Canadian parents expect to spend on average $849 for their kids' hockey season next winter, down 17.3 percent from $1,026 in 2010, according to the Scotiabank Community Hockey Poll that found out-of-town tournaments comprise more than half their spending. The poll found that while 65 percent of hockey parents say organized minor hockey is affordable, 35% feel it isn't, often because of travel expenses.



The survey found:


  • One-third (34%) of parents expect to spend over $1,000 on their children's hockey this year.
  • The amount parents expected to pay for their kids' hockey rises depending on their ages: those with kids ages 3-8 expect to pay $696; those with players ages 9-12 expect to pay $915; and those with teenage players ages 13-17 plan to spend $933.
  • One of the biggest expenses for parents is out-of-town tournaments ($486 vs. $201 for in-town tournaments).
  • The biggest expense parents listed for out of town tournaments is accommodations (74%), followed by food (14%) and transportation (12%).
  • Four-in-ten (40%) hockey parents believe their children's hockey expenses are high and have to cut back spending in other areas to make it work.
  • One-quarter (26%) of hockey parents believe the costs of their children's hockey can be overwhelming. 
  • When it comes to planning for their children's hockey expenses, three-quarters (75%) of parents do at least some planning.
  • The top ways Canadian hockey parents cut back on the costs of the hockey season are by purchasing or sourcing used hockey equipment (56%) and by carpooling with other parents to and from games and practices (42%).

Planned Hockey Spend

















































































































































































































Expected hockey expenses
Total		 Region Age of Kids Playing Hockey
East Central West 3-8 9-12 13-17
Not planning to spend any money 2 % 2 % 3 % <1 % 2 % 2 % 1 %
Less than $100 3 % 2 % 4 % 4 % 5 % 2 % 3 %
$100 to less than $250 10 % 9 % 13 % 7 % 13 % 9 % 7 %
$250 to less than $500 16 % 17 % 14 % 16 % 21 % 11 % 15 %
$500 to less than $750 19 % 20 % 21 % 16 % 21 % 20 % 17 %
$750 to less than $1,000 17 % 18 % 15 % 17 % 16 % 19 % 15 %
$1,000 or more 34 % 31 % 30 % 40 % 22 % 38 % 42 %
Mean expected hockey expenses: $ 849 $ 837 $ 795 $ 918 $ 696 $ 915 $ 933


 

 

About the polling data
The 2013 Scotiabank Community Hockey Poll was conducted online using Harris/Decima's online panel. A total of 1,000 completed surveys were collected from a sample of panel members across Canada who have children under the age of 17 who play hockey. The surveys were conducted from October 1 to October 11, 2013.

Scotiabank conducted the survey as part of its overall support of the sport and for affinity marketing purposes. Scotiabank has a long tradition of supporting hockey in Canada from local teams and minor hockey associations to professional players and leagues. The Scotiabank Community Hockey Sponsorship Program sponsors more than 5,000 minor hockey teams across Canada. Since the program started 5 years ago, the Bank has supported over 15,000 teams across the country. The program provides funding directly to the team to help offset some of their expenses. Scotiabank is the Official Bank of the NHL, NHL Alumni, CWHL, Vancouver Canucks., Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome.