I've got news for you.....it's expensive everywhere these days, and the USA is no different. That's why lot of U.S. hockey players come from wealthy family backgrounds like Austen Matthews who's family could afford to buy him all the ice-time he ever wanted in Phoenix, which is basically in the middle of the desert.
It's worthwhile noting that Macklin Celebrini, Zach Benson and Connor Bedard would be eligible for this tournament if they weren't in the NHL. And I have no doubt that Hockey Canada could have picked a B-team for this tournament that might be as good or maybe even better than the current Team Canada picks.
But for comparisons sake, the USA has a population of 350 million; Canada is at just over 40 million; and Sweden is about 10 million; and Finland barely five million. And Germany is one of the wealthiest countries in Europe with a population of more than 83 million, but their junior teams really don't do much of anything.
So sure hockey is an expensive sport.....always has been and always will be. But hockey in Canada is doing just fine imo, given all the other sports that kids can play these days. And soccer, basketball, baseball and tennis will probably always be cheaper.