Some of the hardest hit by the economic slowdown are having to make difficult decisions about their children’s organized activities. All too often, those decisions result in kids who just can’t play.

The only player to be named an all-star twice at the World Junior A Challenge, Cale Makar went to the Colorado Avalanche with the fourth-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the highest-drafted defenceman ever, the second-highest Canadian, and the third-highest alumnus overall.

Canada’s most popular introductory hockey program has reached a new milestone; the Canadian Tire First Shift will be offered in communities that span all 13 of Hockey Canada’s member regions in the 2017-18 season.

It was a milestone Monday for five Team Canada alumni, who learned they will be part of the Class of 2017 to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Dave Andreychuk, Danielle Goyette, Paul Kariya and Mark Recchi will go into the player category this fall, while legendary coach Clake Drake will enter as a builder.

Canadian hockey was front and centre this past weekend in Chicago, Ill., with 81 prospects (77 Canadian-born, four with dual citizenship) selected at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

A newly-minted Memorial Cup champion, Trevor Letowski (Thunder Bay, Ont./Windsor, OHL) joins Canada’s National Junior Team’s coaching staff for the 2017-18 season following the departure of assistant coach Kris Knoblauch who recently accepted an NHL coaching role with the Philadelphia Flyers.

NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings of prospects eligible for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in mid-April. Of the top 100 North American skaters and top 20 North American goaltenders, 38 of them have either been a part of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence (POE) or played at a Hockey Canada domestic event.

The RBC Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship, is headed to Brooks, Alta., where the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League will play host to the 49th edition of the tournament from May 11-19, 2019 at the Centennial Regional Arena.

Hockey Canada will assemble the nation’s best men’s, women’s, and sledge team prospects for its annual National Teams’ Summer Showcase, a series of development and selection camps that kick off the 2017-18 season.

HCSA alumnus Colton Sissons benefits from goal-setting at the North Vancouver Skills Academy.

Syrian refugee Nasser Alhamwai is embracing his new home in Paris, Ont., one stride at a time on the ice with help from his community.

HCSA students from Bear Creek Secondary School in Barrie, Ont., received a special visit along with advice from NHL alumnus Curtis Sanford.

Abrams Village, P.E.I., hockey players go behind the scenes with the sport-specialized scientists of SciencePerfo

For Fran Rider, everything – creating the first unofficial women’s world championship; helping form the first IIHF World Women’s Championship; actively pushing for the game’s inclusion in the Olympic Winter Games; chairing six international and two national championship committees; creating the Long Game as part of World Girls’ Hockey Weekend – stemmed from one simple wish: to be involved in the game she’s loved all her life.

Now, after decades in the game and countless contributions to the execution of initiatives and achievements as Canada’s former top amateur hockey administrator, Murray Costello will receive the Order of Hockey in Canada.

Scotty Bowman has been part of 14 Stanley Cup championship teams, and each one of those titles holds a place in his heart and cherished home in his mind.

Ken Babey kept on talking about getting over the hump. That hump was the United States. More specifically, it was seeing Canada’s National Sledge Team defeat the U.S. in a major international competition. The Americans have had Canada’s number in recent years, winning 12 of 13 games dating back to early 2014.