It may be the middle of summer, but an expanding hockey program in the Kennebecasis Valley is taking registrations for a league meant to make the sport more accessible and affordable.

For the past two years, the Kennebecasis Valley Minor Hockey Association has given younger players the option of playing with reduced fees and travel.

Now it's expanding the program to include three separate divisions for players up to 15 years old.

"It's based on fun, it's based on the sport of hockey, there's no travel," said the association's Lynn Fletcher.

Fewer travel, cheaper prices

Fletcher said kids who join the new KV Community Hockey League won't have to travel outside the region for tournaments or games.

For players nine and younger, the league will only have players on the ice for one practice a week. In the 12 and under and 15 and under divisions players will have one practice and one game per week.

Lynn Fletcher with the KV Minor Hockey Association said kids who join the new league won't have to travel outside the region for tournaments or games. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)

The program will cost $400 per player in the older age groups and $200 per player for the under nine age group.

Fletcher said compared with average fees starting around $420 for smaller kids and $575 for kids in Pee Wee, Bantam, or Midget divisions, it is much more affordable.

"It's a great program for kids that are in other activities," she said, referring to children who may also get involved in other extracurricular sports or recreational activities.

She added the schedule will have fixed times, making it easier for parents to plan out their week.

Costs add up quickly

This week, the only kids taking up the ice at the Q-Plex in the Valley were those working on their skills over the summer.

Watching his son Max from the stands, Scott Buffett said he could see the appeal of a community league.

Scott Buffett has two kids in hockey in Fredericton and said the costs each year add up quickly. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)

Buffett has two kids in hockey in Fredericton and said the costs each year add up quickly, especially when it comes to tournaments.

"There's fees for the tournament, there's hotel costs, and you know all the regular gas and costs of being on the road," he said.

Travel costs can easily run up to $300 each time the family goes away, he said.

With two kids needing to be on the ice up to four times a week each, Buffett said the reduced schedule will appeal to many parents.

1 in 3 can't afford basic access

The new league has caught the eye of P.R.O. Kids, a non-profit service which helps pay fees for sports and recreation for financially struggling families in the region.

Manager David Dobblesteyn said at least one in three families in the region can't afford basic access to recreation.

Every time you know that user groups are increasing fees, or making it further to travel for kids, it's another barrier. - David Dobblesteyn, manager of P.R.O. Kids

"Every time you know that user groups are increasing fees, or making it further to travel for kids, it's another barrier," Dobblesteyn said.

He said this program and others like it are a step in the right direction to allow kids to get active and stay healthy.

"I think this is an important option for families who may not want to be involved with all the travel and the tournaments involved in competitive hockey but still want their kids to experience Canada's national game," he said.