Play On! Canada
Play On! Canada is a federally registered non-profit founded in 2003 that organizes mass-participation street hockey tournaments across 43 Canadian communities, serving youth and adult players, corporate teams, and municipalities with custom modular rinks and the TournPro registration platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLondon, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Play On! Canada does
Play On! Canada is a federally registered not-for-profit organization founded in 2003 by Scott Hill that operates mass-participation street hockey festivals across Canadian communities. The organization has delivered 182 events in 43 communities across 10 provinces, engaging over 400,000 players and more than 2 million spectators, volunteers and officials since inception, and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest street hockey tournament. Play On! owns 20 custom modular street hockey rinks with proprietary zamboni-like door designs enabling flexible deployment across streets, parking lots, indoor and outdoor venues, and operates the TournPro registration and fundraising platform that powers event logistics, team management, and donations to local causes such as the Calgary Police Youth Foundation.
The business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue stack: approximately 25% of revenue comes from event registrations (individual players at $75, corporate teams at $1,000), with the balance drawn from corporate sponsorships (Premier partners Sportsnet and Choice Hotels Canada; National partners Big Steel Box, Driving Force, Booster Juice), federal/provincial/municipal government grants, donations, and event merchandising. Multi-year federal funding underpins continuity; the Sportsnet promotional partnership through 2027 is explicitly conditional on operational funding being secured. Go-to-market is community-driven: events activate when municipal leadership requests them, local steering committees (160+ members across 21 cities) plan and execute, and Canada Summer Jobs funds youth Event Coordinators to deliver the events.
Customers span four segments: youth players aged 7-17 in skill-tiered divisions (Tidbits through Enforcers), adult players 18+ in divisions from Grinders to Masters, corporate teams seeking team-building, and municipalities pursuing community revitalization and fundraising outcomes. 57% of Alberta participants in the most recent season were not ice hockey players, evidencing the platform's accessibility positioning. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors including Executive Chairman Scott Hill and academic Director Rob Mitchell, Ph.D., and is currently in a 2025-2026 business model re-engineering phase aimed at long-term sustainability ahead of a targeted 20-community expansion in 2027 for the 75th Anniversary of Hockey Night in Canada.
Play On! Canada firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Play On! Canada
- Legal name
- Play On! Canada
- Website
- https://playon.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Play On! Canada is a federally registered non-profit founded in 2003 that organizes mass-participation street hockey tournaments across 43 Canadian communities, serving youth and adult players, corporate teams, and municipalities with custom modular rinks and the TournPro registration platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Play On! Canada industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Sports Events
- NAICS
- Other Spectator Sports (711219), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)
Keywords
Where Play On! Canada is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Play On! Canada business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Event Registrations: Registration fees from individual players ($75 per player) and corporate teams ($1,000 per team). Approximately 25% of revenues generated through registrations.
- Donations and Fundraising: All funds raised through events go directly to local causes (e.g., Calgary Police Youth Foundation). Teams fundraise through celebrity drafts and fan donations.
- Sponsorships: Financial and in-kind support from corporate sponsors including Premier Partners (Sportsnet, Choice Hotels Canada), National Partners (Big Steel Box, Driving Force), Official Partners, and Community Partners.
- Government Grants: Funding from Federal, Provincial, and Municipal government partners. Previously funded by CBC; currently seeking operational funding. Sportsnet partnership conditional on operational funding being secured.
- Merchandising: Commemorative T-shirts provided to all players. Sale of merchandise at events.
- Data Monetisation: Revenue created by technology platform will come during and after events occur. Platform serves other sport organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Player Registration - $75 per player |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Team Registration - $1,000 per team |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Spectator Viewing - Free |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Play On! Canada product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Play On! Canada organizes and delivers mass-participation street hockey tournament events across Canadian communities, featuring multiple skill divisions for youth and adults, supported by 20 proprietary modular street rinks, an in-house registration platform (TournPro), and an online fundraising system. The organization also rents its custom rinks to municipalities, military bases, companies, and non-profits, and operates community fundraising tied to local causes.
Product overview
Play On! Canada is a federally registered not-for-profit organization operating the country's largest mass-participation street hockey festival program. The core offering consists of street hockey tournament events featuring the organization's 20 custom modular rinks, supported by a registration platform (TournPro) and online fundraising technology. Additional offerings include rink rentals, event operations support (trailers, stages, equipment), celebrity draft experiences, and youth employment coordination through Canada's Summer Jobs program. The organization holds the Guinness World Record as the largest street hockey festival in the world.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Street Hockey Tournament Events
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2 million participants, spectators, volunteers, and officials engaged since 2003
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Play On! Canada
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Play On! Canada technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Play On! Canada partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered premier, national, powered by, official, community, event, core, host hotel and stay & play.
- SportsnetpremierSportsnet is the home of hockey in Canada and is promoting Play On! through their broadcasts including Hockey Night In Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey and other programs coast to coast. Multi-year promotional partnership through 2027 conditional on operational funding being secured.
- Choice Hotels CanadapremierChoice Hotels Canada is committed to powering sport tourism by providing a great experience at more than 335 hotels across Canada. Stay & Play Partner for Taber with EconoLodge Taber.
- Big Steel BoxnationalNational Partner providing support for Play On! events across Canada.
- Driving ForcenationalNational Partner providing support for Play On! events.
- City of Surreypowered by"Powered by" partner for Play On! Surrey events in Cloverdale area.
- City of Kelownapowered by"Powered by" partner for Play On! Kelowna events.
- United RentalsofficialOfficial Partner of Play On! Canada.
- Seaboard Transport GroupofficialOfficial Partner of Play On! Canada.
- Ocean TrailerofficialOfficial Partner of Play On! Canada.
- Calgary Flames FoundationcommunityCommunity Partner for Calgary events.
- Edmonton Oilers Community FoundationcommunityCommunity Partner supporting Play On! events.
- Hockey4Youth FoundationcommunityCommunity Partner supporting youth hockey accessibility.
- Hockey CalgarycommunityCommunity Partner supporting Calgary 2026 event.
- Hockey Diversity AlliancecommunityCommunity Partner supporting inclusive hockey opportunities.
- Indigenous Sports AlbertacommunityCommunity Partner supporting Indigenous community engagement.
- ISWOcommunityCommunity Partner supporting Indigenous sports initiatives.
- Kids Help PhonecommunityCommunity Partner supporting youth mental health.
- She Is SportcommunityCommunity Partner supporting women in sport.
- VIA RailcommunityCommunity Partner supporting travel and accessibility.
- HarveyscommunityCommunity Partner for food services at events.
- 7-ElevencommunityCommunity Partner for convenience services at events.
- Cwench HydrationcommunityCommunity Partner providing hydration products.
- Calgary Hotel AssociationcommunityCommunity Partner for Calgary 2026 event hotel coordination.
- Global Sport ResourceseventEvent Partner providing sport management expertise.
- PowerHockey CanadacorePurpose-based partnership to make hockey more accessible. PowerHockey Canada focuses on growth and development of powerhockey for disabled athletes. Partnership demonstrates commitment to creating inclusive and accessible opportunities to play hockey across Canada.
- Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Clairehost hotelOfficial host hotel for Play On! Calgary 2026. Located minutes from the event at 255 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary AB. Special event rate available until July 29, 2026.
- EconoLodge Taberstay & playStay & Play Partner for Taber 2026 event. Hotel in closest proximity to event venue at 5302 46 Avenue, Taber AB.
- Canadian Ball Hockey AssociationcoreTeamed up to make the cultural phenomena of street hockey available in more communities across Canada. Partnership started in 2003.
- Hockey CanadacoreNational governing body for hockey has communicated wholehearted support for Play On! program. Engaged supporters since inception.
- Booster JuicenationalMulti-year partnership announced for Play On! return to communities across Canada. Canada's original juice and smoothie bar.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Play On! Canada competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- LeagueApps: Sports league management and registration platform serving amateur sports organizers in North America. Direct comparable to the TournPro platform Play On! operates, providing registration, scheduling, and payment infrastructure for grassroots leagues and tournaments.
- Sportball: Canadian youth multi-sport program operator delivering accessible sport instruction to children. Comparable in targeting youth sport accessibility and franchise/community delivery model, though focused on instruction rather than tournaments.
Direct peers
- Canadian Ball Hockey Association: National governing body for ball hockey and active Play On! strategic partner since 2003. Most direct functional peer given shared sport, shared national footprint, and shared grassroots tournament model.
- Hockey Canada: National governing body for hockey in Canada. Direct peer as the federated body Play On! partners with; comparable in scale, government relationships, and brand authority, but focused on ice hockey rather than street/ball hockey.
- ParticipACTION: National non-profit promoting physical activity and sport participation across Canada. Direct peer targeting similar mass-participation, government-funded, brand-partnered model with comparable multi-tier stakeholder mix.
- KidSport Canada: National charity providing financial support for youth sport registration fees across Canada. Direct peer as a federally registered non-profit addressing the same accessibility-to-youth-sport problem Play On! solves, often funding registration for the same low-income demographic.
Broad incumbents
- Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities: Larger national charity funding youth sport access with corporate backing from Canadian Tire. Comparable mission (removing financial barriers to youth sport) and grant-based funding model, but at significantly larger scale and with multi-sport reach.
- Boys & Girls Club of Canada: Federally supported youth recreation non-profit offering multi-sport and recreational programming across Canada. Comparable community-led, government-funded, youth-focused programming model with similar municipal partnership approach.
- YMCA Canada: Federation of community recreation organizations offering multi-sport programming, memberships, and youth services. Comparable membership-based recreation model with municipal and corporate partnership structures.
- Right To Play: International sport-for-development charity using play to transform lives of children. Comparable sport-as-social-inclusion model with youth impact focus, though operating globally with broader scope and deeper funder relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Play On! Canada social profiles
Digital presencePlay On! Canada financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Play On! Canada leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Play On! Canada funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Play On! Canada M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Play On! Canada
What does Play On! Canada do?
Play On! Canada organizes and delivers mass-participation street hockey tournament events across Canadian communities, featuring multiple skill divisions for youth and adults, supported by 20 proprietary modular street rinks, an in-house registration platform (TournPro), and an online fundraising system. The organization also rents its custom rinks to municipalities, military bases, companies, and non-profits, and operates community fundraising tied to local causes.
Is Play On! Canada a public or private company?
Play On! Canada is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Play On! Canada founded?
Play On! Canada was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Play On! Canada based?
Play On! Canada is headquartered in London, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Play On! Canada make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Event Registrations are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, sponsorships, government Grants, merchandising and data Monetisation.
Who are Play On! Canada's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are LeagueApps and Sportball. Direct peers are Canadian Ball Hockey Association, Hockey Canada, ParticipACTION and KidSport Canada. Broad incumbents are Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Boys & Girls Club of Canada, YMCA Canada and Right To Play.
Does Play On! Canada have an API?
No public API is recorded for Play On! Canada.
What industry is Play On! Canada in?
Play On! Canada's product category is Community Sports Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKADAH, Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers, with a secondary code of MPAKACAL, Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens). Its NAICS code is 711219 and its SIC code is 7900.