Wisko McBadgerton
Teaching you how to Bucky.
Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope
It's not a forgone conclusion by any means, and it may not be realistic at all. But we're only talking about developing a few more kids in total each year. Regardless, here's what I do see in FL:
Overall growth in USA Hockey participants is up just under 50% over the last decade or so in Florida to around 12k. This growth comes despite Florida being one of, if not the, hardest hit states by the recession. Now that the recession is easing the economy is heating up, I'd personally expect growth to continue at a greater pace. (By comparison Wisconsin has been steady or down slightly over the same time period at around 17.5k participants.)
While cost is a huge issue in hockey growth, it's really not significantly more expensive for U-16's to play here than it is anywhere else. Plus Florida has over 1.3 million households above six figure annual incomes, and the top 1% have an average annual income above $8.5 million! The capital available in Florida despite the recession is really mind-boggling.
Agree that the high end infrastructure is not here yet and most top players head north to Canada, or prep schools, or elite teams elsewhere. But with two NHL teams (and 3 minor teams) pouring money and/or effort into youth development, the quality opportunities for U-16's is improving rapidly, and it should logically follow that Junior level programs will also improve in player development. If somehow the Lightning could snag another cup, things could explode much the way it has in Illinois. (But with 8 million more in population to draw from than Illinois)
Florida does have some great youth coaching. You can hardly go to a rink in Florida without tripping over former NHL'ers coaching kids. The small nearby rink I use has a scary Sunday league that is just filthy with former pros (First thing they tell you when you ask is that you DO NOT want to play in that league.) and quite a few are involved in youth programs.
The other thing Florida has that isn't so apparent in other places is a large population of Canadians and New Englander's that just culturally want to have and support hockey programs. I'm optimistic about hockey in Wisconsin, but there's a lot of upside possible in Florida as well.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
It's not a forgone conclusion by any means, and it may not be realistic at all. But we're only talking about developing a few more kids in total each year. Regardless, here's what I do see in FL:
Overall growth in USA Hockey participants is up just under 50% over the last decade or so in Florida to around 12k. This growth comes despite Florida being one of, if not the, hardest hit states by the recession. Now that the recession is easing the economy is heating up, I'd personally expect growth to continue at a greater pace. (By comparison Wisconsin has been steady or down slightly over the same time period at around 17.5k participants.)
While cost is a huge issue in hockey growth, it's really not significantly more expensive for U-16's to play here than it is anywhere else. Plus Florida has over 1.3 million households above six figure annual incomes, and the top 1% have an average annual income above $8.5 million! The capital available in Florida despite the recession is really mind-boggling.
Agree that the high end infrastructure is not here yet and most top players head north to Canada, or prep schools, or elite teams elsewhere. But with two NHL teams (and 3 minor teams) pouring money and/or effort into youth development, the quality opportunities for U-16's is improving rapidly, and it should logically follow that Junior level programs will also improve in player development. If somehow the Lightning could snag another cup, things could explode much the way it has in Illinois. (But with 8 million more in population to draw from than Illinois)
Florida does have some great youth coaching. You can hardly go to a rink in Florida without tripping over former NHL'ers coaching kids. The small nearby rink I use has a scary Sunday league that is just filthy with former pros (First thing they tell you when you ask is that you DO NOT want to play in that league.) and quite a few are involved in youth programs.
The other thing Florida has that isn't so apparent in other places is a large population of Canadians and New Englander's that just culturally want to have and support hockey programs. I'm optimistic about hockey in Wisconsin, but there's a lot of upside possible in Florida as well.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
