Die hard hockey fan, here. I'll watch any level of hockey, any time. Huge leafs fan, despite parents being habs fans and wings fans. I'm also a die-hard Windsor Spitfire fan, and prefer junior hockey over pro hockey.
latourdumonie my answers to your questions:
1. Anywhere from two to six years old, usually. Most parents I know taught their kids to skate on back yard ponds or local arenas as soon as their kids could walk.
I think so. I don't actually know for sure. Hockey Canada has this on their website about coaching "Hockey Canada’s National Coach Certification Program (NCCP) is a competency-based program. The program enables coaches to build their coaching tools and knowledge of the game, so they can work effectively with their players." High school is more relaxed, generally. At least around here. My high school's coach was someone who'd played hockey as a kid, and plays regularly now. I think it depends on how sports-focused the school is.
2. The only news source I've ever known for high school hockey was the local radio, so I can't really help you with that.
3. Again, it depends on the school and how much focus there is on sports. At my high school it was pretty much an insult if the only hockey team you could make was the high school team, as the team was terrible for the majority of the years I was there. If you played for a local team, such as a "farm team" for a local junior hockey team (two levels below pro) then you had a bit more status. No cheerleaders at hockey games.There way arenas are designed, there's no real room at the arenas, not to mention cold to most, and silly notion really...the people who went were there to watch the hockey game or the fights.
4. Nope, sorry. Try youtubing team names and see what comes up, though.