By William Houston Sports Reporter IT was invented in Canada, nurtured in this country and showcased to the world by Canadian players.
Hockey is Canada's game and for years the nation's stars dominated the sport.
But today the game is in trouble. Too many drop out, and those who stay cannot match their European counterparts in talent. Most of the leading offensive stars in the National Hockey League these days are from European countries, although Europeans make up only 22 per cent of the league while Canadians account for 61 per cent. Murray Costello, president of the Canadian Hockey Association, the amateur governing body, sees problems in the country's youth development system and says reform is long overdue. It's not as good as it used to be and it's not as good as it should be overall.