Where Is All The Talk About The NHL On CC???

[gopher]

It is no secret that ice hockey is Canada's # 1 pro sport in Winter. So where is this forum's discussion on the topic?

This year the NHL is debuting is season in London, UK. What is so signifcant about that move?

Why not Salzburg? Moscow? Beijing?? Tokyo???

The pre-season has started. In today's headlines here in Gopherland, there was no talk of the sport of ice hockey's decline in the USA. Instead, the only headlines we got in today's newspapers was regarding a brawl between the New York teams. There wasn't any talk about the Minnesota Wild nor was there any discussion of the huge debt suffered by the City of St Paul because it invested so much money in the Xcel Center where the team plays. The City nearly went bankrupt because of that expenditure and the local citizens are angry at the pols for spending our money in a stadium we did not want nor did we approve of. {Note: it was forced on us by former mayor Republican Norm Coleman who is a big believer in welfare for the wealthy.}

While the sport of ice hockey has a great many merits, it is suffering a terrible decline in the USA. It continues to thrive in Canada but for how much longer?

Let's have some discussion on this topic here in CC.

 

[lone wolf]

Not play-offs time yet.

Wolf

 

[triedit]

Who can afford to go to a hockey game?

 

[Just the Facts]

In the 10000 post thread

 

[lone wolf]

Yeah ... nobody joined us....

Wolf

 

[gopher]

Interesting replies.

I'm reminded of the fact that senior bowling had a higher television audience than did the NHL Stanley Cup finals a couple of years ago. Perhaps ice hockey is on its way out as a popular attraction in Canada as it is in the States??

 

[shadowshiv]

The fact that it is only pre-season is the reason for me.;-)

However, it looks like there are dirty hits during pre-season just like the regular season. Looks like the Philly player, Downie, has a nice big target painted on his back. Of course, he will probably be sent down to the minors before the regular season, so they may be waiting for their revenge for quite a while.

 

[Just the Facts]

Interesting replies.

I'm reminded of the fact that senior bowling had a higher television audience than did the NHL Stanley Cup finals a couple of years ago. Perhaps ice hockey is on its way out as a popular attraction in Canada as it is in the States??

In the states. It's still a major draw here, despite Buttman's best efforts to ruin the game completely.

The finals had lower than usual ratings because it was only the senators. If it wasn't for leaf fans watching for them to lose, then maybe it would have had lower ratings than lawn bowling here too! :lol:

 

[talloola]

Haven't a clue why bettman continues to work so hard to promote our game in the u.s., as it is so apparant that most of the states couldn't care less, and yes bowling is more popular.

It will never be that way in Canada, it stays at the top, and seems to be getting bigger, as the game is so fast now, and more exciting. We need more teams here, but money is the bottom line, and the corporate dollars are in the U.S., but not the interest. Too bad.

The L.A. Kings owner has built a complex in London, so that is why the game is being played there, as
he wants to show off his ice rink, etc.

It's just exhibition season, teams are playing many different players, but they are gradually forming their permanent rosters, and soon the season will start.

Rangers and Islanders are just postering for the opening of their season, as they are in the same city, and huge rivals, so I guess they are testing each other to see who's the toughest. Just little kids getting excited for the season.

So am I

GO CANUCKS GO !!!!!!!!!

 

[DurkaDurka]

I think the NHL remains pretty popular in a lot of the northern States; isn't Minnesota the "hockey state" ?

 

[lone wolf]

We need an NHL again - Elite - Cream of the Crop hockey - like the old Grand Trunk League....

Wolf

 

[#juan]

For me, I can't get too excited yet. As far as I know Vancouver didn't make any significant changes in the off-season other than getting rid of one of their best defensmen; Brent Sopel. I don't see any reason to think this year's version of the Canucks will be any less of a ho hum than the last version was. The Canucks have arguably the best goalie in the league but they have to score more than one or two goals a game if they want to improve over last year. I usually attend at least three or four games a year but they are going to have to improve to get me over there this year. Time will tell.

 

[lone wolf]

Hockey ... part of our heritage. I have a friend who calls from the Mackenzie River Ice Highway just so he can listen to the Leafs on his cell phone. All he gets on the truck radio are Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver ... but Toronto will be playing on satellite TV at base.

Company called him out on the carpet about the cell bill.

"What's cheaper..." he says to the boss "...the Leafs game - or the truck?"

Devotion, eh?

Wolf

 

[talloola]

For me, I can't get too excited yet. As far as I know Vancouver didn't make any significant changes in the off-season other than getting rid of one of their best defensmen; Brent Sopel. I don't see any reason to think this year's version of the Canucks will be any less of a ho hum than the last version was. The Canucks have arguably the best goalie in the league but they have to score more than one or two goals a game if they want to improve over last year. I usually attend at least three or four games a year but they are going to have to improve to get me over there this year. Time will tell.

I have to disagree about "sopel" as I was looking forward to his return last year, but felt he had become too slow and it was noticeable compared to the others, so I'm glad he's gone. We have a solid defence core, and just need to create more scoring this year, so maybe a couple of the good young guys who are playing in exhibition games will help in that department. Raymond,Shannon,Jaffrey,Grabner and others.
It's too bad so many players are injured during pre season, but they seem to be gradually returning
so hopefully by the time the first league game is played, we have a full team, as the first game is
just as important as the 82nd. Our division is very competative and any team could be left out of playoffs by one or two points.

 

[gopher]

I think the NHL remains pretty popular in a lot of the northern States; isn't Minnesota the "hockey state" ?

Pro hockey is only popular in the suburbs. College and high school hockey remain popular. However, the game has virtually disappeared from the Twin Cities schools as funding has been cut from education in order to pay for pro stadiums.

This is why so many of us from the Cities resent the pro game as it has benefited from our tax dollars whereas our kids get nothing back from the government or from the sport.

BTW, in the farm belt part of the state, hockey has never been popular as wrestling remains the # 1 sport in that area.

 

[Tonington]

The fact that it is only pre-season is the reason for me.;-)

However, it looks like there are dirty hits during pre-season just like the regular season. Looks like the Philly player, Downie, has a nice big target painted on his back. Of course, he will probably be sent down to the minors before the regular season, so they may be waiting for their revenge for quite a while.

That hit was just sick. I'm sure they can wait out for some payback, which is inevitable.

 

[talloola]

That hit was just sick. I'm sure they can wait out for some payback, which is inevitable.

yes I agree it was sick. Glad there are no serious injuries, heard him talking about how he is feeling
this morning, and he is OK, has a concussion, but says he doesn't feel like it. He says he is tired of
people bashing his head into board, as he is the one Pronger did same thing to in the playoffs, and
Pronger wasn't even penalized, but later after 'review' pronger was given suspension for one game.
I don't think this guy should be thrown out of hockey forever, but definitely a hefty suspension, and
he can learn his lesson. He might never be in the NHL anyway, as he hasn't even made his team yet.

I also heard a coach ciriticize him for coming around the net and not being aware of how he could
be hit in that situation, so, 'go figure'. The speed of the player who hit him, as he was coming toward
him, was 'mind boggling', as he was just flying, then launched himself up and forward. Totally
unacceptable in my opinion.

 

[#juan]

I have to disagree about "sopel" as I was looking forward to his return last year, but felt he had become too slow and it was noticeable compared to the others, so I'm glad he's gone. We have a solid defence core, and just need to create more scoring this year, so maybe a couple of the good young guys who are playing in exhibition games will help in that department. Raymond,Shannon,Jaffrey,Grabner and others.
It's too bad so many players are injured during pre season, but they seem to be gradually returning
so hopefully by the time the first league game is played, we have a full team, as the first game is
just as important as the 82nd. Our division is very competative and any team could be left out of playoffs by one or two points.

We'll have to agree to disagree on Sopel. I thought he was a good, solid defenceman who didn't make a lot of mistakes. We had better hope Luongo is on his game because we don't exactly have a lot of scoring power. I had hoped they might pick up one or two of the free agents that were available.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

hockey... i used to be a big fan....

Now there are too many teams watering down the talent pool...
Fighting is down....
Serious injuries are up....
Goals are down (watered down talent)....
Teams play within their division 8 times and some teams don't play against each other for years!

They have been giving me less and less reason to enjoy the game. I don't bother with hockey anymore... haven't for a few years.

Oh well.... at least the CFL is as exciting as ever!!

 

[gopher]

``Now there are too many teams watering down the talent pool...``


But the talent pool is actually larger! There are now more Yanks, more Russians, and more Europeans. This, if anything, should make hockey a better game.

Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out that way.

The game just doesn't work for me and for most Yanks. In Winter, I'll be watching college basketball (esp the Pac 10), the Bowl games, and the NFL playoffs. That, to me, is more fun.