Why Are Hockey Moms And Dads So Quiet?

What a disgrace

One would think the biggest group of arena users at a place called the McCormick Playground would be children. But one would be wrong. Prime ice time at this Toronto venue goes largely to adults, especially men's hockey leagues. According to statistics compiled by the Star's Donovan Vincent, about 37 per cent of evening and weekend rink hours are gobbled up by this group. That's despite a city policy that clearly states priority should be given to children.

Youth recreational hockey and competitive teams, geared mainly to boys, absorb 32 per cent of prime time at McCormick, while other users, such as skating clubs, share 31 per cent. Girls' hockey gets no time at all. That's right, none. Some "playground."

North Toronto Memorial Arena is likewise devoid of girls' and women's hockey teams. More than 70 per cent of its prime ice time goes to youth hockey, dominated by boys.

Some commentators have defended the status quo by arguing that tradition should take precedence when allocating city-owned ice. In this view, since men's teams and boys were given preference in the past, they should retain that favoured status. With such logic, women would still be denied the right to vote.

The obvious long-term solution to the ice-time problem is to build additional rinks. Women and girls, however, shouldn't have to wait indefinitely for new arenas before they can play. They deserve a fair share of ice time now.