The (Ice) Hockey Thread

[eddiejc1]

I had to get up early so I could not stay up to watch the game, but I'm happy we won, and I look forward to seeing the U.S. play Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
Considering that this game was NOT played in front of a home crowd as in Squaw Valley, Lake Placid, or Salt Lake City, it makes team U.S.A.'s achievement all the
more remarkable.

P.S. Shouldn't this thread be in the "Football/Sports" section since it's about hockey as a spectator sport and not joining up with friends to play hockey at a rink in CH?

[eddiejc1]

	Quote:	Chemmie
	This is indeed true, but there is a much larger potential market in Canada, and there are many more american teams with financial problems at the moment. need we dive into the ol'Bettman plan and our good friends at RIM?

Let's nip this argument in the bud. Canada is a great country, but even the most patriotic Canadian hockey fan will admit the NHL needs large American cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Detroit. That being said, many American teams are losing money and I don't think any Canadian teams are. The NHL may want to consider transferring some of the Sunbelt teams to Canadian cities or northern cities with hockey fans. Phoenix, Atlanta, and Dallas have hockey teams but not Milwaukee (Green Bay?) or Hamilton, ON?

There was a plan in the works by some Canadian businessmen to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton, but that's been nipped in the bud for now.

[HollidayG]

Originally, the teams came to the US because of financial problems in
Canada.

Professional teams in general are having a hard time because of
the enormous salaries.

[Mikeybroomers]

Hockey has done pretty well in Dallas and you can see that reflected in the increasing amount of Texan born players entered into the draft. The problem cities are primarily Phoenix and Atlanta. Colorado's attendances have suffered significantly from last year's abomination but hopefully with the youth movement this year, next year's attendances will be on the rise.

[luminousmind08]

	Quote:	HollidayG
	Unfortunately, it came on too late, and I could not watch it. US NHL subsidized by Canadians. You mean with players, I hope. Many of the NHL teams have gone south due to financial problems in Canadian cities.

nope. $$$. Not sure how long you have been away, but that has not been the case for 10 years.

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=1526310

[luminousmind08]

	Quote:	eddiejc1
	Let's nip this argument in the bud. Canada is a great country, but even the most patriotic Canadian hockey fan will admit the NHL needs large American cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Detroit. That being said, many American teams are losing money and I don't think any Canadian teams are. The NHL may want to consider transferring some of the Sunbelt teams to Canadian cities or northern cities with hockey fans. Phoenix, Atlanta, and Dallas have hockey teams but not Milwaukee (Green Bay?) or Hamilton, ON? There was a plan in the works by some Canadian businessmen to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton, but that's been nipped in the bud for now.

Agree there is a need for American teams at all. Heck, I would love to see one on Zuerich! The point is the NHL had decided for reckless expansion in markets that will never be viable. The NHLPA supports it because it means more jobs for hockey players. The result is bad hockey with many players who would not be playing in the NHL 15 years ago.

I would much rather get rid of the 6 or 7 teams that will never be viable markets, either relocate or disband. The result will be much better hockey.

[Mikeybroomers]

	Quote:	luminousmind08
	I would much rather get rid of the 6 or 7 teams that will never be viable markets, either relocate or disband. The result will be much better hockey.

This is an excellent point and one that rarely gets enough coverage. Most talk is about expanding to 32 teams when the best idea may be to reduce it to 24 and get the real goons out of the league! I think John Buccigross (ESPN) has written a couple of decent blogs on it. That said, hockey players today are probably better skaters and more skillful than the last generation and if you can phase out the one dimensional likes of Donald Brashear with players like Milan Lucic, who can fight AND play, the NHL is gonna be a better place. The current trend in the NHL is fast, exciting hockey so maybe in 10-15 years time, there'll be less goons? Some teams don't even dress one for most games anymore and have still won the Stanley Cup in the last 2 years, so this could help.

[HollidayG]

I have kept up with the NHL results for the 10 years since I have
been gone, but I have not kept up with the financial viability so much.
I was in Dallas when the Stars won the Stanley cup.

How can a market like Nashville support an NHL team? A city
like Dallas has many transplants from the US and Canada as well
as a population of around 7 million. Nashville has a much smaller
population and not as much diversity.

[Big Mac #24]

OOOOOOooooo! Please let us not get started on the "no place for enforcers in hockey bit!!!" If you want people like Lucic, Iginla, Phaneuf, Lecavallier missing weeks with a broken hand after fighting too often, then get them out of the game - enforcing belongs in the game, has it's place and has to stay. I'm not wanting lumberjacks on skates, but people like John Erskine, Pete VanDemeer, Brad May, etc, are guys who can comfortably hold a shift and back it up when needed.

If anything, reducing the number of teams in the NHL by a quarter would mean:

More games against the same teams, intensified rivalries = more fights.

[Big Mac #24]

By the way, I'm ALL FOR reducing the number of teams in the NHL! Must suck being a real hockey fan in for example Vancouver or Tampa, and only getting to see some of the leagues star players once every few years in your arena!

[Mikeybroomers]

	Quote:	Big Mac #24
	OOOOOOooooo! Please let us not get started on the "no place for enforcers in hockey bit!!!" If you want people like Lucic, Iginla, Phaneuf, Lecavallier missing weeks with a broken hand after fighting too often, then get them out of the game - enforcing belongs in the game, has it's place and has to stay. I'm not wanting lumberjacks on skates, but people like John Erskine, Pete VanDemeer, Brad May, etc, are guys who can comfortably hold a shift and back it up when needed.

I'm not saying get rid of enforcers at all I love hockey fights and agree they're a vital part of the game. I'm saying get rid of the likes of David Koci. He plays 3 shifts/2'40" a game - there's really no point in dressing him. I'd love to see more players like Ian Laperriere. He can definitely play and fight. As an Avs fan, I really miss him

[Big Mac #24]

	Quote:	Mikeybroomers
	I'm not saying get rid of enforcers at all I love hockey fights and agree they're a vital part of the game. I'm saying get rid of the likes of David Koci. He plays 3 shifts/2'40" a game - there's really no point in dressing him. I'd love to see more players like Ian Laperriere. He can definitely play and fight. As an Avs fan, I really miss him

Fair point, apologies if I jumped the gun a little there! By the way, got a shed load of fight DVD's if you ever wanna borrow any! PM me

[cannut]

	Quote:	HollidayG
	Unfortunately, it came on too late, and I could not watch it. US NHL subsidized by Canadians. You mean with players, I hope. Many of the NHL teams have gone south due to financial problems in Canadian cities.

One team yes ,Quebec ,there are more city in Canada which are able to support a NHL team

[Big Mac #24]

So from the pre-tournie favourites of Canada, Russia and Sweden, seems only one can reach the final!!! As providing Canada beat Germany, they play Russia to win the right to play Sweden or the upstart Slovakians in the Semi!

Man did the Americans get it right so far! May I quote myself without seeming cocky ?? USA have a gutsy young squad with only 6 skaters and 2 goalies over 25. Only 3 players with Olympic experience could be crucial or totally irrelevant - kids play with passion and no fear! Maybe the surpise package, need to start with a comfortable win

[Mikeybroomers]

	Quote:	Big Mac #24
	Fair point, apologies if I jumped the gun a little there! By the way, got a shed load of fight DVD's if you ever wanna borrow any! PM me

www.hockeyfights.com always sorts me out Tis a great website for fight fans

Do you have the Don Cherry Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em ones?!

[HollidayG]

	Quote:	cannut
	One team yes ,Quebec ,there are more city in Canada which are able to support a NHL team

and Winnipeg? Aren't they now the Phoenix Coyotes?

[luminousmind08]

bump for our Gold medal hockey game viewing party @ Paddy Reilly's in Zurich on Sunday.

Olympic Hockey - Gold Medal Game Paddy Reilly's Zurich -

[Chemmie]

	Quote:	HollidayG
	and Winnipeg? Aren't they now the Phoenix Coyotes?

...and Phoenix is making a killing in attendance too.

I think Winnipeg could have pulled through, sure salaries were taking off and financial status didn't look too good.
But it was even a greater opportunity to expand into the new lucrative US advertising markets.

It's been brought up that Winnipeg can support a team once again, and Hamilton!/London/Kitchener-Waterloo/Mississauga could become one of the most profitable franchises in the sport.

But instead, empty seats in the desert.

[cannut]

We have to try much harder

[Big Mac #24]

	Quote:	Mikeybroomers
	www.hockeyfights.com always sorts me out Tis a great website for fight fans Do you have the Don Cherry Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em ones?!

Yeah, I've been on there since the best part of a decade now, always a good read. Are you registered, PM me your user name if so, was just about to put mine here but it's better to private!