Hockey is such an expensive sport. It's no surprise we aren't new goalie prospects. I've always felt we should have a Scholastic Hockey Program for Boys and Girls.
(Of course we should try to improve our schools, and education in general.)
Buy any surplus hockey equipment from the previous year. Have fund raising to get equipment for the rest of schools. Have a tiered system.
Grades 7-8. No contact, nothing but skills, and skating training, Bi-weekly exhibition games, with emphasis on players learning all aspects of the sport.
Grades 9-10, Introduce contact, how to take hits, defend from hits, prepare for hits. Further skills training like passing, systems, shooting, and power skating, goaltending.
Weekly games.
Grades 11-12 Junior level of training. Advanced skating, shooting, goaltending. Twice weekly games. Invite college, university, and NHL teams to scout games.
This would give hockey a new pipeline of players. Allow kids that may not have considered playing hockey a chance to try it out. And maybe even get a chance to succeed.
At first it probably won't be as good as lower levels of junior hockey. But give it time and support. There might be players that were missed in Junior, and have a chance to
carry on with hockey. Even if it's just to get a scholarship at a College or University.
I know crazy thought right?