Ice Ice Baby? The 2026 Winter Olympics Thread

[Shaka]

That is a nice way to say it. Others would say it is effing expensive. You are right you aren't having any poor kids out here playing hockey. Only way that is happening is if some nice rich person is financing them.

Oh and eff Canada.

Hey, Nathan MacKinnon remember that wide open net that you missed? I enjoyed it. Not as much as when you got your stuffie though.

In some ways, the fact that Canada absolutely dominated the game makes the win even more fun to rub into Canada's face.

See you all the 8 Nations faceoff you hosers.

My brother's family is poor, so I paid for my nephew to play. He ultimately was able to make the BYU team (RIP, still pisses me off because I played a small role in starting that thing and did some consulting and talent eval for one of the coaching staffs.) Incidentally, BYU's alumni team stomped Utah's alumni team last weekend as part of the grand opening of the new Mammoth practice facility.

Hockey has been within the reach of lower middle class and even the poor for a long time. A lot of this depends on location. In Utah, USA Hockey, in conjunction with the Mammoth, is investing a significant amount of money in youth hockey and providing gear at the cost of the signup fee, which is $250. $250 is on par with sports like football or travel team baseball. I think Ryan Smith has good people around him who will do some common-sense things to grow the sport. Smith is providing a nice subsidy to local communites wanting to build their own rinks. If it were me, I'd add the option to build outdoor hockey rinks, which are much cheaper to construct and maintain.

When I was a coach at The Peaks in the 2000's, they had programs to help the disadvantaged who wanted to play. Also, there are ways to get used gear in good condition that really lowers the cost. Reminds me of a ski swap.

[dabrockster]

Fine looking bunch!!

IMG_7716.jpeg

[dabrockster]

My son played AA and AAA hockey and it was expensive. Think about this. My son played club soccer and club hockey. And wrestled. Sometimes all at the same time. Hence the reason I have 3-jobs. Even now I still work 3 jobs and a 4th was just added.

Shaka: I am supper pissed about BYU hockey as Reed was very interested in playing both soccer and hockey.

[Shaka]

My son played AA and AAA hockey and it was expensive. Think about this. My son played club soccer and club hockey. And wrestled. Sometimes all at the same time. Hence the reason I have 3-jobs. Even now I still work 3 jobs and a 4th was just added.

Shaka: I am supper pissed about BYU hockey as Reed was very interested in playing not soccer and hockey.

The closure was ridiculous. Hockey games were well-attended, and the program was largely self-funded. I hope at some point they revisit that dumb decision.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Since USA Hockey was brought up, they should be praised for their goalie development program. They had 3 goalies better than anyone in Canada and one sitting at home (Spencer Knight).

[dabrockster]

The closure was ridiculous. Hockey games were well-attended, and the program was largely self-funded. I hope at some point they revisit that dumb decision.

Are there any other options if he wants to play? I found an Adult League out of Provo but not sure how structured that is. Or any other level that may be available.

[Shaka]

Are there any other options if he wants to play? I found an Adult League out of Provo but not sure how structured that is. Or any other level that may be available.

The adult league in Provo used to be decent. I assume that it is still the case. The Kearns Oval has a good adult league. There are leagues at most of the ice rinks in Utah. In my day the Provo league would get a lot of folks from Salt Lake because there were no Sunday games.

[Bo Diddley]

The adult league in Provo used to be decent. I assume that it is still the case. The Kearns Oval has a good adult league. There are leagues at most of the ice rinks in Utah. In my day the Provo league would get a lot of folks from Salt Lake because there were no Sunday games.

Yeah, when we go up to watch Junior throw stones, there's also hockey going on up there. I love when I'm walking past and hear a puck hit the glass.

[MartyFunkhouser]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...0-projections/

Pronman projects the 2030 rosters. Let's go, time to beat the Canadians again. Eff Canada