” The best things in life are free. “
Whoever said that, said it long ago, long before underlying and overriding costs made some of the best things in life, anything but free.
Minor Hockey costs. Hockey equipment. Ice time rates. Travel expense. Insurance.
They’ve all come together to make Minor Hockey unaffordable for far too many young Canadians and their families.
In an interesting swing, the Owen Sound Minor Hockey Group recently offered free registration for the upcoming season to first time players between the ages of 5 & 10.
On the surface, the concept looks crazy, if not financially irresponsible on the part of OSMHG, but in fact, two significant aids brought the concept to life.
One, maybe in November, maybe later, there will be more ice time available right in Owen Sound with the completion of the new Regional Rec Complex and their two ice pads.
And two, Owen Sound Minor Hockey has benefited from terrific partnerships and promotions with, among others, the Owen Sound Attack, Tim Horton’s, plus with Doug Cameron’s Owen Sound Hyundai & Subaru, promotions that have swelled the coffers to higher than normal level.
With ice and cash, Owen Sound Minor Hockey created the free-for-first-timers-registration in the hope close to 100 young boys and girls will get to experience minor hockey and find that for the year ahead, another of the best things in life are in fact free.
I’m Fred Wallace