How many people in the world are employed by hockey is some way?

Question

How many people in the world are employed by hockey is some way?

Answer 1

Not nearly enough

Answer 2

Very few. I'd say the state of California employs more people than the number of people who earn a living through/around hockey, globally.

Answer 3

I think it depends on how you define "employed by hockey".  How many people earn a full-time money directly from playing or coaching the game?  That answer is obviously very few.  Do we factor in the popcorn vendors at the arenas, the Zamboni drivers at the local rinks, the mite level referee and the part time high school coach?  How about the people that make skates, pucks or sweaters and the people who work at the shop who sell them?  When you look at it that way, the number of people who are employed by hockey goes way up.