Pro-Bowl defensive end J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans used to play hockey growing up in Wisconsin, but he and his brothers had to give it up due to the high costs incurred by his parents. As Allan Muir wonders in his piece on the subject, can you imagine what a player a guy his size and athleticism could have been? I'm thinking we're entering Eric Lindros-Gordie Howe territory here.
It's a nice complement to our discussion last month on the Hockey Canada survey on declining enrollment in minor hockey. Mr. Watt explains that his parents were middle-class, and they couldn't deal with the expense and demands of travel hockey for all their sons. No wonder only 10% of Canadians play minor hockey, families with good steady employment can't swing having their kids play.
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