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beginning" - 14 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed., April'), 1981 Increased costs mostly toblame Hockey registration "by Danny Millar Both Port Perry and Uxbridge hockey systems reported drops in regis- tration this past séason and association Presidents, Grant Williams of Port" Perry and Simcoe McNair in Uxbridge put most of the blame on higher. costs. In the case of Uxbridge, its competitive teams have not dropped. The loss is in the - -- house league system, which 'is a separaté 'organization than the competitive teams. Mr. McNair did not- have exact figures, but he did say the house lcag te registration is. down. The registration 'cost is $85 in Uxbridge, $20 per child more than in Port Perry. Both officials noted that equipment cost is very high. "That $85 is just the stated Mr. McNair. Competitive team regis- - tration is down very slightly over the entire area cavered by the Ontario Minor Hockey . Association. The Secretary- Manager of the OMHA, Vern McCallum, said that 38,995 ' players signed up a year ago and the figure had dropped ., by'a mere 90 players. There are 2,150 registered teams in the OMHA, a drop of five - from a. year ago. Both figures represent a rather insighificant drop. Port Perry's loss, on the : other hand, is more decisive. They signed 'about 300" this year said Mr. Williams, which represents a loss of 40 youngsters. They lost one competitive téam, the Atoms and two Bantam House ague teams. Mr. Williams was very candid when he admitted, "I hope it's just one' bad year, but I can't see really where we're going .to be getting more registration." . Both'men noted that there may be fewer youngsters living in the area, a factor which by attrition, would take its toll on registration numbers. Port Perry. also has an added factor, Williams sees as an effect on registration here. Black- stock formed a minor hockey organization with a regis- -tration of 80 youngsters, some of whom he feels might have signed in Port Perry. According to Blackstock officials, however, they did not sign any boys who played previously in Port Perry. Two other factors often heard in the hotkey world these days are-violence and over-competitiveness. Both men "discounted the theory "that violence, of which there is very little in rhinor hockey was a factor. What about the win at all costs attitude? "I- would have to thirik there has to be the odd boy that can't stand the pressure," . stated £ Wooduorking's l wonderful a ~ fia with a SHOPSMITH CALL PORT PERRY - 985-2443 TAX TIME PUT YOU | Fo A BIND? save you as I money as legally passible. And you can feel free to relax, knowing you're ;. paying only the absolute minimum tax. . : This year be sure. THE INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS H¢R BLOCK * Child tax credit only? "Ask about the special price. STEDMANS DEPARTMENT STORE - PORT PERRY PLAZA - PHONE 985-2255 HOURS: Monday to Wednesday 9:00 A.M. to 5:45 P.M. Thursday & Friday 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. . Saturdays 9: 00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. If income tax ime puts you in a bind, remember, at H&R Block we are trained to cut through the confusion and ble 'deduction and credit. So we can which Mr.' Mr. Williams. The biggest player drop i in both centers is at the Bantam and Midget levels, 13-16 years old. The answers here may be more dbvious; boys that age are starting pan time jobs, and are . éxpanding their interests generally. School work often enters into it. Mr. McNair is a guidance counsellor at _ Port Perry High School and has the opportunity to s many of the boys his tea play against on a daily professional basis. 'We have _had parents come and say 'Johnny can't play because his marks are terrible' but that's' very infrequent," he explained.: THE COSTS Despite. all the other looms the biggest is Cost. Playing hockey is.the most expensive recreational sport available to children in this area and it always will be. Minor hockey organizations are .handcuffed by local arena boards and municipal governments. If they raise the rates for ice time, which is the biggest expense to minor hockey, these costs must be passed on to the . kids. The unfortunate situation that might happen is that minor hockey could become a rich man's sport. "factors, the one 'that still * And there doesn't seem to be much light at the end of the tunnel. Minor hockey pays $30 for every hour 0 ice time in Uxbridge and uses 20 hours a week. Mr. McNair says the Uxbridge Arena board has already told him it will be raising rates next seaséh. For every dollar per hour that the rates ga up, it will cost each young athlete three or four dollars. . "ThE Arena is one of, I think six in the province that doesn't cost the taxpayers any money. And it never has." The cost comes from the day to day operation of it. Mr. McNair objected to the fact that the Uxbridge pool . was not charged as heavily for its use as the reason. Both are, he reasons, "recreational outlets used by all member of the com- munity and the only difference is that the pool uses 'heated water' and the Arena uses "frozen water." He also feels the people of Scugog should 'have to pay for the pool in proportion to the number of people who use it.. He feels the* rates charged" by the pool's various programs "obviously do not cover: the costs." Until as late as' ' 1979-80, registration throughout the- entire OMHA was on the rise. In 1975-76, there were - UXBRIDGE Budget CAR AND TRUCK RENTAL . CANADA'S LARGEST ALL-CANADIAN VEHICLE RENTER ~, *Ask about our Weekend Rates® LOOK FOR THE BUDGET SIGN INTHE. | ESSO CENTRE - HWY. 47 S.. UXBRIDGE - 852-7733 I'm your local Alcan Authorized Dealer. Call me for a free uae on installing Al aluminum Sding. THINKING OUTSIDE. HOME IMPROVEMENTS To protect and beautify your home _ have siding installed before spring ren, nn flowers arrive, . MIKE ALLEN | Alcan Sn | Oni CHRISALLEN ALUMINUM 985-3747 2,048 teams and 35,841 McCallum did not have immediate figures for the 1977-78 season. - It is not over-reacting to say that amateur hockey may be trouble in this province. The Ontario Hockey Council came out with a report. a year ago filled with responses °from parents on how to solve the problems and 12 months later, many of these problems remain untouched. There is still too «much emphasis on winning, most of it coming from the parents in the stands. The costs are constantly rising and there seems little that can be done to curb this inflation. There "petitive drop worries atfisuls are many other, cheaper, less pressure packed sports, that amateur athletes can become involved in. In Port Perry alone there is a curling rink, bowling alley, and a ball diamond each with extensive programs for the youth of this community. The - high school offers soccer, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track and field, archery, and other sports at the com- level and a multitude of activities at the non-competitive or intramural level. The answer to keeping registration levels constant or the increase could be in . keeping the costs per player down. . But that, as minor hockey officials know all too well is far easier said than done. REPAIRING & PAINTING OF CARS, VANS & TRUCKS - FREE ESTIMATES - PORT PERRY - ONTARIO 1'Mile West of Lilla St., - Regional Rd. 8 (formerly Conc. 7) Doug Hughes 985-9011 THE REGIONAL 'DURHAM MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM PUBLIC NOTICE Take notice that the Regional Municipality of Durham is considering "In order to assist in the evaluation of the amendment appli- cation, the public is invited to provide input by way of sub- missions to the Region's Planning Department. The amend- ment application proposes to permit a gravel pit, asphalt plant and accessory 'uses within the area dicated on the "na p below: con 2 Rd. Allowance | T AJ btwn. Con. | 1 CON' 1 I TOWNSHIP 7 8 Information related to the amendment application is avail- able in the offices of the Planning Department, 105 Consu- mers Drive, Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3, or by calling Mr. Lany Kotseff, M.C.I.P. Paring Department, (416) 668-7731. Submissions concerning the amendment application must be forwarded to the Commissioner of Planning, at the above- noted address, and must be received no later than Friday, May 15, 1981. D. Hadden, Chairman, Planning Committee. Dr. M. Michael, M.C.I.P. Commissioner of Planing.