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The cost of hockey: High price to chase a dream

Part III of our series looking at minor hockey costs. How much is too much to invest? Is it worth it? Postmedia's Michael Traikos investigates.

After Matt Duchene, who had been drafted third overall in the NHL, signed a contract in 2012 paying him an average of US$3.5 million per season as a forward with the Colorado Avalanche, his father took out a calculator and added up just how much he had invested into his son’s career.

In the beginning, the costs were nominal. Vince Duchene spent $300 on an introductory learn-to-skate program and $1,400 on registration and equipment for his son’s first year in organized hockey.