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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 26, 2013 | 16 A Examining a few of the major problems of minor hockey Granted, at the grassroots level, hockey, historically, has had issues, not the least of which is the exclusive nature of a sport that can be nancially inaccessible for some families. Simply put, hockey ain't cheap. But while some kids have been traditionally kept off the ice by a general lack of funds, others nowadays are skating away from the sport on account of a generous lack of fun. "Rarely, if ever," wrote the Globe & Mail's Allan Maki in his article, "has minor hockey experienced such a wave of change, from how the game is played (no more body-checking for children under age 13) to how its administrators address the issues that have been ccording to a recent report in the media, minor hockey in Canada is stickhandling through a period of seismic change while at once facing off against assorted endemic problems. That's Life Andy Juniper Guest Contributor Dear Mortgage, I'm taking time off to play peekaboo. draining away the sport's lifeblood, its registration and retention numbers. Not only is hockey having a harder time attracting children, it's having an equally challenging task keeping them." Why? Because kids these days -- afforded an abundance of appealing recreational options -- lose interest in the sport. Because parents are concerned about player safety, and rightly so. Because of the sport's ever-increasing, allconsuming time commitments. And, as stated, because of lack of funds and lack of fun. I know what you're thinking. How is it even possible to take something as inherently enjoyable as hockey and make it, ah, un-fun? Hard to imagine, but over the years minor hockey associations across Canada have unwittingly done just that, losing sight of the fact the game is actually supposed to be all about fun (and tness). Let's examine a few ways fun is being siphoned from the sport. Overkill. Once upon a time, kids played once a week. And, well, that was about it. A friend recently related his son is, and I quote (minus the expletives) see Parents on p.17 Take time off from your mortgage payment. Our TD flexible mortgage feature comes with life in mind. You have the option to save up, then take a payment vacation for up to 4 months1. How you spend your payment vacation, well that's up to you. SAMKO & MIKO TOY WAREHOUSE TORONTO & RICHMOND HILL SEPTEMBER 21st to DECEMBER 22nd, 2013 TORONTO 77 Fima Crescent (416) 532-1114 RICHMOND HILL 60 East Beaver Creek Rd (905) 771-8714 Visit a branch or tdcanadatrust.com/paymentvacation or call 1- 866 - 492- 4938 today 1000'S OF BRAND NAME TOYS LOWEST PRICES IN CANADA MONDAY NOVEMBER 11, 10-3 1 Some conditions apply and subject to approval. ®/ The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of the Toronto Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries. Hours: Wed ..........................10:00-4:00 Thurs & Fri ..................10:00-8:00 Saturday.....................10:00-5:00 Sunday.......................11:00-5:00 THURSDAY OCTOBER 31, 10-3