Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.
On this week's episode: Why more and more Canadian kids are ditching hockey for other sports.
Yes, we're in the thick of the Stanley Cup finals — with a Canadian team among the last two standing. But when it comes to our kids playing hockey, the numbers are way down.
In 2023, Hockey Canada reported approximately 360,000 youths younger than 18 participating in the sport, a significant drop from the 523,000 kids enroled in the game just 14 years earlier.
Why the steady decline? Is it the skyrocketing costs? The huge time commitment? The toxic culture that still lingers?
We ask Simon Darnell, a proud hockey dad who also happens to be an associate professor of Sport for Development and Peace at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
If you love the sound of skates and the chill of the rink, this is the conversation for you.
Also on the podcast this week: How squatters dashed the dreams of a first-time home buyer in one Ontario community.
Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.
Every episode can be found HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.
Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca.
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