Costello, Meeker, Polutnik and others are optimistic that hockey can find its way back, but the focus needs to be on the child rather than the ego of a parent or coach, one of whom dreams of a son playing in the NHL and the other a pro career behind the bench. Minor hockey is for children. It is about playing a game and learning appropriate life skills. If a child in Canada dreams of an NHL career, it's not as a fighter or checker, which too often is the final product these days. He aspires to be Wayne Gretzky or Jaromir Jagr.
Minor hockey owes the child a chance to achieve the goal and also enjoy playing a game.
Last in the series.