The Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
The Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
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The Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS) was created by Nick Lacoste at Brock University in 2025 to understand the variation in hockey opportunity across Canadian Census Subdivisions (CSDs) through data.
Seventeen (17) factors were used to build a score out of 10 for Census Subdivisions (CSD) from the 2021 Canadian Census. The list of factors is available below. The database returned 3,610 locations, with an average HOS score of 5.29 as of July 2026.
Hockey Opportunity Score: Table of Contents
Hockey Opportunity Score: Table of Contents
Map: Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
Map: Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
Below is a map created in ArcGIS to show 3,610 Canada locations based on Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS).
Rankings List: Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
Rankings List: Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
Below is a list of studied locations sorted by HOS score, with filters for population and province/territory:
Comparison Tool: Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
Comparison Tool: Hockey Opportunity Score (HOS)
To view the full comparison tool (up to 5 locations), click the following link:
Personal Hockey Opportunity Score (pHOS) Calculator
Personal Hockey Opportunity Score (pHOS) Calculator
If you want to input custom information (e.g., Latitude/Longitude coordinates, custom income, etc.), you can do so via the Personal Hockey Opportunity Score (pHOS) Calculator. This tool is best viewed on a computer in a new tab, available at the following link:
Factors Used :
Factors Used :
Closest arena/rink (km)
Quantity of arenas/rinks within 100 km
Closest minor hockey association (km)
Quantity of Minor Hockey Associations within 100 km
Average after-tax income of economic family ($)
Population density
Population, 2021
Population per HC registered coach
Closest Canadian Junior A team (km)
Junior A teams within 100 km
Closest major junior (CHL) team (km)
Major junior (CHL) teams within 100 km
Closest USPORTS team (km)
USPORTS teams within 100 km
Closest NHL/PWHL team (km)
Quantity of Hockey Canada registered coaches within province/territory
Closest hospital (km)
Data Sources for Factors:
Data Sources for Factors:
Statistics Canada
Hockey Canada
Elite Prospects
Arena Guide
OHL Arena Guide
QMJHL Arena Guide
WHL Arena Guide
Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL)
All Canadian hockey PSOs: Hockey Alberta, BC Hockey, Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Manitoba, Hockey New Brunswick, Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador, Hockey Nova Scotia, Hockey Nunavut,Hockey NWT, Hockey PEI, Hockey Québec, Hockey Saskatchewan, Hockey Yukon, Ontario Hockey Federation
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