Lol, you don’t need new gear every year (new/used). Our son has had 3 different sets of shin pads, pants, shoulder pads, gloves and elbow pads in 8 years. Two helmets, and four pairs of skates. He bought new helmets and one time we bought new skates, but they were $150, not $1000.

If your son turns out to have the aptitude and desire to play hockey at a level high enough to earn a scholarship then yes, you will need to invest significantly more than our family has. Maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll really love jump rope, those aren’t that expensive. Though I bet tournaments and travel are the same...
- 1970vintage

Depends on their growth spurts. But ideally he would re-use the same gear for multiple years. He may even like football more when he is older. Ideally once he is 10 he will be in one sport, and we will also do summer camps for him as well to stay active year round in it.

This might be true if you expect your kid to play in the NHL (spoiler alert, he/she won’t). You can buy used gear - there is so much available it isn’t even funny - and if you are playing House hockey, registration is not that much. My son is going into his first year of midget later this year. League registration is $700. He might need new skates this year, but we buy used gear when he needs it, and not top of the line stuff. They might enter two tournaments, one locally, another on a short road trip. Now, if there is talent there, and want to play rep hockey, or at somewhere like BWC or NSWC then yes, it’s expensive.
- 1970vintage

Exactly. For kids under 12 there is so much used gear out there it's ridiculous. Gloves and skates I buy new so they are the most expensive. I can get everything else (shoulder, knee, and elbow pads) for under $50. Helmets are adjustable with age so he's had his for a few seasons. Jersey and socks come with our $250 registration. In total, probably around $1000 over two seasons.

But it's purely a rec experience. I can see how costs skyrocket during competitive teen years.

Lol, you don’t need new gear every year (new/used). Our son has had 3 different sets of shin pads, pants, shoulder pads, gloves and elbow pads in 8 years. Two helmets, and four pairs of skates. He bought new helmets and one time we bought new skates, but they were $150, not $1000.

If your son turns out to have the aptitude and desire to play hockey at a level high enough to earn a scholarship then yes, you will need to invest significantly more than our family has. Maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll really love jump rope, those aren’t that expensive. Though I bet tournaments and travel are the same...
- 1970vintage

Beat me too it.

Most families can't afford 4k for one kid, let alone 8k for 2. One of the articles I read is that parents are forgoing retirement savings in order to keep their kids in sports, even taking on debt to keep them playing the games they love. Liberals killed tax deductions for that as well. I can't wait for the Liberals to be voted out, get someone in there that will handle the legalization of marijuana properly so the country can start making money off of it. Use that money for schools, hospitals, roads, etc.
- Retinalz

This is kinda ironic, considering it had to become legal first. Think scheer and his bible thumping would have stood for that? It’s in it’s infancy, but numbers are already skyrocketing. This one of the few things they did i think was great, dont get me wrong.

Absolutely. TruDope has been a disaster in so many ways it's embarrassing as a Country. Recent numbers suggest he only has an 8% chance of being re-elected so hopefully it's one and done for that tool.
- LordHumungous

Hey lordy...you need to go to forums and create Politicalbuzz thread, I would love to discuss politics with you but not here.

The tourney itself is a bit of a joke so you will never see all the top level talent there. Can't really blame them. It's a bit of a no-hit tourney but still lots of risk of injury just really isn't worth it unless it's the Olympics or something else super high level.
- LordHumungous

It’s a much higher talent pool than the u18. He’s playing against NHL players, that’s alot more top end than most. That’s why Jack is struggling and Kakko has been very impressive. Nucker is right, center over wing. But this is very much the Matthews/Laine debate.

Wow it's been real slow in here since the playoff hype died down

You do realize they were forced to make good right? He was originally planning to do it in his second term and use it to get re-elected, but the other parties basically forced him. He then gave the job of legalizing it to other government bodies. Ultimately all he had to do with it was make a promise during the election. Trudeau is one of the biggest(possibly even the biggest) failure of a PM in Canada's history.
- Retinalz

Do you have any evidence to support this?

Wow it's been real slow in here since the playoff hype died down
- NorthNuck

This is kinda ironic, considering it had to become legal first. Think scheer and his bible thumping would have stood for that? It’s in it’s infancy, but numbers are already skyrocketing. This one of the few things they did i think was great, dont get me wrong.
- neem55

Unfortunately you are completely missing the downside of it. Drug abuse is at an all time high, as is crime committed to support the habit. It no longer has to be hard drugs that make people steal to support their lazy hopeless and meaninglessness lifestyle. Try asking some of the retired folk in BC’s smaller communities how safe they feel when the derelicts from neighboring areas come in just to rob them.

BBQ marinated beef tenderloin tips and seared scallops with wasabi mayo & tobiko tonight.

- RealityChecker

What do you guys think of Mortiz Seider to pair up with Hughes?

What do you guys think of Mortiz Seider to pair up with Hughes?
- NorthNuck

I think he has serious top 4 potential, but hard to pick him at 10. He seems to have a good ceiling with a high floor, but there are likely other players with higher ceilings at 10. Could be a good pick if we traded down.

I think he has serious top 4 potential, but hard to pick him at 10. He seems to have a good ceiling with a high floor, but there are likely other players with higher ceilings at 10. Could be a good pick if we traded down.
- Retinalz

Yeah that's what I was thinking, or could be worth acquiring a later 1st if he slips.

$50 sticks are good enough for my son. Used gear for everything else. If he is talented enough it won't matter if he has the best gear or not, and if he isn't then hopefully he just has fun playing.
- Retinalz

Hate to break it to you but eventually it will matter. Luckily at 6 years old you'll have a few years to see whether he's in the serious category or not. Later down the road if he can spare the time, a part-time job at a hockey store will save you plenty on equipment. Margins aren't typically great but a $300 stick for $200 is better than nothing

Hate to break it to you but eventually it will matter. Luckily at 6 years old you'll have a few years to see whether he's in the serious category or not. Later down the road if he can spare the time, a part-time job at a hockey store will save you plenty on equipment. Margins aren't typically great but a $300 stick for $200 is better than nothing
- WhiteLie

How much later down the road(provided he has serious talent). I mean at the end of the day, I would likely only spend on better gear is he was a step above the kids he plays with/against. My son is not natural in any sport he plays, but he learns/improves quite fast with most things. I wouldn't bet on him being ECHL good as an adult, let alone NHL good though.

What do you guys think of Mortiz Seider to pair up with Hughes?
- NorthNuck

Very little

You do realize they were forced to make good right? He was originally planning to do it in his second term and use it to get re-elected, but the other parties basically forced him. He then gave the job of legalizing it to other government bodies. Ultimately all he had to do with it was make a promise during the election. Trudeau is one of the biggest(possibly even the biggest) failure of a PM in Canada's history.
- Retinalz

If you can read between the lines of my post to lordhumgous this isn't the forum for voicing your political opinions.

Create a thread in forums.

Do you have any evidence to support this?
- golfingsince

I would also like to see some facts to back up this conspiracy theory.

How much later down the road(provided he has serious talent). I mean at the end of the day, I would likely only spend on better gear is he was a step above the kids he plays with/against. My son is not natural in any sport he plays, but he learns/improves quite fast with most things. I wouldn't bet on him being ECHL good as an adult, let alone NHL good though.
- Retinalz

It really depends, but when you consider the bantam draft is at age 14, you could expect to see scouts at rep games a year or two prior (it honestly makes me sick to even type this because its ridiculous, but the game is poisoned). Top kids can commit to NCAA at 15/16 while late bloomers can hit the scene at 18 and still get a solid education offer after their junior careers end at 20

EDIT: I would also add, in some cases being a certain "level" good means nothing; at some point its just the people that keep going. I know plenty of guys there were great players quit because they thought the return on investment wasn't worth it

Unfortunately you are completely missing the downside of it. Drug abuse is at an all time high, as is crime committed to support the habit. It no longer has to be hard drugs that make people steal to support their lazy hopeless and meaninglessness lifestyle. Try asking some of the retired folk in BC’s smaller communities how safe they fear el when the derelicts from neighboring areas come in just to rob them.
- Shuswap Wap

And yet, in countries with little or no drug regultions drug use are at all-time lows.

It really depends, but when you consider the bantam draft is at age 14, you could expect to see scouts at rep games a year or two prior (it honestly makes me sick to even type this because its ridiculous, but the game is poisoned). Top kids can commit to NCAA at 15/16 while late bloomers can hit the scene at 18 and still get a solid education offer after their junior careers end at 20

EDIT: I would also add, in some cases being a certain "level" good means nothing; at some point its just the people that keep going. I know plenty of guys there were great players quit because they thought the return on investment wasn't worth it
- WhiteLie

Well luckily my son has time. Right now he isn't going into ice hockey as he is just really learning to skate, but he will get a full winter of skating lessons(did good this spring with skating lessons) and my dad is buying him rollerblades to practice the motions needed on the ice.

EDIT: I am also thinking of putting him in spring figure skating next year.

Well luckily my son has time. Right now he isn't going into ice hockey as he is just really learning to skate, but he will get a full winter of skating lessons(did good this spring with skating lessons) and my dad is buying him rollerblades to practice the motions needed on the ice.

EDIT: I am also thinking of putting him in spring figure skating next year.
- Retinalz

All good steps IMO. Since we only get 1 day of pond hockey a year (if lucky), then street/roller hockey is the next best thing to get some unstructured fun away from coaches

- RealityChecker

Reminds me of that Simpson's clip where Homer tells Bart he's going to kill him and his whole family.