This article was written prior to COVID-19. Please follow public health guidelines as advised.

Sick of selling cookie dough? Give one of these money-making activities a try this season.

Any hockey parent will tell you that equipment is expensive. Add travel, tournament fees, team jackets, and team-building activities to the list, and you've got a hefty financial commitment.

Some teams rely on business sponsorships and family contributions to cover these costs, but others earn team money the old fashioned way: fundraising.

Successful fundraising should start with the following steps:

1. Identify how much money you'll need to fundraise.
2. Gather the volunteers to brainstorm ideas. This will help everyone get excited about the fundraising projects.
3. Make it fun and involve the whole team—players, coaches, parents, and even grandparents.

Now that you know how to get started, here are five creative ideas you can bring to the table:

• Goal can

  Get a piggy bank cylinder can from a craft store. Have the kids decorate the can, name it, and bring it to every game. Each time your team scores, ask the younger siblings to pass the can around your cheering section. They'll love to gather 25 cents (or more!) from all the parents and grandparents.

• Family spaghetti night

  Spaghetti is fairly inexpensive to make, and some grocery stores will even donate food for the event. Sell tickets to neighbours, friends, team families, and extended families. Add games, entertainment, and maybe even a silent auction to make the dinner a fun event.

• Make a team calendar

  Are your hockey moms or dads photo- and tech-savvy? Early in the season, use their skills to compile pictures of your players and their families, then format and print the calendars yourself or order them from a print shop. Calendars like this make great family presents during the holidays, and you can enjoy the fun snapshots year-round.

• Parent pub night

  Sure, the money is for the kids, but you don't always have to invite them. At a pub night, hockey parents can forget about the stresses of kid sports. If you recruit enough friends and neighbours, some establishments will donate a portion of the night's profits to the team. Silent auctions, casino games, or a pool tournament can increase the financial payoff.

• Sled-a-Thon

  It's Alberta, so you can count on some snow. Make the most of the weather by bringing a group to the local toboggan hill. At the hill, players can obtain pledges for each trip down a big hill. Promote it as a family event and cap the day with a potluck.

Fundraising initiatives like these are simple, easy to execute, and fun. If you focus on these aspects, any event you organize will be a success - regardless of how much money you bring in.

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