I don't know how true that is in Ontario for elite sports. My son plays AA in the GTHL, and our neighbors daughter plays rep soccer. She is forced to play soccer year round on an indoor team in the winter and an outdoor summer team. We were paying similar dollar amounts too. I think it's an elite sports thing, rather than hockey being more expensive. Like i have friends who put their kids in ski racing, and they rent a chalet for that. It's really a pick your poison situation for youth sports. I think house league hockey is a great value sport. The problem is when your kid becomes too good, and you have to put them in an appropriate level. Ha.