A group of parents in Charlottetown are expressing worry over the recent spike in fees for minor hockey, fearing that it may hinder some children’s ability to participate in the sport. The creation of the Greater Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association earlier this year through the amalgamation of the Charlottetown and Sherwood leagues brought about the fee adjustments for the 2025-26 season, catching many parents off guard with the significant increase compared to the previous year.
Andrew Wood, whose son Emery is involved in recreational under-18 hockey under the newly established Islanders team, highlighted his concerns about the substantial rise in fees this season without a clear explanation. The surge in costs has left parents like Wood questioning the impact on families’ financial constraints and the potential exclusion of kids from playing the sport they love.
According to details on the Greater Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association’s website, team fees for the regular season encompass expenses such as ice time, referee fees, player and staff insurance, and some equipment costs. These fees are distributed among the rostered players and do not cover additional expenses like tournament participation or player registrations throughout the year.
Wood disclosed that the team fee for his son’s team last year stood at $1,600, whereas this year, it has skyrocketed to $4,000. The sudden and substantial increase in costs has left families like Jill Jenkins’, who has five sons participating in the association, feeling the financial strain. Jenkins emphasized the importance of transparent communication from the association regarding fee structures well in advance to allow parents to make informed decisions about their children’s participation.
Keith Ford, the president of the non-profit Greater Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association, explained that the fee adjustments were necessary to cover operational expenses that were not fully met in previous years. Ford stated that the increased fees align more closely with the actual operational costs required to sustain the teams at their current level throughout the year, particularly with ice time being the primary expense followed closely by equipment costs.
In response to the concerns raised by parents, Ford underlined the volunteer nature of the association’s board and their commitment to providing hockey opportunities for the youth in Charlottetown. While acknowledging the need for improved transparency about the association’s financial breakdown, parents like Jenkins stress the importance of fair and equitable fee structures to ensure accessibility to the sport for all interested children.
