Calgary also has a rec league where kids don't try out and play 2 games a week. It runs $500 per season.

My son is playing inline hockey right now which is close to $300 reg for late April to end of June twice a week.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina
What is rep league? That must be similar to here where all kids have to be evalutated before being assigned a team.

You're right, things DO vary widely depending on where you live. We, apparently, are in one of the more thrifty corners of Ontario .

Your early ice time of 5 p.m. sounds heavenly . When my son was tyke age (six and seven years old) they got the 7 a.m. time slot at the arena . As a novice, he got 6:30 a.m. power skating sessions . The general rule in our hometown is the younger you are, the earlier you play. Probably because they know the teenagers won't get up at the crack of dawn on a frosty January morning to play, no matter how much they love the sport!!

Our house league sounds like your rec league. No try outs, just pay the fee and you play. Our rep league is solely based on try-outs and ability, with a little politics thrown in for good measure . House league is a far smaller committment than rep.....and involves little to no travelling (all local games and practices).

Hokey, your inline hockey is pricey too ! Our son plays inline and its only $125. 10 regular season games (April to the end of June), tournament-style playoffs, a team jersey to keep and a year-end trophy is what you get for our fees. Ball hockey is only $110 for a similar length season, but you get a t-shirt vs. a jersey and a medallion vs. a trophy (making their overall costs a little cheaper).

 

[endy]

You're right, things DO vary widely depending on where you live. We, apparently, are in one of the more thrifty corners of Ontario .

Wow you really are in a great priced corner.
Alot of kids in Calgary (and everywhere) can't afford to play hockey. We are very fortunate that we can afford to.

There was a similar post on the budget board several months ago & let's say hockey in Canada is way cheaper than in the States.

 

[ferris198]

When my son started 3 years ago, we bought the Nike equipment set at Canandian Tire for 99.00. This was the last year we will be able to use it.
We get hand me downs from friends, and share stuff.
For instance, I have a collection of skates that are too large for my son this year, but I lend them to friends with an older child on the agreement that I get them back when I need them. We also do an equipment exchange, that works the same way.

 

[KerriMc]

Hello ... we too are a hockey family, but the difference being that I have two daughters that are playing! My oldest switched to girls hockey this past year, but played house league two years prior to that. My youngest just completed the Mytes program in house league and will be in Tyke house league next year.

We have always picked up the Nike full equipment set at Canadian Tire. It ALWAYS goes on sale every year in the beginning of the fall so I head to CT on the Friday night (as their flyer starts on the Saturday) about a half hour before close and pick one up. They are already marked down to sale price by this point in the evening! Our CT doesn't keep a huge stock, so this is how I can make sure I get a complete kit that someone hasn't rifled through! I believe I paid $89 this year on sale. We do have to buy the helmet, mouthguard (we get one made as the darn Shock Doctors tend to crumble and aren't comfortable after a few wears), skates, neck guard, socks and a stick and tape.

For skates I have been buying them at Sport Chek ... they are sized right, but they also have rotating sales. The most I have paid is $89 for oldest dd's skates this past season. They have a program where you can bring the old skates back the next year and get 50% of the purchase price applied to the next pair of skates you buy! We have been doing this ... means you can't pass them down, but they never hit exact sizing for each other anyways.

Watch for sales too on the nice composite sticks ... older dd had her first one this year and it made a huge difference to her. The wood one was just so heavy. We had a coupon for an extra 30% off at Sport Chek and got one for about $50 (which is pretty good when you look at all the other stick prices!!). It has Sidney Crosby's name on it, so she was thrilled!!!

Our hockey league also has a hockey swap in the lead up to the season. This could be something your area may do as well!!!

Good luck We love hockey ... it isn't cheap ... cost is $475 here for each child (girls or regular house league). Older dd had some travel this year which cost a bit more, but they aren't a high level team so it wasn't a huge amount.

My kids also do dance, piano, and swimming. Piano costs more than any of them!!! I am hoping something goes by the wayside in the next year or so I am a busy mommy ... but I do love it

Kerri

 

[disneynuts777]

DD13 is at tryouts for next seasons rep team as I type. DH does all the hockey stuff around here. DD and DH have a great bond going over this
House league was 500.00 plus the cost of the equipment that she had outgrown. This is her 4th season playing.She also played on a C-lect team team which cost another 300.00. She only had one away tourny this year so that helped the pocket book.
I generally budget 2000.00 a season. However if she makes rep. I know that this figure will probably double

 

[who's ur daddy?]

thanks for the info folks.

someone told me the CanTire kits go on sale in August, so maybe I will wait until then.

if someone could post when sportchek has some sales on skates (kiddies), I'd appreciate it!

 

[TammyLynn33]

Hi Who's

I know Im responding late but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth..lol DS7 is obsessed with hockey so we travel a lot and it can become quite costly...

Just be careful with the hockey gear in a box. I read a lot of positive here but my kid isnt completely proportionate..lol neither are my friends kids so weve never really found everything in a box sets to be helpful..lol

You say you take the boys skating a lot and thats great but I would def consider putting them in a powerskating class as well. Many kids on DS team arent good skaters causing them limited puck time and you can tell how frusturated they are. It takes a lot to learn puck control and IMO powerskating class is a necessity for the first few years of hockey..

Good Luck Have fun

 

[KerriMc]

I agree with the above poster ... try some powerskating as it helps so much in getting more enjoyment out of the game! You are in T.O., so you should have a lot of choices. A place like NTR (National Training Rinks) runs really good programs for kids from three and up for skating, first time hockey, jr. powerskating and stickhandling, etc. They have programs all summer so it would be a good time to check them out! They have three spots ... Barrie, Newmarket and Richmond Hill. We go to the Barrie one and are currently there now for the spring session!!

Kerri

 

[DonaldDC]

My oldest just turned 5 this week and has been playing ball hockey since he was 3. It's great to start them early for all the reasons that people have already mentioned. But the other great thing about ball hockey is you only need a helmet, gloves, stick, soccer style shin pads and a cup. We've found most of his stuff at garage sales and Kijiji. The other great place is just speaking with people you work with. Now that he's been taking power skating for a year and half (Full equipment is required) we've been able to suit him up with equipment we've bought from coworkers. I agree with the skates, they don't need top of the line, but don't chince out. It makes a world of a difference. With many places like Source for Sports they have a 50% buy back. That might be worth looking in to as well. Good luck!

 

[michelle1]

There is usually tons of very gently used equipment floating around wherever you live and because kids grow so fast you can usually pick up stuff that is like brand new. Our rinks have bulletin boards that people post stuff on and there are usually equipment sales/exchanges in early fall. I think for first timers those kits that the OPs have mentioned are a good way to start. Hockey can be expensive but a great way to get through a long winter.
My DS12 is a goalie and has been playing rep for 5 years....I keep thinking how many Deluxe resorts we could have stayed at over the years!