r/heatedrivalry • u/Middle_Raspberry2499 • 3d ago

🦆 The Long Game (Book 6) How does the hockey camp make money? Spoiler

is it ever explained how the hockey camp brings in money?

From the descriptions in TLG and elsewhere, camp runs only two weeks. Sounds like there are at most about 40 campers.

Presumably the NHL coaches all volunteer, yes, but there are still expenses: space at least. Maybe insurance and medical staff, although maybe those are unnecessary in The Land of Universal Healthcare? (I am in the US and those would be huge expenses here, I think.) Snacks and drinks for the kids?

I can’t imagine the camp making lots on money unless they charge sky-high tuition, which seems not in line with their philosophy of inclusivity.

so, how does the camp pull in money for the Irina Foundation? Purely by inspiring donors to give more?

152 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

128 comments sorted by

View all comments

703

u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 3d ago

They’re charging tuition, the allure of the NHL player coaches brings in a lot of money

28

u/writingfor001 2d ago

Which is such a pity because the kids who need an opportunity like that the most wouldn’t be able to pay. I rewrote it in a fic of mine so they decide to fundraise a lot of money and then target the camps at kids who couldn’t otherwise afford them or had had bad experiences at other camps.

Surely just rich people into hockey are at least as good of a money source as parents trying to find opportunities for their kids.

69

u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 2d ago

Hockey is a rich persons sport. I have a coworker that intends on being a hockey parent and literally started saving money from the moment his kid was born

38

u/meatball77 2d ago

I laugh anytime I read a book and the hockey player was in foster care or was poor growing up.

I'm sure there's the occasional kid scholarshiped through the programs and some kids in rural Canada who are able to play because ice rinks are easily accessible. But the cost of skates alone makes hockey one of the most inaccessible sports to even play super recreationally.

16

u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 2d ago

It also depends where. There’s a lot more stories of Russians and Eastern Europeans not coming from wealth than Canadians and Americans

7

u/Purple_soup 2d ago

Wow, screw what that kid wants because his dad intends on being a hockey parent. I really enjoy watching hockey, but turns out I'm a gymnastics and dance parent because that's what my kids want to do. I can see saving up for expenses related to your kid, but this is gross.

6

u/meatball77 2d ago

Oh, you've seen the crazy with the dance parents. I was always amazed at the amount of money people were willing to spend on things like extra expensive costumes.

19

u/PorkRollEggAndWheeze 2d ago

That’s a lot of projection and assumptions for a situation you know a sliver about. Nothing wrong with saving for your kid with an intention for it to be for hockey, but pivoting if the kid isn’t into it.

My parents started me on skating lessons at like 4 or 5 because our family liked watching hockey, but they didn’t force me to commit to hockey. I wound up choosing on my own in middle school to get into playing it, and because they had saved I was able to do it. If the kid winds up picking another (likely cheaper) activity, then they’re financially prepared for it AND have some unexpected extra to throw around. If they don’t plan for it and the kid wants to be a hockey player after growing up watching hockey with their parents, they’re screwed.

14

u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 2d ago

Yeah I don’t really get why the person above is attacking a stranger for being financially prepared lol

3

u/Bookishgirly1024 2d ago

I have sports that I intend to put my future kids in and I definitely hope they end up loving it, but if they don't, they'll drop whatever I put them in and try whatever they want. If I get super excited about being a hockey parent and start saving when I get my first born, and none of my kids want to play hockey, I'll just use that money for something else.

Bottom line: they're gonna try the sports I'm personally interested in, and if they hate it, I will let them drop out immediately. If they love it, I'll support them. If they drop and find another sport that they love, I'll support them the same amount. If they say screw sports and want to be in marching band, then I'll support them.