According to the registration numbers at the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association, hockey appears to be growing in the city of North Bay.
Of the six age categories of hockey, four have seen an increase, while one has dropped and another has stayed the same.
2014-15 2015-16
Tyke 65 89
Novice 141 131
Atom 136 165
Peewee 110 113
Bantam 138 138
Midget 79 84
The numbers are good news for the association which has been traditionally talking about the decrease in registration. This year, the Tyke Program is so big that its running practices for three teams on one pad of ice.
“It makes all the work we are doing feel more worthwhile too,” stated West Ferris Minor Hockey Association 1st Vice President Darrell Pitman.
“Our Tyke program we’ve changed it a bit last year so that could have something to do with it. Now we have three teams on the ice, in different sections of the ice, all run by John Wilson.”
Pitman credits KidSport funding along with the Battalion for creating that new level of local interest about Canada’s sport.
“The kids go to see the games and they say ‘I want to go play,’” said Pitman.
