Will they still follow hockey once the Olympics are over, though?
Everyone gets excited for the various sports when medals and country pride are on the line. I love watching Curling during the Olympics. I've stayed up to watch every single Canadian game, men and women. But after the Olympics are over, I can't say I'll tune in to another Curling match -- until 2018.
So I'm not sure the popularity of hockey at the Olympics will actually translate to more hockey fans (at least not a significant amount) afterwards.
I will continue to post in this thread whether people like me or not, but having the NHL not send proud Olympians to the Olympics is bs. Bettman get off your high horse. The majority of these players dream to play in the olympics. Its none sense if you think otherwise and disgraceful
This is a new "dream" if its a dream at all. The Olympics was always lumped in with international play, which was huge to the Euro's but not so much to the NA born players.
NA born players always dreamed of the Stanley Cup. I would imagine that is still the case.
It wasn't until what, 1998? that the NHL agreed to the olympics in the first place.
I know a lot of people who love watching the world cup. NONE of them watch MLS. soccer has always been huge in the US at the youth level.
What has this Olympic experience been like for you so far?
"The support has been overwhelming from back home. I don't think you realize how many people actually watch and tune in and are tuning in for every game. That really doesn't become evident until you get to a spot where you can have some WiFi and check your messages, but it's amazing. I think it's great for hockey. It's great for the game. It's great for the players to do this. We're having a blast. I think it's something that has to be in the game for a long time. You can see that, just how good it is for hockey in general with how many people tune in. It seems like in the Winter Olympics there is something special about ice hockey, whether it's the buildup to the tournament or as the tournament goes on you have some great matchups. I mean, how many people woke up and how many bars were open back home just for that Russia game at like 6 or 7 a.m.? It's pretty crazy. All the players want to be a part of this. I think the NHL probably knows that too. It's good for the game. The NHL knows that. The players know that. We enjoy it. We have fun with it. Once you're here and everything is settled, it's just a blast."
Well good for them, still doesn't change the fact that hardly anybody watches the NHL. Not even in North America.
You just said in a prior post that 12% of Canada's population (your stats) watched the Stanley Cup Finals. Where do you live?
For the biggest games of THE national sport, this is actually pretty underwhelming.
If by "NA players", you're referring to Canadians, then you might be right. But after 1980, I would bet that most American born players dreamed of being Mike Eurizone and scoring that game winning goal or Jim Craig making all those unbelievable saves in the Olympics and taking home that gold medal.
1980 did more to grow the game in the USA than anything else.
Actually, Lacrosse is the national sport in Canada.
Is that so? Well then, I stand corrected. I was always told that hockey is above everything else.
For the biggest games of THE national sport, this is actually pretty underwhelming.
Hmmm yeah that was big for you guys. I suppose for hockey in general in the USA. To me though the olympics were always a celebration of amateur sport until the NBA and NHL got into it. The Miracle on Ice to me was always lumped in with the international stuff, as only a handful of those guys made successful NHL careers out of that event.
Having said that, I was two years old in 1980 and yes do live in Canada, so Im sure your memories of the event would be far different than my own.
Canada's version of the 1980 team was the 72 Summit Series. I think both series had the same effect on the respective nations due to the Cold War. Us against Them. Freedom vs Commies.
You just said in a prior post that 12% of Canada's population (your stats) watched the Stanley Cup Finals. Where do you live?
Is that so? Well then, I stand corrected. I was always told that hockey is above everything else.
If I have time, I'll try and dig up the stats...but the numbers of youth hockey players in the States skyrocketed after USA took gold in 1980. What you're seeing on the ice representing the Americans in Sochi is a byproduct of that.
Actually, Lacrosse is the national sport in Canada.
Wrong. It's one of the national sports. It's the national summer sport. Hockey is the national winter sport.
Wrong. It's one of the national sports. It's the national summer sport. Hockey is the national winter sport.
Can someone explain to me why the NHL won't let its players participate in future Olympics. I don't feel like digging up for the answer as I am at work