#1 Hockey Country

[newfy 695]

That's bull, and you know it. If Canada closed its doors to hockey, it would still go on in the USA and be watched. The NHL would do fine without the Canadian teams. Hockey is important to Canada, but Canada isn't as important to hockey as the USA is.

No its not bull. Without Canada there would be no game known as hockey period. This alone makes Canada more important to hockey. Culture-wise and just plain being fans and love for the game, the States isn't even remotely close to Canada. So keep dreaming but hockey will never be the state's game.

Too bad you weren't born in Canada then you could really call it your game.

[joshy207 156]

Virtually nobody cares about hockey in the US.

[Jake Ryan 1]

No its not bull. Without Canada there would be no game known as hockey period. This alone makes Canada more important to hockey. Culture-wise and just plain being fans and love for the game, the States isn't even remotely close to Canada. So keep dreaming but hockey will never be the state's game.

Too bad you weren't born in Canada then you could really call it your game.

Canadian teams stink right now. Hockey is fading faster in Canada than the ice at the poles.

[joshy207 156]

Canadian teams stink right now. Hockey is fading faster in Canada than the ice at the poles.

I'll have what you're smoking... Even if hockey were fading in Canada, it's still far, far, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR more popular than in the US. Have you even been to either country? And if so, what areas?

[Third Man In 2,091]

It's Canada now, but it will be England in the future. They've been playing underwater hockey for over 50 years. After global warming makes the frozen variety unfeasible, they'll own the sport.

[Doggy 130]

This thread needs to be locked.

[thedisappearer 291]

If Canada had close to half the teams in the NHL, then I'd give it to Canada as well. But the fact that hockey would starve if the USA didn't back it makes the USA my number 1 choice.

What you are missing is that HOCKEY wouldn't starve, the NHL would. And 98% of all Canadians would find some other way to get their hockey fix, primarily through local play (which most Americans don't have...), while 98% of Americans would forget the sport existed. We may fund the NHL, but the sport ain't our.

[newfy 695]

What you are missing is that HOCKEY wouldn't starve, the NHL would. And 98% of all Canadians would find some other way to get their hockey fix, primarily through local play (which most Americans don't have...), while 98% of Americans would forget the sport existed. We may fund the NHL, but the sport ain't our.

Exactly. Canadians would still go out and watch their local Jr. C teams, B teams and make the journey to watch Jr A teams. How many people down in Florida (2 NHL teams) could honestly say that hockey would get watched their if the NHL was removed. Canada however would be watching hockey all teh time regardless of the NHL.

[TheBigRedMachine 2]

I remember during the lockout, Canadians were just drifting from place to place, virtually zombies in their frozen homeland, searching in vain for hockey. Alas, without Jake Ryan's (US)NHL, Canadians were to abandon all hope of finding great hockey to watch...... oh wait, that wasn't the case at all - because hockey is everywhere in Canada. My local OHL London Knights always draw a nice crowd, my hometown Chatham (Pop. 44000) Maroons always play to a decent crown and that's Ontario's Western Junior 'B' hockey... There is also the London Nationals here in the Forest City as well. The lockout proved that whether there is NHL or not, Canada has an unquenchable thirst for their homegrown sport. Everyday, as a typical Canuck, I go into work and talk to co-workers about every NHL game to night before...not just the games our teams played in, we then talk OHL, then Western Junior B.....everyday.....

[Third Man In 2,091]

This thread needs to be locked.

Oh c'mon. It's just getting good.

[newfy 695]

I remember during the lockout, Canadians were just drifting from place to place, virtually zombies in their frozen homeland, searching in vain for hockey. Alas, without Jake Ryan's (US)NHL, Canadians were to abandon all hope of finding great hockey to watch...... oh wait, that wasn't the case at all - because hockey is everywhere in Canada. My local OHL London Knights always draw a nice crowd, my hometown Chatham (Pop. 44000) Maroons always play to a decent crown and that's Ontario's Western Junior 'B' hockey... There is also the London Nationals here in the Forest City as well. The lockout proved that whether there is NHL or not, Canada has an unquenchable thirst for their homegrown sport. Everyday, as a typical Canuck, I go into work and talk to co-workers about every NHL game to night before...not just the games our teams played in, we then talk OHL, then Western Junior B.....everyday.....

I can vouch for him here seeing as our hometowns are literally 20 minutes away. I live in Wallaceburg and play hockey in Chatham all the time. Our local Jr. C team regularly plays to almost full capacity and if you knew Walaceburg you would see this as a big deal. Its probably one of the poorest towns in Ontario.

[Tane 17]

Why Germany and Switzerland but not Norway??? Eh, there's too many reasons why this is retarded. Another is Ottawa being cut for some reason in favour of Halifax, London, Hamilton and Quebec. I dunno, seems silly to go on dignifying this...

Germany And Swiss I've found, for the last 20 years have been relevant in International History. Why Not Norway? Because I was unaware of the Popularity of Norweigian Hockey. I've never been To Norway. I don't know anybody From Norway. For all I know, Norway could be Hockey Crazed, and Deserve a Team in My Fictional Global Hockey League.

Why Did Ottawa Get Cut? Because I Mis-counted. Out with London, Back in with Ottawa.

This was Kind of a Spur of the Moment idea.

Why 12 teams in Canada?

Because We're Starting with a League that's already Based Partly in Canada. Because We're eliminating the US, and the only other options on this side of the pond is Mexico and under. You could put an NHL team anywhere in Canada, Charge whatever you wabnt for tickets, and they'd sell out. If this league was popular Globally, It would be Huge Profits for Everyone.

You'd have to go 12 and 12, or 15 and 15. I wouldn't expect teams to have to Travel Back and Forth From North America to Europe For Regular Season Games. Only the Stanley Cup Championship. That's why Canada gets 12.

I dont' know a Ton about Euro Hockey. I see teams During the World Juniors, the Olympics and sometimes I'll watch a World Championship. That's it. If there's someone from Europe that REally cares that Much about this little Fantasy league, and could Restructure the 12 Euro Teams, Go ahead. You'll Notice I didn't name Cities. I don't know that Much about Europe to give out 3-4-5 Different Russian Cities. I don't even know If Hockey Is Huge All the Way Across Russia, the way it is in Canada, or Just certain Pockets of Russia.

The Whole Point of this was To counter the statement that Without the US, Hockey/NHL Would Crumble and Die. I think if you reworked the NHL to something like this, It would be Huge globally. If I were To Make a Truely Global League, US included, IT would Look Like this.

Gretzky Division

Calgary

Edmonton

Toronto

Montreal

Vancouver

Ottawa

Charlie Conway Division

Minnesota

Detroit

Boston

New York (Rangers)

Chicago

Philadelphia

Either Way, I'm gonna Start the Global League On yahoo, when Mid season Registration Starts. I'll have the North American League Probably with Canadian and US Divisions. And I'll HAve the Euro League, and if anybody here wants in, If you're European, or just have a Much Better Knowledge of Europe, they Could Restructure the Euro conference.