Honest Question- What's Hockey Like in Your City?

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I live in Chicago- Wirtz just died (thank god- I'm sorry he died but still for hockey this is a good thing) and finally games are going to start being on TV. Chicago use to be huge for hockey- diffinately up there as a top contender as a team most followed by the city (Bears #1, Cubs #2, Hawks #3....). But with Wirtz, trading everyone, blacking out the TV, and to kill it all since the strike nobody has cared about hockey in Chicago for years. It's finallly making a small comeback since the Hawks supposedly have a good team this year.

I was talking to a friend and he said the the NHL in general was terribly in troube as americans don't care about hockey- I had to disagree somewhat as I told him living in Chicago we get the worst of the worst when it comes to this sport (for all the reasons listed above).

But seriously I'm asking you--- is hockey a big game in your city- maybe for you it is but does it sell out, get great coverage, is it news where you live???

Enable Comment Auto-Refresher

775 days ago

Score 4

I live in a desert, not in North America or Europe, so... I DON'T think it's that big here.

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JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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Do you follow hockey?

775 days ago

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Sorta. I'm not a HUGE fan, but I follow it...

False ProphetAll-Star

775 days ago

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I live in Minnesota, so yeah. Hockey's pretty damn big here. Wild tickets are selling faster and faster. Gopher Hockey probably gets more non-student fans a game than Basketball, and probably football. High School Hockey is huge in schools that can field a competitive team (the gears kinda expensive, so that hurts the popularity, but c'mon, it's minnesota). I'm guessing that once Hunter signs with another team, the Wild will become the premier pro team in the Twin Cities b/c they have shown us that they will spend money to make sure they field a competitive team.

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False ProphetAll-Star

775 days ago

Score 2

and yes, I follow hockey

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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It plays second fiddle to the Steelers here in Pittsburgh, but the team finally has a waiting list for season tickets, almost all games are sold out, and it gets decent coverage in the media. The Pens to a lot of promotions like doing live broadcasts of Sportsbeat at the mall and bringing some of the to those broadcasts. Recently Talbot and Laraque passed out free pizzas to students waiting in line at noon for student rush tickets for that night. All in all, hockey will never be number one in this city but it still gets it's fair share of fans and coverage.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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Yes, I follow hockey too.

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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When you watch the news-- and sports come on- in Chicago the blackhawks might get mentioned are even a small clip- when I drive to work we get told the score and that's about it- it's sad- Does anyone know how huge hockey still is in places liek Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, Pittsburg (we got), what about Buffalo?

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Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

Score 1

Hockey is absolutely tops in any Canadian city. I think Detroit is still a big hockey town, they always field a Stanley Cup competitor. Buffalo really doesn't have anything else, the Bills suck. It has to be tough to be the Bruins though. They are having a great season, but so are the Sox (did), Pats, and Celtics.

False ProphetAll-Star

775 days ago

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when the news comes on for sports, the first story sunday and monday night is the Vikings, if only because they have more exposure. Immediately following the Vikings is the Wild, who dominate the sports news on a regular weekday night. On the radio, they get a majority of the air time, from 10-12, and from 4:30-7.

CityhockeyfeverVarsity Captain

775 days ago

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I agree with False Prophet on everything he described regarding hockey's place in the Twin Cities. Besides my personal connection to Minnesota, I root for the Wild very seriously as an out-of-town team of mine. Regarding hockey in the New York City metropolitan area, it does take a back seat to baseball and football with a doubt, but it is still very well followed by a large fan bse and covered sufficiently by the media here. The Rangers are the top dog among the three local NHL teams, but each team get their share of coverage especially on MSG and FSN New York. Much of the attention may go to the Devils tomorrow night because Martin Brodeur is gunning for his 500th win and needs no motivation from anybody given the opponent.

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JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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So is it safe to say that in the state hockey will rank always under football, baseball.... what about basketball... And again- are places like New York selling out there games? Toronto I know is still huge- Edmonton is as well- Montreal I'm not so sure about-- does Vancouver still have a team?

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CityhockeyfeverVarsity Captain

775 days ago

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The Rangers regularly sell out their games, any that weren't was during the worst of their playoff drought when there were SOME empty seats, but much less in number than other NHL arenas in a similar situation. The even had a sellout streak that was broken a while back, but entering this season, all 41 regular season home games were sold out.

The Islanders and Devils have had their attendance issues, but still fare well when the big games are played. New Jersey should have tomorrow night's game sold out because it's against the Rangers and that Martin Brodeur is looking for win #500.

And both Montreal and Vancouver fill their buildings to capacity, so it's not an issue for the Habs and Canucks.

False ProphetAll-Star

775 days ago

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football only gets precedent on Sundays and Mondays. When the Wild are in the playoffs, they're the talk of the town. It doesn't matter what else is going on. On the local fox news last night, it went Vikings, Wild, Twins, Gophers Hockey, Gophers Basketball, Gophers Football, and then WOlves. It's safe to say that the NBA will always be backseat in MN

Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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Hockey Rules, nuff said.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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With the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics doing so well, hockey is a solid 4th in Boston. It gets mentioned as an aside on sports radio. It might get a 30 second clip on the news, or just the score. But the Garden still comes close to selling out, especially for teams like Montreal or New York. College hockey remains strong. I've worked BC's home games and most of the games have been sellouts of 7,000+. The people who follow hockey are passionate and dedicated here. The people who aren't passionate don't follow it much at all. In other words, there are no casual fans, which isn't all that bad.

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RowlandNJWaterboy

775 days ago

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I absolutely hate how ESPN buries hockey as far as they can and pretty much pay it no mind - so living in NJ is great because we have 3 local teams that get their share of coverage on regional networks and in the papers. I'll be at The Rock tomorrow night to see Marty hopefully get #500.

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JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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Good point about ESPN- see that's what I mean- living in Chicago where nobody cares,the local media doen't care, and I watch ESPN and they don't care all leads me to believe hockey in general isn't popular anymore. Another silly question- I use to go to Blackhawks game as a student- half price- only $8 to sit in the nosebleeds but after half way thru the 2nd period I could sit whever I wanted- security goes away-- in other words tickets really aren't that expensive here compared to the Bears or even worse Cubs- what's a reasonably prices ticket go for?

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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You can blame the NHL for the lack of coverage on ESPN. ESPN offered a smaller TV deal than Versus, but NHL went for the quick buck and Versus instead of ESPN and long term promotion.

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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Similar student program in pittsburgh goes for $20, and they get the best seats available for that amount.

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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On weekdays the Bruins sell student tickets for $23.50.

Niteowl049AAA-er

775 days ago

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When I lived in Louisiana we had a minor league hockey team that lasted about two years and went to two of the games. Some of the fans started chanting "We want a fight" which showed they were more interested in the fights than the game itself. Here in Knoxville, Tennessee they have the Ice Bears in the Southern Professional Hockey League.

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JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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Wolves get more attention in Chicago than the Blackhawks-

CheezerAll-Star

775 days ago

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What is this 'Hockey' you speak of?

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JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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exactely- I don't see now "niggas" on the ice do you? Mustn't be a sport then

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

775 days ago

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Anson Carter? I can't think of any others.

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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George Laraque, Kevin Weeks, Jonny Oduya, Donald Brashier and six others. There are eleven African-Americans in the NHL.

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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yeah but they don't play- they're the waterboys and towel boys-- basically the "slaves" for the other players

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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Ray Emery. Who is possibly the most ignorant black man alive. The boxer on his goalie mask is the same man who insisted on calling Ali Cascius Clay. To which Ali said "What's my name".

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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Anson Carter is good. Weeks is Broduers Backup and former starter for the Rangers, Ray emery is the starting goalie for Ottowa and he is pretty good. Laraque and Brashier are the reigning heavyweight champs of hockey and Jonny Oduya is a possible all-star.

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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A black dude plays goalie?? I thought only Grant Fuhr did that.... must be a crackhead- that would make sense- Ali should have kicked him in the balls

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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Two, Weeks and Emery, although Emery starts and Weeks doesn't. There were three African-Americans in last nights Pens game.

Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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How can they be African-Americans when Laroque et. al. are Canadians?

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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My guess would be close to 100%, bu that is based on nothing but a guess. Laraque, Brashier, and Emery I know for sure.

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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disregard my last remark, I guess because we live in North America.

Behbigben15All-Star

775 days ago

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The only time I hear about Hockey is when I see it on Sportscenter, it's not big in MD (at least I don't think it is), but my High School does have an Ice Hockey team, but they suck.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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Speaking of High School hockey, the Boston Globe might pay more attention to the Super 8, which is Massachusetts' HS Hockey Championship, than they do the Bruins.

JMFlyer1454Draft Pick

775 days ago

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The Eagles rule all in Philly but the Flyers and Phillies get equal respect. I'd venture that the Sixers get the least coverage of Philly teams. It's probably 1. Eagles, 2. Flyers & Philles, distant 4. Sixers. Philadelphia is usually talked about as a top 5 U.S. city in terms of hockey, with the likes of Detroit, St. Paul, and Buffalo.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

775 days ago

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How is hockey in my city of Hartford? It's gone to Carolina and not too many people seem to care. There are a few folks who want to being hockey back, but it's doomed to fail again. CT is a basketball state. Go Huskies!

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

775 days ago

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Why did the Whalers go down?? No money? Nothin I hate more than these teams in the south kicking ass in hockey and nobody there seems to care

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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The salary cap could allow for a lot of the relocated franchises to return and succeed. Hartford is one of those cities.

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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Who else is gone from original teams?

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

775 days ago

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Winnipeg Jets springs to mind.

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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None of the original six are gone.

Steel TownDraft Pick

775 days ago

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Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Detroit.

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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I'm sorry I didn't mean the original 6 eventhough that's what I wrote- I meant teams that go way way back- like Hartford, Vancouver, Edmonton, Islanders, Minnesota,.....

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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yeah, WAY back to 1980... He meant "the Original 6" WHL teams...

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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ooooo you are a sarcastic son of a bitch aren't you? :)

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

775 days ago

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Actually, the "Original 6" were not the first teams in the NHL. The founding members of the NHL were the Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Wanderers, and a Toronto club (eventually the Maple Leafs).

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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Well I can sleep now......

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

775 days ago

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I live in Birmingham, England, and frankly, there is very little interest. Next to nobody talks about it. Ever. That said, the Elite League is popular (I love the name, it's like MLS in America...). Where teams are located, it is popular. About 25-30 miles away from me, in Coventry, it is popular. Solihull too, again about 15 miles away.

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JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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Don't get pissed at me Alex for asking this but are NHL games on TV in England?

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

775 days ago

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That doesn't make me angry!

Er... Yes. 1 game is shown live on Channel 5 per week. It's on at about 2am though, so ratings aren't exactly sky high for it! Good for the video recorder though. :)

They usually show all of the games in the Stanley Cup, however.

JamelAll-American

775 days ago

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What about the NFL and MLB- how do they decide who gets the coverage?

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Anonymous Fanatic #3

773 days ago

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worst sport ever - mediocre athletes. GARBAGE -roc

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