Discussions

I don't like hockey (gasp!). Yes, I said it. I don't like hockey and I have a question.  
 
Here's a little background: Growing up, my husband and I were both raised by single mothers, neither of whom were sports fans. We also grew up in a city out west. Hockey was neither as accessible or as important to the vast majority of the kid population (too expensive for the average joe to put kids into, many, many alternatives to hockey available).  
 
When we moved to a smaller town in Manitoba with our first child, who was one at the time, we were surprised at the expectation that once our child was around three we would be starting him in skating and then would progress to hockey. When we said we would not be doing this we were usually treated to a shocked, sometimes condescending attitude.  
I almost would get the feeling (and still do occasionally) that other parents felt we would be depriving our child by not putting him into hockey.  
 
I am now the mom of two boys. We have never put our oldest into hockey. We realized it was almost the only option for extra-carricular activities in our area, but we didn't want to just jump on board. We wanted to wait until he was a bit older to see what he, as an individual, would benefit from. We are planning on taking the same route with our youngest.  
 
Our oldest boy is now 10. I can assure you he has not been deprived by not being in hockey. He is creative, smart and funny. He is involved in piano lessons, soccer in the spring time, karate and sunday school throughout the year. He never did form any interest in hockey. The only bad side to him not being in hockey is that 75% of the boys in his class are in it, so he is not as involved with the group at times. But, there is a good side to that too, since I find the team schedules are so packed they spend too much time together and there is alot of inter-fighting.  
 
My question is this - If you grew up with hockey as a predominant part of your childhood have or will you put your children in hockey mainly because that is what your experience was? Or will you wait to see if it is what your child wants to do? And whatever your response is, what are your reasons for your decision?  
 
Since I know from experience that there is life without hockey, and obviously since I really, really don't like hockey (said it again), my opinion is relatively one sided so I'm curious about the other side.