Is it time for a new formula for Hockey Day in Canada?

[Buck Aki Berg]

This weekend will be the 15th edition of Hockey Day in Canada, but I'm wondering if it's time for the current format to be retired. It seems as though it's always the same thing - Toronto plays Montreal in primetime, Vancouver plays an Alberta team for the nightcap, the other Alberta team plays Ottawa in the afternoon, and Winnipeg gets the short straw and plays an American team.

Suppose, instead of all-Canadian matchups (plus one American team, at least until Quebec returns...), every Canadian team hosted a game, with the start times staggered throughout the day (I just sort of picked opponents at semi-random, just to give an illustration):

1:00: Pittsburgh @ Ottawa / Minnesota @ Winnipeg
4:00: Boston @ Montreal / San Jose @ Calgary
7:00: Detroit @ Toronto / Colorado @ Edmonton
10:00: Los Angeles @ Vancouver

Would there be an appetite for this sort of thing? Are there enough broadcast crews to go around? Is there anything I haven't thought of?

Click to read more...

 

[Anglesmith]

Nah, I like the all-Canadian matchups. In this case, it is my cup of tea.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Swervin81]

Why push a game between 2 mountain time teams two hours forward? Besides, Colorado/Edmonton is the furthest thing from a prime time matchup.

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Why are you presupposing that it "ain't broke"?

It clearly favours certain matchups and certain times, with other teams getting the leftovers, both in terms of opponent and time. Ottawa is always stuck playing in the afternoon, one of the Alberta teams is always stuck playing an out-of-conference opponent (Ottawa) and at an unfavourable time, and Winnipeg gets the American team. Meanwhile Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are guaranteed a primo opponent in local prime time.

Seems pretty broken to me...

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

Why push a game between 2 mountain time teams two hours forward? Besides, Colorado/Edmonton is the furthest thing from a prime time matchup.

The idea was to "split the network", so there are western and eastern games going simultaneously (except for the late game).

As for Colorado/Edmonton not being a primetime matchup, it was just an example. Besides, was Edmonton/Toronto last weekend primetime worthy?

 

[Dolemite]

The all Canadian match ups are awesome! It's a celebration.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

Way it is

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

The all Canadian match ups are awesome! It's a celebration.

Way it is

Nah, I like the all-Canadian matchups. In this case, it is my cup of tea.

Fair enough, I seem to be outvoted on this one. Still, it'd be nice if they changed up the matchups a bit more than they do and rotated them in and out of primetime.

 

[Prairie Habs]

I think you are complaining about nothing here. Its also weird that you note start times as one of your issues then want a Western conference team to start a game at noon local.

If there was a change I would have

Habs vs Leafs
Oilers vs Flames
Jets vs Nucks
Sens vs whoever

two classic rivalries, two WC Canadian teams who are similar in quality and could have a rivalry, and the other Canadian team no one cares about playing a game no one will watch.

 

[GoalDeny]

I'd keep it the way it is right now, and I would think the way it's structured allows for higher ratings for Rogers (ie. 2 Canadian teams playing each other = more likely a casual fan would watch). One thing I would alter though would be to switch out one of the 7 et broadcasts so we could have four games back to back. Sort of like what was in the OP, but:

1 pm: Edmonton vs. Ottawa
4 pm: Winnipeg vs. Detroit
7 pm: Montreal vs. Toronto
10 pm: Vancouver vs. Calgary

 

[Dave is a killer]

My second favorite day on the schedule ... I love the idea of the Winter Classic ... even though they crapped the bed by doing the "Stadium Series" with the same teams over and over ... If they'd go back to a Winter Classic and the Heritage Classic ... it'd be so much better

 

[Anglesmith]

Why are you presupposing that it "ain't broke"?

It clearly favours certain matchups and certain times, with other teams getting the leftovers, both in terms of opponent and time. Ottawa is always stuck playing in the afternoon, one of the Alberta teams is always stuck playing an out-of-conference opponent (Ottawa) and at an unfavourable time, and Winnipeg gets the American team. Meanwhile Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are guaranteed a primo opponent in local prime time.

Seems pretty broken to me...

Well, to be fair HDIC is always on a Saturday when the game time doesn't matter so much. On weekends, I'm much more likely to watch a non-Flames game that is an early afternoon or morning start than I am to watch the standard 7pm ET games. I'm usually lazy on weekends and only really start doing stuff in the later afternoon.

And with the way ratings work, I think that no matter what time you put the Toronto and Montreal games at, they are always going to be viewed the most just due to the size of the respective fanbases.

 

[Pilky01]

Ottawa (and Montreal) play home games in the afternoon all the time. Particularly in winter. I don't understand what there is to complain about.

To be honest, I would love if the Leafs started playing more (or actually just some) afternoon games. I hate that a Leaf game has to monopolize your evening (not that I have planned my evening around a Leafs game in several years anyway, but that is besides the point).

 

[Lacaar]

It's awesome.. Great excuse to start drinking early. Before noon for the east!

Keep it Canada vs Canada where possible.

 

[Esq]

Do people really watch all 4 games? (I'm American.)

 

[Anglesmith]

Do people really watch all 4 games? (I'm American.)

There are bound to be many who do. But I think mainly the idea is to make sure that every Canadian team gets a bit of the spotlight during the day, and then there are things on TV which can be pretty neat too regarding the host town. No matter which team you cheer for in Canada, you know you're going to be featured on Hockey Day.

 

[Swervin81]

The idea was to "split the network", so there are western and eastern games going simultaneously (except for the late game).

As for Colorado/Edmonton not being a primetime matchup, it was just an example. Besides, was Edmonton/Toronto last weekend primetime worthy?

Tank Night in Canada!

 

[PanthersPens62]

As a US viewer that gets to see part of it on NHLN US, I like the way it is now. Though I am curious to see how Sportsnet will treat it (features & quality wise) as compared to CBC. NHLN US is carrying it from 12-2PM and then the Habs/Leafs game at 6:30.

 

[AtNightWeFly]

Isn't every day a hockey day in Canada?!? They should change that name

 

[KCC]

Nah. Canadian match ups are awesome. It's just that not every team is very good right now, so the matchups seem "dull".

 

[Pilky01]

As a US viewer that gets to see part of it on NHLN US, I like the way it is now. Though I am curious to see how Sportsnet will treat it (features & quality wise) as compared to CBC. NHLN US is carrying it from 12-2PM and then the Habs/Leafs game at 6:30.

It will be very interesting indeed. All of the promos I have seen so far feature Ron McLean...nothing with George Strombolopolous. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come.

I mean, Rogers spent 5 billion dollars on this league....surely they have the right to tell GB to stuff it and bring back Ron McLean.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Ottawa not playing in the afternoon would be nice

We suck in afternoon games

Yes we suck in general but even moreso in those

 

[Claimed Off Waivers]

My second favorite day on the schedule ... I love the idea of the Winter Classic ... even though they crapped the bed by doing the "Stadium Series" with the same teams over and over ... If they'd go back to a Winter Classic and the Heritage Classic ... it'd be so much better

The bolded should be played on Hockey Day in Canada

 

[sharks9]

No I like the all-Canadian matchups, it's something different than every other Saurday