It may be less expensive than you've been led to believe and it's also probably safer than you think.

Check out the Top 10 Health Benefits of Hockey - credit Health Fitness Revolution.

But the #1 reason for playing hockey...  

It's FUN! And you'll laugh with your teammates before and after games. 

Every year the media likes to run stories that are a disservice to our national sport about kids playing high-level competitive hockey in the GTHL where parents are paying $6,000 a year and spending 4-5 days per week at practices or games. But it doesn't have to be that time consuming nor expensive. 

House league hockey for kids is generally one game plus one practice per week. Sign-up fees locally are in the $400 to $500 range for a season.  Most house leagues get started after Thanksgiving and are still accepting registrations. Check your local rink. There are 51 different hockey clubs and associations in the GTHL. The ones closest to us are:  Goulding Park ,  Hillcrest Village , and  Willowdale .

We can help you save money on equipment. The first year is the most expensive because you'll need everything. Subsequent years will be less depending on growth because you can trade in last year's equipment to lessen the costs.

Buying all new equipment, the really young kids can take advantage of the CCM youth hockey kit (highlighted on the right hand side). It generally fits kids anywhere from ages 3 to 7. On top of that, you'll need skates, a helmet, jock/jill shorts, a neckguard, and a stick.

All of that equipment in a junior size at opening price point could cost you upwards of $400. But playing hockey doesn't have to be so expensive. While we only sell new bags, sticks, neckguards, and of course, jock/jill shorts, with the other pieces you have a choice of New or Second-hand. And by choosing the latter in those instances you can cut that $400 cost in half! (Yes, it's possible - We picked out used equipment for the sole purpose of this email). Then that cost gets reduced even further if you're trading in your old equipment!

Of course, it's also possible to still spend $400 buying second-hand equipment or more if you're buying top of the line equipment like Bauer Reakt 100 helmets or CCM Ribcor skates.

  

Beginner adult leagues are available around the city too, like True North Hockey Canada and the Adult Safe Hockey League, just to name a couple. These leagues play just one game per week and have no practices. If you're not comfortable jumping straight into the action, they also offer instructional programs as well as skills and drills. Or check out Hockey Toronto for co-ed drop-in skills sessions.

Buying all new equipment can cost you just under $500 (or upwards of a gazillion dollars), but going the second-hand route wherever possible we outfitted a player for half that amount!