Hockey Canada Registrations 2013/14

Hockey Canada has posted the player registration numbers for the previous 2013/14 season.

If your business serves the hockey market, take note of these numbers.

Highlights of the 2013/14 season compared to previous season:

• BC Hockey female registrations dropped by 8.4%
• Hockey Alberta registrations dropped by 3.6%
• Hockey Alberta female registrations increased 7.6% 
• Saskatchewan Hockey Association registrations dropped by 1.4%
• Hockey Manitoba female registrations increased by 4.1%
• Hockey Northwestern Ontario female registration increased by 11.7%
• Hockey Eastern Ontario shows the largest growth of all branches with at 12.7%
• Ontario Hockey Federation had the most significant decline of almost 5,000 players or 2.1% of its base
• Hockey Quebec registrations dropped by 1.1% or just over 1,000 players
• Hockey New Brunswick overall registrations increased 11.8%
• Hockey New Brunswick female registration increased by 21.3%
• Hockey Nova Scotia registrations grew by 5.7%
• Hockey Nova Scotia female registrations grew by 11.6%
• Hockey PEI registrations dropped by 3.1%
• Hockey Newfoundland registrations grew by 1.4%
• Hockey North registrations grew by 9.9%

Overall numbers:

• 634,892 registrations represents a 1.72% growth from the previous season
• Male registrations grew by 2.05% from the previous season
• Female registrations dropped slightly by 0.33% from the previous season
• Male registrations have grown 11.9% since the 1997/98 season
• Female registrations have grown 198.3% since the 1997/98 season

The registration numbers do not include so called 'outlaw league' players and private hockey programs for young players and adult players (other than Canlan).

The female hockey market represents 14% of all registrations.  Is 14% of your business aimed at the female market?  Fuelled by Canadian Women's Olympic Hockey Team dominance and the presence of the CWHL, this is a market that has the potential to have the highest year over year growth rate.  The only obstacles are entry costs, rep level coaches attitude towards rostering female players on male dominant teams, few and scattered female hockey associations, household debt and ice time.

Male registrations have plateaued for decades.  The obstacles for growing this group are the negative perceptions of how the NHL showcases the game, injuries (concussions in particular),  equipment costs, registration costs, a history of sexual abuse, internal theft of association funds, shrinking options for entry into junior and pro hockey (international imports and politics), cultural acceptance of the sport, household debt, and the availability, affordability and growth of 'hockey like' sports (floor ball, ball hockey, ringette, lacrosse, inline hockey).

Opportunities exist to lower the cost of the game and reduce injuries.  

• Merging associations
• Synthetic ice rinks
• Rule changes
• Technology in equipment
• Awareness campaigns

Hockey Canada is hiring a new CEO/President who will be in a position to re-ignite the participation in the sport but everyone has a say and can directly influence the growth of the game. 

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