Every facet of hockey is becoming more and more unaffordable to the middle class. How does this surprise anyone when everyone from the equipment manufacturers, to ticketing operators, to Fanatics and the NHL itself, treat the sport as a short term cash grab?

@josephl2027

2 ай бұрын

agreed

@volh1volh195

2 ай бұрын

Welcome to capitalism.

@ryananderson5202

2 ай бұрын

America is a short term cash grab.

@mightymoose5126

2 ай бұрын

@@volh1volh195 govt controlled "capitalism" vs a laissez faire economy

@mightymoose5126

2 ай бұрын

capitalism means external competition in which companies compete for the loyalty of customers. Now they all own each other and are given lucrative government grants. Go to Tim Hortons or Popeyes, $ goes to the same people

Hockey, like baseball, used to be a working-class sport. Now it costs an arm & a leg just to attend games.

@nathangoode1089

2 ай бұрын

Baseball is way more expensive now. When I was young I only had to bring a glove and cup. My kids played last year and they had to buy everything themselves. It's hard to justify trying a sport your kid might not even like if you have to spend hundreds on gear for a 2 month season.

@shawklan27

2 ай бұрын

Preach

@sammyweed4771

2 ай бұрын

Had season Tix for 15 yrs can’t afford to go to 1 game now…. Fricking sad. Cause I love me some hockey, playoffs for sure

@666kingdrummer

2 ай бұрын

Even worse, Hockey these days costs an Arm & Leg just to participate.

@TheScotian82

2 ай бұрын

Correct. Its now Elitist. Like mobile games lol

You didn’t include how Canadian teams haven’t won a cup in 3 decades. And that when you watch hockey it’s all ads about gambling. Those are real things.

@Maapify

2 ай бұрын

Good point

@Evan-hockputer

Ай бұрын

He just mentioned it in his latest short.

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

Well, it's certainly not because Canadian players have lost their quality or level of play. Every NHL roster is like the U.N. nowadays. The addition of nothing but teams in the U.S. inevitably lowers the possibility of a non-American team winning the Cup. There are other factors at work, including speculated preferential officiating on behalf of the American teams and specifically those in the sun belt.

@poodtang2104

18 күн бұрын

Agreed.

@benc.3128

15 күн бұрын

@@FischerFanthe teams are still majority Canadian, if you’re trying to say they aren’t. Yes there’s a little more diversity in nationality but it’s still a Canadian league with teams in America

Promoting street hockey at local levels could help capture youth interest, since it's the affordable option.

@CharlieND

2 ай бұрын

For sure. Street hockey/ball hockey is a great way to get into the sport, even if just casually.

@TheBency

2 ай бұрын

Street hockey is how I got into hockey. It's a good option to get people introduced.

@renjiththariath7831

2 ай бұрын

I don't see anyone playing street hockey

@ryanmussell739

2 ай бұрын

They tried it in the early 200’s and it didn’t work.

@j.ramsey8863

2 ай бұрын

With property values and interest rates where they're at I guarantee one ball cross over a property line and the cops are showing up for a vandalism call. Canada is over, many people are just starting to cope with that.

Its simply too expensive. Only rich kids make it. There are exceptions, but it takes dedicated parents who will mortgage years of their lives on the chance their child makes it.

@user-oi9bg6fx5t

Ай бұрын

In 1990 AAA in gta was an upper middle class sport. It’s always been this way.

@jabronirigatoni4648

Ай бұрын

@@user-oi9bg6fx5t not like today when rents are sky high and cost of living is unsustainable for most.

@poodtang2104

18 күн бұрын

It's FUBU > For Us By us. Working class need not apply.

@milanek1527

17 күн бұрын

​@@user-oi9bg6fx5tnah, everything was cheaper and more affordable and the culture/bullying was way less imo.

@Matanumi

11 күн бұрын

also there's less families being had and more immigrants with less money and soccer is exploding.

It’s not just the high cost, it’s the culture. It’s become something for rich snobs spoiled children. Poor kids are often bullied, shunned or cut from the team. The hockey set has become a country club. What’s really sad is the fact that so many super talented kids quit for these reasons long before they’ve realized their potential.

@hillfortherstudios2757

2 ай бұрын

It's toxic and douchey essentially.

@chrislaverick6413

2 ай бұрын

Yeah but the high cost directly affects the culture, as you said the snobs are really the only ones that can afford to go and play, and the politics are just brutal

@shawklan27

2 ай бұрын

Preach

@mikerithgin7102

2 ай бұрын

100 percent correct. Well said, well thought. I don’t watch the stupid nhl anymore because that “rich kid” culture is palpable in the way the game is played. Hockey has not been a working man’s game in decades

@rosslangille3956

2 ай бұрын

I saw this in the eighties. Richer parents would promise team uniforms, sticks equipment etc. I used to shovel driveways and cut lawns so I could purchase leaf tickets. Last time at the gardens, they wanted a weeks salary for the privilege of sitting in the nosebleed section.

When you purchase the NHL package and half of your teams' games are blacked out, it's quite frustrating. Also, 80% of the ads have something to do with gambling.

@yourmother1631

2 ай бұрын

just like the NBA, MLB and MLS and NLL.

@yycguy8722

12 күн бұрын

I agree ☝️ regular cable T.V. Which very few can afford any longer offers very little NHL content. Sports in general is doomed with the failing economy.

@Matanumi

11 күн бұрын

...meanwhile on streaming sites.... bypass EVERY single blackout for the cost of an ISP plan...

@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n

11 күн бұрын

@@Matanumi the value proposition of the Bally sports player is so sooo awful. my team is detroit and i live in the UK so i have to do some serious ninja work to even get the legit games because you have to live in the state (WTF!!) to access their site and then the games are only online for 3 days.. and the player tells you annoying stuff like how long the game is which lets you know that the game either is or isnt going to overtime (kills close games!) compare all that to how someone like me could just stream it off a site for free.

@MihaiRUdeRO

6 күн бұрын

Soccer teams across the world have gambling sites plastered on their jerseys as sponsors, it's not affecting their popularity. It simply has to do with finances. Hockey is like polo, it's a sport for rich people only. For soccer all you need is a field and a ball, you can play it in the poorest countries on the planet easily. That's why its popular around the world, your family's wealth has nothing to do with your accessibility to the sport.

I grew up in the 90s in a lower middle class family. I played hockey every year until I was 15. My school had an ODR that I spent my evenings and weekends on through the winter. The custodian would come in early and flood the rink every morning. Some of my best memories are on that rink. Playing against the big kids, laying out some big hits, fake fights, my feet being so cold that I had to crawl home. So many good times. My son has no interest in watching or playing hockey but is obsessed with basketball. At first, I felt a lot of disappointment that he won't have the same experience. Now I see it as a blessing - he still is passionate about a sport and we don't face the financial burdens that come with playing hockey in the modern era.

@poodtang2104

18 күн бұрын

It's become a game for kids of the Elites to watch and play.

@jjj8317

9 күн бұрын

For now is Basketball but in the future it will be football (soccer). I know because I am part of that generation. You can't match the experience of a game with 45,000 people chanting their hearts out and feeling a sense of community with watching a basketball game, which isnnonlonger that much about the game. Also, with soccer, if you make it, you do it in the global stage. You do became a supper star. You could play in a team with more fans than people in the USA or Canada. It's just another magnitud.

@Reymundo65

9 күн бұрын

Thank your lucky stars because it's $40000 a year now on the low end

@erickpalacios8904

4 күн бұрын

Now extrapolate that information to analyze how a working class family's kids would have fared while you were able to enjoy that small luxury. Organized hockey has always been expensive, but in the last decade, like many other commodities, has become unattainable (not just unaffordable) for most.

@Reymundo65

4 күн бұрын

@@erickpalacios8904 a working class family can’t. realistically in California to play AAA which you have to play if you want to make major juniors hundred thousand a year. League fees $11000 coach fee 5000 you have to take skating lessons with the coach or kids not gonnaplay! $5000-$10000 year travel fees $15000 showcase fees $5000. everyone talks about gear that’s bullshit hockey gear is virtually free pass down stop talking about gear. It’s everything else. And this is on the cheap

It's sad honestly. I'm a 20-year-old hockey fan and sometimes it feels like I'm the only person my age passionate about this sport. I'm playing hockey in Spain now and the best part is seeing that there are people here who love hockey too

@lmenus

13 күн бұрын

Where do you play?

@marcussorensen5549

7 күн бұрын

Hockey in Spain? Brother, where do I sign up?

@lmenus

7 күн бұрын

@@marcussorensen5549 yeah same question 😂 are you in Spain too?

@marcussorensen5549

7 күн бұрын

@@lmenus I’m in Spain without the S. Jokes aside, Swedish with some Spanish ancestry. I long for warm weather and siesta, miss playing puck too

@realtalk6195

5 күн бұрын

What leagues do Spanish fans follow?

The 2004-2005 NHL lockout also threw hockey’s growth back by at least a decade. It could be a lot higher than where it is now.

@ninersdd21

14 күн бұрын

And Bettman somehow still has a job after all of these years.

@zachroberts1988

12 күн бұрын

@@ninersdd21 He works for the owners and they have made monumental amounts of money in his 30 year tenure...

@takemeasicam

5 күн бұрын

It left this fan forever jaded towards the NHL from 12 onwards!

Cost and changing demographics/immigration. Surprised you had the courage to mention that!

@funkyd989

2 ай бұрын

Canadians voted to replace themselves. They get no sympathy from me.

@Rolie-

11 күн бұрын

Bingo

@77dris

10 күн бұрын

@@Rolie- Immigration is the #1 reason for this downfall and yes, he failed to mention this. 1 million new Canadians replacing the population and almost all from India. Nobody in India plays hockey. Also, the Americanization of hockey has made the game much less interesting than it was prior to 2000. There is no character, no intensity anymore. It's all homogenous and boring.

@FREEFREEalexstein

10 күн бұрын

​@@77dris💯

@geoff3103

8 күн бұрын

except soccer is even worse run than hockey. the NHL is the NFL compared to MLS.

I have a theory that Wayne Gretzky's aww shucks modesty had a huge effect on how interesting players can be. In the 70s and 80s you had a lot of guys with huge personalities but it plummeted by the late 90s and 2000s. Now if someone even dares to wear the number 66 it's somehow insulting to greats of the past. A necessary but significant change was making helmets mandatory. Players look a lot more homogenous than the days of guys with huge hairdos flapping in the wind and crazy facial hair. The Minnesota high school all hockey hair team is one of the more consistently viral videos in the modern age.

@youngsvph7573

2 ай бұрын

yeah that’s true. Hockey players just don’t stand out and most of them are every boring. the NBA is very famous because it’s a league full of superstars. even if you don’t watch basketball you still know about Lebron James, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis and other players. but the majority of people who don’t watch hockey can’t name a single player except for Gretzky. and some young people don’t even know who Gretzky is cuz they weren’t alive when he was playing.

@poodtang2104

18 күн бұрын

@@youngsvph7573 NHL players are boring AF.

@milanek1527

17 күн бұрын

NHL players arent fake tho. They are not boring at all. As said by Perlini on his YT channel, he said that McDavid was actually very funny irl and had dry humor. Which is not the things you see in media.

@poodtang2104

16 күн бұрын

@@milanek1527 Maybe but most don't see that.

@rushrush1209

15 күн бұрын

When I think of big personalities, I think of guys like Patrick Roy, Jeremy Roenick and Brett Hull. Guys who talked big and could back it up. NHL players now are normally really modest, but somewhat bland in personality.

Canada has officially priced itself out of its own game, I went to buy a stick just the other week, I couldn’t find one for under $180, that’s insane, not to mention in southern Ontario we don’t get the winters that we used to so you don’t even get free ice in the winter anymore Forcing you to have to pay to play, plus how Canada handled Covid also really hurt, you basically didn’t have hockey for a year or two, that had a big affect especially to a kid growing up wanting to play and had to choose different sports

@thephotonepoch9759

27 күн бұрын

5030s are $40 at sportchek!

@Matanumi

11 күн бұрын

...in southcoast BC we just played roller or street hockey instead

@tdunph4250

11 күн бұрын

Lets face it. Newcomers to Canada and also most, not all, p o c are not into hockey. They would rather identify with a game that is more universal or common from their home land.

@gangstadrz9326

8 күн бұрын

@tdunph4250 Don’t ever use the term poc 👎🏻

@chrislaverick6413

8 күн бұрын

@@gangstadrz9326 what is a poc?

What about TV rights and being hard to see your favorite team? Just look at r/NHL people complain about blackouts. It's as bad as being an MLB fan in Iowa.

@yourmother1631

2 ай бұрын

NBA has blackouts aswell. this guy is just a snobby rich tosser

@goat9295

2 ай бұрын

I'm here reserved to watching hockey on a legally questionable site. The only time I pay for a subscription is come playoff season because I can guarantee all of those matches will be shown

@milanek1527

17 күн бұрын

​@@goat9295not for me in czechia!

As a Canadian, in my neighborhood. Basketball and soccer are the favorites.

@brentmac6342

2 ай бұрын

Whats the demographic of your neighborhood?

@Evan-hockputer

2 ай бұрын

@@brentmac6342 Mostly Indian

@sparky3006

2 ай бұрын

@@Evan-hockputerbingo

@Evan-hockputer

2 ай бұрын

@@sparky3006 Well, I don't mostly see them play cricket.

@dmarshall9927

2 ай бұрын

@@Evan-hockputertry going to brampton.. crickets the main sport there

Its the cost of playing .

Not a single Canadian NHL team has won the Stanley Cup since the 1992-93 Canadiens, which cemented its decline.

@johnbrowne2170

2 ай бұрын

I'm Canadian and I'm a Boston Bruins fan. Lots of Canadians are U.S. based teams fans.

@MonTube2006

2 ай бұрын

​@@johnbrowne2170 a canadian Bruins fan ? So edgy ! How fkup and confused of a human beeing can you be ?

@Matt-zp1jn

2 ай бұрын

It is because Bettman was brought in to GROW the game business wise for the NHL across the 🇺🇸 USA, and NOT further in 🇨🇦 . It has gotten worse every year since Bettman got into office. Pro sports are corrupted just like Boxing now sadly. Canadian teams face an ever greater financial hardship competing against American 🇺🇸 hockey teams in many ways. For example, if an American boy (USA team) & Canadian boy (Canadian team) play a boardgame in a best-of-seven games against each other, and the Banker (Bettman & NHL) give the American player between $2000- $3000 in monopoly money per game to start with, and only $500-$900 to the Canadian player per game to begin with, then the odds of the Canadian boy winning a best of seven game series of monopoly against the American drops to almost NIL. The business side has overtaken the sports side and Canadians pay for overpriced tickets to Canadian teams that play against American team markets, with a 30-40% US-Cdn dollar exchange rate, etc. They need to change things quick or it will get worse.

@MikePurdue-ky9pm

2 ай бұрын

Oddly enough, that was the year commissioner Gary Bettman entered the league. Coincidence?

@MonTube2006

2 ай бұрын

@@johnbrowne2170 you're a peace of spit

For Canadian kids. Their only hope growing up to be a successful sports player was hockey. They got all the recognition on TV and were super successful. Now, Canadians are producing good basketball players. The Canadian basketball team took third place in the FIBA World Cup. I say in the next 15 years Soccer will take over the most popular sport over Hockey. The young Canadian superstar all young Canadians look up to is Alphonso Davies. He went from playing MLS soccer with the Vancouver Whitecaps to playing on one of the greatest soccer teams in the world, Bayern Munich. This shows Candian kids that you can make it in other sports. You can be the next Alphonso Davies. I see the CanMNT being super competitive in Concacaf and qualifying for World Cups. Maybe the next biggest Concacaf rivalry will be the USA vs. Canada.

@kiroolioneaver8532

25 күн бұрын

Underrated comment.

@mrconfusion87

14 күн бұрын

It will be a tri-national rivalry between Canada, USA, and Mexico! 🤣⚽️

@alexanderjohansson6928

10 күн бұрын

You hit the nail on the head + 1 of 3 MVP candidates in the NBA SGA is Canadian, Canada seems like a really underrated country full of talanted athletes who probably would lift hockey to higher heights if it weren't for the cost of playing.

@TheDecapitatedApple

7 күн бұрын

@@alexanderjohansson6928 yes. you're missing out on top tier talent cause rich white people are the only ones that can afford this game

I was born and raised just outside Toronto. This is true, as kids and teens the world revolved around the Leafs, how they were doing. Constant topic of convo every day. Now, it’s fallen out of the mainstream, where you only know what’s going on if you are a true support. even in the downtown core you may not even be aware the leafs are playing a big playoff game. The Big Hockey supporters when I was young now have kids that are obsessed with soccer, and they have started to get drawn to the sport also. Soccer was once in the fringe and now it is definitely a top 3 in my opinion. Raptors winning in 2019 also increased the popularity of basketball in the city like crazy. Much more parents prefer to put their kids in soccer than hockey as it’s cheaper and seen as safer

@projektkobra2247

11 күн бұрын

Its all kids in the square outside the ACC...and they all have current player sweaters...you seldom see an Iafrate (like I have) or a Salming, or Sittler anymore..even Gilmour (babysitter) and Sundins are rare. Us older fans have had enough of the wretched Leaves... Go Bruins!

How about this. Bring Don Cherry back. Stop with the blackouts. Make life affordable in Canada again. Stop with every night being "woke theme" night. Get a new NHL commissioner who isn't against Canada. And quit changing the rules so darn much, 3 on 3 overtime for 5 minutes is just dumb. These changes alone would make people interested again.

@MikePurdue-ky9pm

2 ай бұрын

@@wuhx7 Says you.

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

@@wuhx7 It will bring back true hockey fans. We just need to defund the CBC first.

@Pipes570

3 күн бұрын

It's got nothing to do with "woke". From a German-Canadian who had relatives that served in the Wehrmacht in WW2, you're preaching to a Conservative Capitalist system of billionaires, which is responsible for all of the BS and unaffordable living, and such. Blaming "woke" is literally playing the game these billionaires want you to, It's literally what Hitler did to fuel his regime, because a divided people at war with each other because some politician told you to hate some group of people, and you believed that politician's insanity instead of saying "The Nazis told people to hate and persecute minority groups and that it'd make people's lives better because all they needed was to make other's lives worse, and look what happened there!" A middle class that is getting poorer and poorer can't stand against billionaires who covet the money in the treasury. A lesson from the Criminals of the Papal State, Nazis and every other Fascist regime, Capitalism and Conservatism are the biggest weapons the billionaires use against us every day, and you ignore it entirely. Learn about how the Classical Mayan era collapsed, because those were a people who showed what gets done by the people when they realize that it's not left vs right, it's not diversity or immigration or any of that which is the problem, it's the people at the top, telling them "XYZ group is the problem". If you don't want to delve into the history, the civilians essentially made the Royal Families, their soldiers, the priests were all hunted down and killed. The Italians also destroyed European theocracy when they realized that the Papal State was the problem, and not the people the state was torturing to death. And the list goes on.

It started when we lost the real HNIC theme music to the generic Sportsnet one-sound-fits-all-sports format. Then, the geniuses fired Don Cherry. Then Bettman said no to the Olympics, so no Nat'l pride. All meant to erode our Canadian fabric. Commish, P.M., President.... see a pattern, anyone?

For the cheapest ticket to see the leafs play is $120. That's in the nose bleed section. Better off staying home and watching it on tv. For the same price you can get lower bowl seat to watch the red wings play. Nose bleed is $50..

@sammyweed4771

2 ай бұрын

I don’t know about that. I payed 100 a tix last wings game I went to…. Last yr

@bobbyhillthuglife

9 күн бұрын

They should pay people to watch fhe Leafs not vice versa

Americans don't even know who Connor McDavid is , great job Gary 👍

@youknowimright.3137

13 күн бұрын

I'm american...and I do ...and I love this sport ...and if you don't like that ...Kiss my ass.

A Canadian team must win the Stanley Cup to turn the tide...this has not happened in 20+ yrs. Title-runs create heroes & interest in the sport, and Canadians are starved of this in NHL vs the older generations...

@KaraMarisa

2 ай бұрын

30 years now.

@chrislaverick6413

2 ай бұрын

That’s going to be a really tough task, there is a highly unfair disadvantage to playing in Canada, our weather is brutal, and our taxes make the cap space unrealistic, $12 million in Canada is like 8 1/2 in Florida, so you can’t compare And this is an issue that nobody seems to address, not to mention with the ever-growing number of players that are not born in Canada, none of them want to play in Canada so it’s already hard enough to sign people

@dunnowy123

2 ай бұрын

That's the truth. Basketball has been growing for a while, but the Raptors winning the 2019 Championship inspired SO MANY kids to take up the sport. When our teams are associated with losing, it's hard to bring people in.

@dunnowy123

2 ай бұрын

@@chrislaverick6413 In a just universe the NHL would be Canadian and extend into the US slowly...unfortunately, that'll never be the case lol

@chrislaverick6413

2 ай бұрын

@@dunnowy123 yeah man, like imagine playing in winnipeg? worst weather, high crime, and high taxes? i rather play in arizona

im from near detroit, grew up in the 80s 90s, love the red wings , always wanted to play hockey, my parents are fairly well off too, but even they didnt want to pay for me and my brothers to play hockey, expensive equipment and ice time, travel, 6 am practices... its too bad its such an expensive sport to play cuz its def the best team sport

@tdunph4250

11 күн бұрын

If you want expensive try downhill skiing.

The best sticks used to be $200-250, then $300 pre covid, now its $400. Double what it was when I was in middle school. Skates? Same thing, from ~$500-700 to $1000+ now. When the middle class struggle to even buy groceries and pay rent thanks in large part to Trudeau, who has money for hockey?

@rbassassin99

2 ай бұрын

There $1000 plus skate during precovid too my friend had one he show me but it’s rediculus

@sierrag8412

2 ай бұрын

@@rbassassin99 I think maybe right before COVID but when I was in highschool it was like 700 or 800 max

@jeanjacques9365

Ай бұрын

@@sierrag8412 skates broke the 1000$ mark in like 2015 (if you include the taxes) when i still played. Damn, for some reason i never thought sticks would go past the 400$ mark even back when i used to play my dad always refused to buy the most expensive sticks we stuck to 150-170$ sticks by buying last year models usually "if they were good enough for Crosby last year that's not what will hold you back kid". Things you shouldn't cheap out on are helmet and skates the rest is the same as clothes you pay to look cool or fit in that's all. That being said yeah hockey has always been expensive but it's reached a point that hurts the game. Even in 2015 a hockey season would cost 5-7k for league, 700-2000 for equipment (depending on growth spurs) now from what i heard it passed 20k which is ja price my family wouldn't have been able to afford while making roughly 200 000$ in combined income.

@rondix8123

Ай бұрын

I feel it has nothing to with politics but with corporiate greed .

@sierrag8412

Ай бұрын

@@rondix8123 the rise in living costs absolutely has a lot to do with shitty politicians. Not exclusively of course but in a large part yes

everything you said is 100% true Hockey: Entertaining Hockey people: Lame

As an American that is a huge hockey fan I was shocked when I started visiting Canada every summer and figured out that most people there don't watch hockey. More fans than the US, but out of my about 6 or 7 friends I've made only 1 watches hockey.

@yourmother1631

2 ай бұрын

Wrong part of Canada then over 30 Million People watch Hockey in Canada.

@youngsvph7573

2 ай бұрын

@@yourmother1631there’s only 37 million people in Canada. you’re saying only 7 million Canadians don’t watch hockey??

@yourmother1631

2 ай бұрын

Yes only @@youngsvph7573

@yourmother1631

2 ай бұрын

All other Sports are irrelevant@@youngsvph7573

@yourmother1631

2 ай бұрын

Except for Lacrosse@@youngsvph7573

Plenty of reasons for this. Where do we start? No more street hockey? Horrible commercial messages in between games? Boards that advertise and flash and change during game play? Fights over who is worth what? Overpriced tickets? Stupid adds directed at minorities? Cell phone zombies? I could go on and on if I think about it but my head is hurting at this point from just the short list I have above. I would encourage you to go and see house league games played by normal people at regular rinks for free. This is where the heart of it is. Forget product. Its not about that at all its about enjoyment. If your not enjoying the game itself then why bother. Get out to your regular rink and just go for a skate or play pick up.

@Beefsupreme63

2 ай бұрын

Yep. Gretzky and Mc D pushing online gambling at every break is sickening.

@jj3a1

Ай бұрын

Just couldn’t hide your racism, huh?

@jj3a1

Ай бұрын

Couldn’t hide your racism, huh? It’s people like YOU why it’s dying.

@Matanumi

11 күн бұрын

@@Beefsupreme63 oh well that's just sportsbetting getting out of hand.

@tdunph4250

11 күн бұрын

Well said.

I remember the 2003/2004 world junior finals. I was in high school and all classes were put on hold and the entire school piled into the cafeteria and they broadcasted the game onto a projector. I wonder if Canadian high schools would do the same today?

@Grebbyjidkehidinebd

16 күн бұрын

No lol

@Matanumi

11 күн бұрын

not a god damn chance- you have to seak it on your own. ESPICALLY if Canada is NOT in the Finals.... I'd be shocked if schools would pause for the Olympics now.

@Grebbyjidkehidinebd

11 күн бұрын

@@Matanumi schools don’t even pause for the wc

@TheDecapitatedApple

7 күн бұрын

if canada was in the gold medal game in the olympics they would watch it

Hockey in Canada is becoming unaffordable, highly unpopular and other stuff. Bettman doesn’t try to promote the game here yet it’s still better known in Canada then the us

Our demographics are changing. The new Canadian kids don't relate to hockey players and prefer the NBA instead. The hockey league in Scarborough shut down over 30 years sgo because if a lack if players.

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

Yep, basketball and soccer. Then you have lobby groups led by people like Kim Davis who insist the NHL has a 'lack of diversity problem'. It doesn't. It was created to showcase the best hockey players in the world. The day the NHL has quotas imposed on its player pool is the day the league collapses.

@VojvodaSloboda

15 күн бұрын

the demographics changing is not the important part, the existing hockey culture and how exclusive it is towards 'good ol whiteboy' Canadians was the greatest mistake of hockey culture. Don cherry (i dont even hate the guy and i dont think he should have lost his job) was championed as one of the main respected voices of the sport yet he was notoriously xenophobic, he was consistently rewarded and celebrated for that. all the kids before practice would talk about don cherry, laugh at what he said and admire his takes. things like that among other things have encouraged + perpetuated the rich, stuck up, pompous attitude of hockey culture; which immigrant kids will never feel connected to as something more grassroots like soccer or basketball.

@VojvodaSloboda

15 күн бұрын

​@@FischerFan dont be ridiculous, no one is arguing for a diversity quota in hockey and they certainly arent talking about changing meritocracy or reducing the skill of the league. they are being politically correct and really they are stating that only a certain type of rich white folk play the sport and maybe if there was outreach to less fortunate minorities, the sport might become more popular with different groups. the 'lack of diversity' has pigeon holed the sport into a niche community of rich white folk. if you want to keep your sport exclusive and homogenous then dont complain about any of the sports short comings because you did it to yourselves.

@TokyoBalletReprise

13 күн бұрын

@@VojvodaSloboda Don wasn't just racist against non white folks, you could argue he's been way more racist towards french canadians if anything.

@bobbyhillthuglife

9 күн бұрын

​@@TokyoBalletReprisenot to mention he hates almost every euro player

As a guy who has played hockey since he was 4 in St. Paul. I grew up in a middle/lower class family and I never had the newest gear and it was always a struggle for my family to afford it. It was really bad when I played goalie in middle school and really really bad in high school. And things just get more and more expensive and kids want the newest gear every time so I think that might be a reason and also the NHL marketing is absolutely horrendous. Plus there’s a massive stigma about health concerns which idk if most are true and people just get so very afraid of it. My parents didn’t really care they just wanted me to have fun and from my experience most kids nowadays don’t want to play a sport anymore and rather game or anything else lol

@sammyweed4771

2 ай бұрын

Well please don’t get sucked in the play in the house stuff. Street Hockey is still big where I’m at. And I’m 57…. The kids call me Coffee cause I wear a Paul Coffee Sweater from red wing days. I have a blast

Hockey Night in Canada's such a joke. Ron threw Don cherry under the bus over a vague comment.... for what? so he can protect his job when he's a mediocre tv personality? he's decent as an interviewer but anyone could of filled his role during coaches corner with cherry. Ron should pack it in and find something else to do honestly... its time for some new blood.

@chocolateface8664

2 ай бұрын

Ya first Ron agreed with him and then after Cherry got canned Ron did a 180 on his opinion. He’s a CBC puppet. The only reason the little pipsqeak had a job was because of Don.

@skinnflint

2 ай бұрын

Don Cherry racist dinosaur

@tomfilipiak3511

2 ай бұрын

@@skinnflint that’s all you got to fall back on,use the race theory,so old school!Cherry,did only speak the truth,and you younger people can’t handle it!Thin skinned whiners!!!

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

@@skinnflint Only to the politically correct and the CBC minions.

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

@@skinnflint Don Cherry speaks truths that hurt liberal ideology.

Hockey has probably just reached peak saturation of Canadians. The drop off can probably be explained by an increase in population. Look around a lot of canadian cities look like little new delhi or new islamabad, they dont play or care about hockey.

@gbalph4

14 күн бұрын

There was a big South Asian Canadian gathering for the Canucks in Surrey so at least they care. Granted they may have been living in Canada for years or are second generation and grew up watching the Canucks.

@skidadle5473

6 күн бұрын

​@@gbalph4 Those are grown up fans who started watching hockey after arriving at Canada, none of them plays hockey and it's likely that none of their kids will, those guys are more into soccer and cricket

The majority of the Canadian youth now is becoming non-white. Which is why hockey is on the decline with most young people. Other cultures do not favor hockey as their primary sport of choice.

@tkkape

3 күн бұрын

You are 100% correct, Canada is done

Don Cherry being fired and the cRaptors winning the championship is the main reasons why.

@edlawn5481

15 күн бұрын

Go Woke Go Broke.

@Jeankule

8 күн бұрын

I doubt younger viewers were interested in watching Don Cherry's intermission program.

I would argue the rise of streaming impacts television viewership. In addition, COVID played a major part in decline in sport participation in general. Soccer, for instance, once was the king of child participation. Registration has declined rapidly since COVID. From what I've observed, hockey is very expensive and families are participating. However, most clubs provide equipment, registration and resources for those in lower incomes. It's more than a trend.

Hockey is declining in Canada. And there is several reasons as to why. From a shift in identity and culture due to mass immigration, to even the hockey leauges themselves. First and foremost the number one reason is COST. Our family did the math and it costed roughly $4000 dollars a year once you factor in equipment, travel, registration, hotels, tournaments, food, buying 4 bloody sticks a year. Worst part is none of us played anything above Rep. This cost is at least double for AAA and my cousins know this well as they forked out over $10,000 a year to play AAA. It isnt the working class game it use to be. Games are unaffordable: Even going to an OHL game is expensive, tickets are outrageous. I see a larger and larger croud attending low tier Junior B and C games every year. This also plays a factor in growing the game. It simply costs so much money. Canadian Culture: Our culture is shifting due to immigration. Regardless of opinion importing millions of people uncontrollably from other countries is downright incompetent and this WILL have an impact as our country grows. And a negative one too (import the third world, become the third world) The game has changed: Now growing up the goals were cool, the saves were cool and all. But when the gloves came off EVERYONE was watching. This aspect of the game is being phased out and I do not think it is being taken as well as many think. Its no coincidence with the period hockey viewership and registration amongst youth is down so is the fighting. (No I am not advocating for youth brawls) Youth Leauges (yikes): Rule changes have become obsurd. The game is recognized as "dangerous" more than ever as the art of hitting is gone due to not being taught at a young age. Furthermore suspensions can get whipped out for 8+ games for saying swear words. Families aren't spending money (especially for teens) if their kids are gonna get in trouble for swearing. Also ridiculous. Hockey Canada: It seems the face of Canadian hockey gets into controversy after controversy year in year out. No parent wants their kids playing a sport where the countries governing body is hiding assaults players have committed in an attempt to protect the player. This has to stop but I do believe the hockey room culture is improving a bit.

@Grebbyjidkehidinebd

16 күн бұрын

Agree w all of these except the immigration part on sports. The only sport that’s getting some popularity is cricket and even then it’s still less popular among the youth compared to basketball, football, hockey, baseball, soccer, etc

@gbalph4

14 күн бұрын

Thing is it’s not impossible to convert immigrants to liking the sport. My parents came from Vietnam and got into the Bruins and collegiate Boston hockey (and eventually Sharks when they moved to NorCal) despite never knowing what skates were for almost two decades. They were able to see the games and skate during the winter (I even have a Bruins and Sharks pennant in my room). But yeah if citizens who make good salaries can’t even afford the game then how can immigrants who probably want to settle down first and financially secure themselves first afford it? Blackouts also make the problem worse since you can’t even watch the game (thus not develop interest) without expensive packages that are only getting more segmented.

@raidzz2484

8 күн бұрын

Maybe Canada is the problem. Immigrants in Europe develop a huge passion for soccer/football once they grow up with others around them who love football. Why can’t Canada do the same?

@franciscarpentier4115

7 күн бұрын

@@Grebbyjidkehidinebd Continue to vote liberal for your total replacement...

1.4 birth rate that’s why

@willp.8120

14 күн бұрын

USA isn't much better. 1.6 South Korea is at 0.5.

Grew up playing some aaa but mostly aa, in Saskatchewan with my single dad paying every single year. I’m now 28, don’t have a degree, pretty middle class job, solid relationship, not a chance my future kid is playing hockey, and it breaks my heart. Just so expensive on top of everything else in this country rn.

A Russian here. This is sad, guys, Canada is a hockey trailblazer and even thinking about decline if hockey in Canada is kind of depressing. And yes, it is a very expensive sport. I wish my parents could afford it as my hometown Cherepovets has a decent professional team Severstal

My grandfather told me stories of the 1950s when hockey practices were played on frozen lakes and a league cost $12 per season to play, plus skates and a stick. Only the final tournaments would be held in an indoor ice rink, and the city only had ONE single indoor ice sheet at the time (located on and shared with the military base, now long gone). Fast-forward to the present where fees are $5000 per year plus much more equipment than was used back then. No outdoor games are played anymore, and that same city now has 12 indoor ice surfaces.

What an amazing video. The research that went into this and the data you shared is incredible and eye opening. I love how you including the path other sports leagues have gone to make efforts to attract fans to their sport. When intermission comes on during an NHL telecast I find something else to do for those 15 mins. It’s dull and you showcased that in a polite way. Well put together video. Very insightful stuff. Thank you.

Who knew the more Chinese, Filipino, Indians and Pakistanis in Canada the less affordable housing and the less hockey players. Wow total shock.

@franciscarpentier4115

7 күн бұрын

100%. This is why Quebec (with lower immigration) the hockey decline is not as bad here.

This is not a new issue. The proportion of Canadians in the NHL hasn't been a majority for a pretty long time (and it used to be over 90%, back before the league expanded to 12 teams from 6). It is in the low 40% range now, and will likely continue to decrease. Canadians still make up the plurality of NHL players, and that is not likely to change for a long time, if ever. But the counter-argument is that other nations have correspondingly seen investment in hockey pay off - places like Germany, Latvia and Austria consistently compete at the top level of the international adult game, and they even win the occasional medal (which was unheard of twenty years ago)...their contribution of players to the NHL continues to increase. So at the highest level, the sport is becoming more international, and I think this is, on balance, fairly positive, as it means that as the popularity of ice hockey waxes and wanes in any particular country, there are other nations picking up the slack and sustaining it. But make no mistake, hockey is still the sport that most Canadian youth watch above all others, and while adult immigrants may not be ready to embrace a new sport, their children (who want to fit in and become culturally Canadian) will. These kids may not immediately want to PLAY hockey, but if they show curiosity for the sport, the cost of skating lessons is still relatively affordable (plus it's good exercise, and can be a family activity!), and those who show aptitude for skating can be supported by the community in taking up hockey. For example, there are initiatives involving current and former NHL players to provide both equipment, and money for facility use and training, making the sport more affordable. And it is at the youngest levels that this investment will have the most impact, as the more kids participate, the more chance there will be for kids (be they children of immigrants or not) who have a natural talent in the sport to develop that talent, be identified as particularly talented, and gain further support in their teenage years. It doesn't matter if 90% of the kids who play organized hockey as little kids stop when they're 11 or 12 (or decide to play cheaper, less organized forms, just for fun) as long as the ones who really have a shot to play professionally keep going (should they choose to). As for the popularity of the sport as an entertainment product, that concerns me a bit more, because the NHL has been consistently clueless as to how they can better market this product. They swing between sticking their heads in the sand (doubling down on strategies that will only appeal to the most diehard of existing fans), and embracing truly nutty ideas that might cause a handful of total n00bs to pay attention (for a little while at least) while totally alienating their actual fanbase. Personally, I think that hockey in Canada used to rely on its cultural ubiquity to maintain its popularity - there wasn't anything else to care about, and so the sport basically sold itself. Now, there is a massive selection of entertainment options to choose from. I am no expert, but I think that a good start to gaining and keeping fans is making it WAY easier for anyone, anywhere, to follow one specific team. For example, it is nigh-on impossible at present for a person in Calgary to (legally) watch every single Carolina Hurricanes game (for example), unless they buy a subscription that includes access to EVERY NHL game (at a premium price). This is RIDICULOUS. How hard would it be to partner with one of the many streaming services, allowing any subscriber to automatically gain free access to a NHL team of their choice's entire season as part of their subscription? That would drive up subscription numbers for that service, and it would also enable non-hockey fans, no matter where they are in the world, to pick a team to follow (most won't, but some will!). Also, some networks still enforce local blackouts, because teams feel that a game that is accessible on television locally will not sell as many tickets. But the NHL needs to realize that the in-person, live product they're selling is VERY different to the televised version, and make the extra experience of the live event worth the cost, while still understanding that it's not an either-or scenario...most of the people watching the game on television would NEVER have bought a ticket. All they're doing in blacking out a game is screwing over fans, and losing potential fans. These are just a couple of the ways the NHL is shooting itself in the foot, ones that are obvious to anyone who is even peripherally aware of the situation.

This is 100% true. My nephew plays AAA in Guelph. It costs 16k a year to play.

As a canadian interested in hockey myself, i think more and more people are actually playing the sports in beer leagues tho...and the canadian teams in the NHL in the east having a hard time too...doesnt help. But yeah A LOT more kids are playing soccer these days...it's cheaper, easier to get in etc.

@thetabbyguy921

2 ай бұрын

Soccer is not only a cheaper sport but its availability has also exploded much thanks to the semi-pro league 1 doubling in size in Ontario to 25 teams over the last few years plus also expanding to BC and Alberta, which allows many more Canadians to keep playing the game beyond youth level.

As a new immigrant, I want to put my kids into hockey, but there are challenges from finances to lack of programs altogether, not to mention I'd have to spend half my paycheck to take my family to a Canucks game.

Those red/white graphics are pretty confusing

Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday Night used to be an event. The Sports Highlight of the Week. Now there are a multitude of games to watch. Hockey used to be tough and gritty with Bad Blood and rivalries: Canadiens/Nordiques, Flames/Oilers. That was entertaining. That's what put people in the seats and generated interest. This change in hockey is reflective of our society as a whole. Masculinity is called toxic and mean. Hockey leaders wanted to move away from that and made the game more sanitized, to appeal to a "wider audience" and the game has moved from its roots as a hard rough game.

Hockey really is the best team sport and im not Canadian

@brunozachary

7 күн бұрын

Yes sir, nothing really compares.

When you fill the country up with people who don't care about or like hockey, then the costs..........

@1982kinger

2 ай бұрын

Yes.... plus the cbc obsession with girls hockey

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

@@1982kinger ..and identity politics.

@TheDecapitatedApple

7 күн бұрын

brain rot.

As an American, I think that this video is straight up and I think that in the future America will be able to compete if not beat Canada, and that’s great, that being said it makes me sad to imagine a world where Canada is not the heart of hockey because so much of the best times I’ve ever seen have come from Canadian players, and it’s heartbreaking to imagine that it wouldn’t be the sport that Country is most known for. Canada = hockey.

Recently the Quebec government has set aside money to try and encourage more youth to take up hockey. This is unbelievable. During the era of the Canadien dynasties, you couldn't see a youth in Quebec who didn't play hockey or wear a Montreal sweater. The fact that youth need to be encouraged to take up hockey today is an indication of how far interest in the sport in Quebec has fallen

Another factor that could contribute to the decline is the sexual abuse scandal within Hockey Canada, which really cracked the trust from the public...

@nicko9046

2 ай бұрын

That's like blaming the school when a kid is bullied. Blame the kids, or MAYBE the teachers.

@WCGreeny

9 күн бұрын

​@@nicko9046 The thing is that Hockey Canada paid off the victims to keep them quiet and avoid bad publicity.

your child is not going to make it to the nhl. ... now that that is out of the way, what are you willing to spend on them having fun and learning about team work.

@ravimani3834

2 ай бұрын

100% support this point. Spend more to make kids well rounded, instead of just glorifying a rubber disc going into a net. I say this as a man who loves hockey but couldn't afford to play until i was in my 20s and had a job to afford to play .

@BSimpson-oh8mm

2 ай бұрын

Similar in other sports, my kid might not make the Olympics but will be on a university/college team. The real cost in other sports is coaching & travel.

@skidadle5473

6 күн бұрын

​@@BSimpson-oh8mmand usports is a joke compared to NCAA. Universities can't properly sponsor their teams, just google the arenas American uni teams have and what Canadian university teams have and compare the scale, fuck, playing for hockey team won't even cover your college tuition no matter how good you are

Sticks $250 skates $400 gloves $150 Helmet $75 then the rest of equipment Ticket games prices ridiculous It’s too expensive playing and watching it live.

Friendly reminder basketball is a Canadian sport.

@gabbar51ngh

9 күн бұрын

Nah. It was created and established in USA. The creator constantly took input from the students playing the game to shape the sport into what it is today. Including the name which was given by one of his students rather than him. If Canada wanted to claim the sport, they should have created opportunities for him to create basketball over their soil.

It's a rich people sport, the culture is offputting, insanely boring players/broadcasters/personalities, everyone in hockey is old, the references they make are old, the music they play is old, everything is just OLD, the NHL's presence on the internet is zero, no Canadian teams winning/worth talking about, hockey isn't viewed as "cool" like basketball or European soccer leagues are, cost of play is insane, most people are blocked out of the sport by the cost alone, and the NHL are the worst marketers in the world.

I do not watch or go to any baseball or football games any more and have no use for basketball, but I still follow hockey.

I think that lack of success aof Canadian NHL teams is also a factor.

It is so sad seeing this way!!! IT'S A CRADLE OF ICE HOCKEY!!! AS A KID IN 1960'and 70s in czechoslovakia I loved watching Czechoslovakia vs Canada!! They were great teams!! I hope Canada hockey will rise to where it should be!!! LOVE from CZECHIA and SLOVAKIA ❤😊

For comparison: The state of Georgia has 11,029,227 people, and had the NHL for 20 years. As of 2020 Georgia had 2,078 hockey players enrolled. The least populated province Prince Edward Island has 154,331 people - but has 5,557 hockey players enrolled. The least populated state Wyoming has 576,851 people - but has 2,195 hockey players enrolled. Both more than Georgia. - Georgia has less hockey players enrolled than every province in Canada, even the least populated province - Georgia has less hockey players enrolled than all the least populated states in America (less than WY, VT, MT, ME, SD, ND, AK) If hockey is "dying" in Canada, then it is dead period. America CANNOT save hockey. The most diehard hockey state Minnesota has a FRACTION of the hockey players that Canadian provinces have.

@Maapify

2 ай бұрын

That's interesting

@jeffwarren1242

2 ай бұрын

You cherry picked a southern state notorious for not supporting an NHL team twice. Of course New England states, upper Midwest and Alaska have more hockey players, because that’s where hockey is most popular.

@sollamander2206

2 ай бұрын

Minnesota has more registered players (~58,000) than every province but Alberta(~62,000) and Ontario(~122,000).

@sampicano

2 ай бұрын

@@jeffwarren1242 I picked the worst state for hockey lol Shout out to Arizona!

@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija

2 ай бұрын

@@sollamander2206and also a higher population bruh

What the heck does "Teenagers vs Today" mean in terms of time frame / demographics?

Hockey sucks now. Gotta take out a loan just to go to a game. Total crap

I wouldn't be surprised if it gets worse. Look at auto racing in Brazil. They used to take home all the F1 trophies before the mid 90s. Now they are not represented at all on the world stage for a long time. Why? Simply put, economy tanked. And while hockey is certainly nowhere near as expensive, with our financial climate, I do feel as if hockey will dwindle in its popularity just as auto racing did in Brazil due to its out of reach affordability. Also kids, mainly immigrant kids, don't really care for hockey. They would rather play basketball or soccer due to media and ties with former countries. It's also infinitely cheaper of course.

gotta say no mention of the Kyle beach situation and what happened in 2018 at the world juniors is kind of wild. that deeply impacted the image of hockey Canada and many parents have said no in response to these situations. I would really recommend looking into it

Anytime I see a team of peewee or bantam players heading to their hockey game in a formal shirt and tie, I think to myself, "Who tf are we kidding here?" They can aggrandize themselves all you want but we all know how hockey players act out of public eyes.

@NF12222

14 күн бұрын

Hockey players are the most down to Earth athletes out of any sport. The NBA, NFL and soccer has a laundry list a mile long each of players with criminal history lol

As a Michigander it’s always interesting to see how it is broadcast differently. Domestically we have poor hockey coverage in writing and especially on TV. For years ESPN has been basketball, football and college sports almost solely. Cost is the killer of the sport growth. I now live in SoCal and there’s a huge ball and roller presence here. I think if that would be adopted more largely and actually introduce the game to a more diverse audience it’ll also grow the sport.

This was an excellent watch, right on the money especially regarding the media aspect. Hockey Night In Canada has been long overdue for an overhaul of their format. As a diehard fan, ex player Canadian and journalist who works in hockey I would also just add two other things with respect. 1. Parents are less inclined to put their kids in sports like hockey and gridiron football due to the concerns of long term health surrounding head injuries. 2. Hockey players have developed an awful reputation in rural areas especially but throughout the country and dating back to my high school year I've noticed the fall in attendance for local junior teams. The general public is no longer interested in the sport and stories like the recent 2018 team Canada world junior scandal are at the forefront of that phenomena.

Uh yeah, almost $4000 for top tier gear. Ever one parent has to earn 70K+ a year to afford real hockey training. And 😅 plays a huge part. Plus other sports like basketball, MMA and working out are way cheaper than hockey. Drop the damn price, Bauer, CCM and other brands. Basically he covered it all. If i ever had kids, I'd never put them in serious hockey. Time, travel and price is too much just for a recreational sport. Basketball is massive here. Side note: I've played hockey forever and am 46. Hockeys just too expensive.

@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija

2 ай бұрын

What if the kid hates every sport but hockey?

In my opinion as a Canadian the popularity of other sports comes as more and more people immigrate here. If you go to a certain area, the sport kids are playing and watching is highly dependent on the ethnic majority in that area. If you target that Anglo-Franco-Canadian community, the numbers haven’t gone down. But with an immigrant population increase over time, this raises the overall percentages for sport fans while necessarily changing the percentage proportions for each sport. 8:57 yes hockey players are reserved in public. And we believe strongly in this. Good character image is integral to influence our youth. This is a non negotiable. If you don’t get it, you don’t get it. I guess you have to be a Canadian to understand…we don’t want “Hollywood” in our game. That type of stuff is seen as superficial and superfluous. This is a well talked about issue in Canada. It’s why Americans love the “lazer puck” yet no Canadian broadcast will use it. We hate it. You have to understand, we don’t see any need to water the presentation of our game down with frivolities. Our game has a lot of meaning to us that goes far beyond simple entertainment. Let the US have all that stuff if it will help them get with the game. I do believe it is the NHL’s mission to do what it must to sell hockey in the US, and that’s all to the good. But suggesting that we do the same is like injecting an idea into a conversation that’s already been going on for ten years, only you had no idea. Just saying. Canada needs nothing to keep hockey healthy at this point. These stats are a paper tiger. Stats don’t always tell you the truth, be careful how they are interpreted. BTW, congrats to my Nephew Jackson, his team just won their U13 championship 🎉🎉🎉

Its rising costs and decline of younger interest is such a shame, as there are few sports both so fast paced, exciting, and prone to upsets as ice hockey, and it's easily my favorite of the traditional big four sports in North America, despite never having played it myself.

There is also a significant component of the NHL actively divesting from the Canadian market. The NHL has made it clear that their priority is on Sun Belt expansion and not growing the game in Canada, despite several Canadian markets that actively want a team and could support one. As others have said as well: - Youth hockey is too expensive and unaffordable for working class people - tickets and merchandise for NHL is now unaffordable for working class people, so they rarely attend games - Lack of success among the Canadian NHL teams - over-monetization of everything makes games annoying to watch, likes a billion ads promoting gambling and advertising on the uniforms and helmets now. - all of Canadas population growth is coming from areas and populations that don’t know or have much of an interest in hockey. Some may get into it, but if you didn’t play the sport growing up and learn to skate from a young age, it’s hard to get into it later in life - you mention that there’s no excitement in the broadcast personalities, and that is true, but it’s also worth noting that the most interesting personality in hockey media was Don Cherry, and they fired him, so they do this to themselves (and for the record, Don was annoying af, but you can’t fire your only exciting personality and then be surprised when HNIC is boring).

Hockey must adapt to the times if it's to maintain is stance as a dominant sport in it's own country.

@sampicano

2 ай бұрын

"Hockey must adapt to the times" go on...can you provide ANY suggestions? Or clarification?

@AllyStrikesBack

2 ай бұрын

Affordability. Maybe lowering the cost of equipment, that’s a start.

The failure to appreciate talents and star players vs praising of less skilled thugs figures is telling

Such a great take, I wonder how hockey will begin to evolve with society? Where will it be in 20 years?

It is the same in the USA with other sports as well as hockey. The costs make it prohibitive for most families and the owners of professional teams have priced out most fans to see games. If you disinterest the young fans and participants you create something that only the well off and wealthy can be part of. As someone who grew up with the Original Six NHL teams I appreciated how these players of working class origins were able to make to the NHL.

Too expensive, too few Canadians due to immigration and like I said, WAY to much expensive.

I can’t afford to take my kids to McDonald’s let alone enrol them in hockey. This country is 💩

@willp.8120

14 күн бұрын

I have seen on KZread and elsewhere online a lot of Canadians indicating that the country is becoming what you said, or some other similar words. I'd it that true? Here in America, things have declined, but it seems more a case of far left cities more than anything.

@CryptidKeeperTCG

14 күн бұрын

@@willp.8120 sadly our whole country is a far left city. Government taxes us to death in the name of “climate change,” and sends all our money to Ukraine

This isn't just hockey. It's every sport, it's every movie, it's every video game, every car, every meal. Either it sucks, is too expensive, or both.

Growing up in the 80s was a different world, for one thing Canadian teams actually won the cup. The games were played on t.v rather than blacked out. My older brother played the sport and my grandparents supported his endeavors. Some of my cousins played and my younger brother had a go at it. For girls there was only the game of ringette available. It was more of a family atmosphere with emphasis on the game and not on money or contracts. Sexual abuse and assault were always rampant in the sport as was racism, not much has changed in that regard. It's now a major franchise with high financial demands falling on the fans. The costs to play are unrealistic as are the costs to watch the sport which is exclusive and catering to the elite. The personalities from the Don Cherry days are all but dead, but that's not necessarily a bad thing since he and his ilk promoted a toxic, racist, and sexist culture which was reflective of a different era where that behaviour went unchallenged. The only thing exciting is the PWHL because it is most like how hockey was originally where it was all about the love of the game. It's not only the hockey culture that has changed but culture in general is changing and not only in Canada, but especially here. Now the challenge for hockey is to adapt and evolve to keep up with the changing culture while at the same time remaining accessible. So far Bettman and co. are failing, but they are also a dying breed of a long gone era which is fortunately being challenged and changed for the better.

I think you missed a major point, which is that Canada only has 7 teams in the NHL (with AHL teams in only 10 different cities), and this is not NATIONAL! Look at the Junior leagues; so many talents are wasting because it is impossible for them to turn pro! Even it is kind of ridiculous to have that amount of enrolled hockey players when the chance of becoming a pro hockey player is near zero. Additionally, so many cities and towns are eager to support their local team, but there is no team! Look at soccer in England; every township has its own team, and people support their team in any way. This country could have had its own pro leagues, with at least 4-5 leagues in one pyramid, and hundreds of teams, but we lost our sport to money and the US!

@aidanwotherspoon905

2 ай бұрын

But the majority of any US-based NHL team roster is still Canadian. Going on a road trip through Sask every other small town is “Welcome to (place), Hometown of NHL Player (player name)” I don’t think any Canadian player coming up today thinks they don’t have a chance at the pros because of their nationality

@pccougar895

2 ай бұрын

Population density and income taxes play a Major role in Canadian competitive limitations.

@chanckjoseph

2 ай бұрын

NHL is so out of touch. No working class people can afford to go to game. The constant discussions of relocate really kill any emotional commitment from fans.

@Geomat1c

2 ай бұрын

60% of Canada live in those 7 cities

@UserName-ts3sp

Ай бұрын

canada has a smaller population than california. even with the big fanbase there i don’t think they can add many NHL teams.

It is expensive and canada has become quite a bit more poor the last ten years.

This is a problem everywhere in the US as well, outside of Minnesota. Their participation numbers continue to grow steadily. I believe that is because they embrace the community based model. Unlike pretty much everywhere else that has gone to the private AAA model, in MN the rinks are almost all owned by the cities they are in. This keeps the ice time cost down, they still put up ODRs that are free to use. The community based associations are non-profit and run by volunteers so they can keep registration costs down. Many association provide the equipment for free until the kids reach 10U(squirts) some associations don't even charge registration fees for kids until they reach 8U or even 10U and pretty much all of them provide financial assistance or scholarships to families that need help. If Canada and the rest of the US want to continue to grow the sport, which directly leads to more fans, they need to get on board with this style of community based non-profit hockey. The NHL and manufactures would be wise to also embrace this and do what they can to help encourage this growth and development. Kind of like MLB did a while back where they started build ball fields around the US.

7:59 I wish hockey players and staff would express themselves more. The coach Tortorella is a league favorite because he always has an attitude and strong personality. Being a Rangers fan, I love watching the player Lafreniere because he has shown to have a fun personality. Through dancing, quirky moves, and making weird faces his personality has hooked many fans. I love the Rangers because the players goof around and have fun with each other. A greater connection to the players is a greater connection to the team.

This is possibly why the NHL is trying to get to the Sun Belt. They have the money to keep the game alive and it will flow back to Canada.

@FischerFan

Ай бұрын

No, Bettman and the U.S. television execs/bastards would like nothing better than to turn the NHL into hockey's answer to the NFL ..an all-American League.

@mrconfusion87

14 күн бұрын

The Sunbelt expansion is a hit or miss, sad to say! Vegas is a hit (and it being a very popular vacation destination will ensure there will always be asses in seats at T-Mobile Arena even when the Knights undergo an inevitable rebuild at some point in the future), Phoenix was an unmitigated disaster and am glad the BOG finally put their foot down with Gary Buttman regarding that!

@gbalph4

14 күн бұрын

@@mrconfusion87 Phoenix gave Auston Matthews so it’s not a complete failure. Phoenix can work but you need Shane Doan to own the team instead who knows both the area and the game.

Hockey is in an odd place, theres a disconnect between old time hockey fans, who enjoy the tougher, grittier game of the past, and younger fans who have embraced the flashy, highly skillful, and fast-paced game of today. This also extends to the insiders, media, players, and alumni themselves. This could also be said about the demographics, its been better but the NHL hasn't been the most diverse. The past few years have seen many initiatives (and scandals) that have pushed diversity and inclusion forward, but the NHL really isn't doing itself any favours with how they've handled some of it. The broadcast personalities have gotten better but like you said the ones more popular with younger fans are still relegated to the internet or podcasts. For example, I don't understand why TSN doesn't have its Bardown crew frequently appear on broadcasts as they've got some great content. The regional blackout garbage and how there really isn't an easy, centralized way to stream games definitely hurts the broadcast side of it too. The NHL just doesn't know how to market its players as well and their attempts can get kinda cringey. Tbh, I don't see it getting better until Bettman is gone.

@HHSGDFootballJPD

21 күн бұрын

I thought the Bedard/Wembanyana videos were a cool way to market both future stars.

9:49 If they put Bryzgalov on Hockey Night in Canada the NHL would become so humongous big.

Tickets prices rising, the cost of playing on a team, equipment cost is ridiculously high, it’s really becoming a sport defined by greed.

I make 100k a year and unfortunately gonna have to tell my son I cannot afford or him to play next year 😢

@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija

2 ай бұрын

Have you considered used equipment? Got a full set for 350 bucks for myself (I am 17)

@Reymundo65

9 күн бұрын

@@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija equipment cost ain’t shit that’s a fallacy you can get that for free anywhere it cost you in California $10,000 to register a kit for Hockey another 10,000+ for travel another 10,000+ for practice and that’s on the cheap unless you wanna play in the league and that just means you play the same team over and over again and still cost 2000 equipment ain’t shit people stop talking about it every ring gives it away

@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija

9 күн бұрын

@@Reymundo65 you don't have to play in the 30K a year leagues

@Reymundo65

9 күн бұрын

@@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija in California that’s all there is

@Reymundo65

9 күн бұрын

@@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija with all due respect this just really points out that people are ignorant to what’s really going on on the ground. There is no other option. I mean, do you think I didn’t think about that in California to play in a AA team which is all there is at 16 years old is $10,000 and $20,000 for everything else I said.

#3 bunch of robots. You're not the only one pointing this out. The Nhl used to have interesting interviews and you would see players taking jabs at each other in the interview. After sean avery made the sloppy seconds comments... that whole thing changed... Its so boring seeing these guys blab about nothing interesting... people dont want to hear regurgitation of what they just witnessed on television from the player... say something personal, something interesting, talk shit about bettman, ask to bring don cherry back, these drones are awful and along with canadian teams having the odds stacked against them to make it far in the playoffs the game just isnt exciting to watch if your team's not successful... your teams tickets for an nhl game is ridiculous... and the players are boring so they dont end up getting booted from the league. What a sad state of of a league. Thats why I stopped watching seasonal nhl hockey... Watching the playoffs feels like a fruitless venture too... you cant relate with the nhl hockey if you cant even go watch the games in person because of greedy bettman.

Canadiens are grappling with a high cost of living worser than in the U.S. Survival is more important than a hockey game.

I was in Calgary in June of 19 and the Stanley Cup Finals seemed like an after thought.

My mom escaped communist China in the late 70s and had me in Hong Kong. In 1991 as most Hong Kongers are preparing to flee from the Commies again, we flew to Toronto where we would spend most of our lives in. The year was 1993 I was 9. Not knowing much about the Canadian culture at the time, my single mother had to work so I was mostly alone with the TV. I remember this one time the TV showed a clip of Doug Gilmour warp around on Curtis Joesph I was awe by it. I've became the biggest Leaf fan ever since. I'm 46 now and my son is 2. I plan to start hockey for him soon until I saw your video. Back in the 90s, we used to be able to play a lot of great Hockey games like NHL93 on Genesis and NHL96 on the SNES. Those were great fucking games. But ever since I became a PC gamer myself I have completely lost touch with consoles so I don't have access to any NHL games anymore. This is another problem. Sports games has to be more accessible to a wider Audience. None of the EA sports titles ever get released on the PC due to piracy and that fucking sucks. If you want to engage with the younger Audience you gotta include the games.

@epicphailure88

18 күн бұрын

Now China looks like a country that is building towards the future while the Western countries look run down, cracked and decaying.

Honestly. As the random black guy from Brooklyn who somehow grew up a Devils fan, i tried getting into hockey early and played in LI New York. Thanks to my parents issues and the sheer expensive nature of the game early on. I can say thats probably the biggest thing. No matter your background its a hard sport to get into and the sports already not popular amongst my culture, it was worse when i eas a kid we didnt have many black players in the league as we started to have from my teenage years and on. But basketball in this city is just so much easier to get into despite also kind of having this issue. (Most of the top picks come from affluent families that can afford the best schools, training etc.) Its a crapshoot that i hope changes i love the game and the sport most of all. But its just too tough for middle and lower class people to get into.

This is why football and rugby are taking over worldwide (or already have) You just need a ball, a field, and a couple of lads

One thing that was omitted was the popularity of fighting amongst the fanbase. Back when fighting was popular, the fighter was as popular as the goal scorer and the goalie. With the popularity of the UFC, the NHL should not eliminate fighting. For example, look at how much attention Riempe drew from the media and the fans in his first week of NHL hockey. Everyone talked about him. The Rangers fans go nuts whenever he's on the ice.

I may be Canadian, but I always liked basketball more anyways.

@Noah1997callahan

2 ай бұрын

lol

@bobbyhillthuglife

9 күн бұрын

Same