Canada Inline Estimates Incorrect

[Alexander]

In the IHC Editor's recent post, the claim by Mr. Dave Easter that "the Alberta Inline Hockey Members of Canada Inline ... cumulatively make up 95 percent of the organized inline hockey leagues in Alberta and Saskatchewan" implies that Hockey Alberta In Line makes up only 5% is totaly ludicrous. What the exact percentage is is difficult to state because I have never seen any published figures by Canada Inline as to the number of registered players they have in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Nevertheless, the number is certainly considerably greater than 5%!

Marty Alexander
Commmunications & Promotions Coordinator
Hockey Alberta In Line Provincial Development Committee

[MDE3]

Is it possible that the players are members of both..perhaps unwittingly?

[Alexander]

I am aware of a few cases where players have deliberately registered with both the National Inline Hockey Association-Canada (via HAIL or Hockey Alberta In Line) and Canada Inline but my best guess is that in total it's only a handful. MA

MA

[MDE3]

I know when talking with Dave Easter myself on another subject, I asked him how many of the total playing Inline Hockey in Canada were registered with him, and he said "95%". So it may be that he is using this as a generic figure for participation across the country.

If there are a significant number of players participating outside that organization, I think that's a positive sign for the sport in Canada, in terms of indicating increased total participation.

[Alexander]

Now that the British Columbia Inline Hockey Association (which probably represents 95% of all registered inline hockey players in that province) has joined the National Inline Hockey Association-Canada with Hockey Alberta In Line and Manitoba Inline Hockey plus leagues in Saskatchewan and Ontario, this is so called "95%" country wide figure is gradually diminishing. In reality though, what's more important, numbers or quality?

Marty

[MDE3]

In the case where development means increased numbers of good playing facilities, increased sport awareness, improved levels of overall play through access to a greater playing population...quantity and quality are closely linked.

Through a broader playing base all those things will become possible.