Ice Hockey [NHL & Elite League]

[Michel Sibble]

The game off ice hockey is ok, but I've noone to support. Any ideas? I think I will pick a Canadian team, but which one?

I'd recommend the Toronto Maple Leafs - great tradition and history

 :smt043

For a Canadian team that DOESN'T suck, try Montréal

[Eckybloke]

I know nothing about ice hockey but have a friend who lives in Edmonton now.

Go Oilers!

[UK Redsox]

I know nothing about ice hockey but have a friend who lives in Edmonton now.

Go Oilers!

Where they drive Zambonis whilst drunk

[Tucson Villain]

Coyotes are over .500 !!!

Great victory over a very good Sharks team last night.
We are a pretty good team this year with the pick up of Olli Jokinen and with Ilya Bryzgalov between the pipes most nights we have a chance of the playoffs this year.

[pmarachi]

UK Redsox - would you give hockey much of a future in the States?  Attendances at the games are dwindling, TV audiences are dreadful.........

I barely watched any games during the regualar season, last year -  and for the first time since I've been here I didn't even watch the Stanley Cup.

For me its a sport that you either have to watch in the arena or just catch the highlights. Trying to follow the puck on TV for a whole game does my head in.

I played hockey my whole life. Since 5 years old, All through High School, and still play in  mens league now.

I NEVER watch it on TV.

I have a team in my town, and I don't even got to watch.

I think there are more than enough people that follow the 85 game season.

I am just not one of them...

I think the problem is that it is also Football season/ Basketball season right now, and in the spring as Hockey is ending, it is Baseball season.

It also hasn't been on regular TV since the strike.

There are just too many sports on over here for me to get into another one.

[pmarachi]

The game off ice hockey is ok, but I've noone to support. Any ideas? I think I will pick a Canadian team, but which one?

HARTFORD WHALERS!!!!!

[Comrade Blitz]

The NHL needs to stop chasing the TV money and TV markets and accept that it has a small hardcore fan base. They missed a golden opportunity to improve the game by not making the ice surfaces international size with all of the brand new arenas they now have. The players are now too big for the small 200 X 85.

Get rid of the gimmicks (4 on 4 OT, shootouts) and lose the following teams and let them play in the CHL or the ECHL.

Carolina
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Florida
Washington
Columbus
Nashville
Colorado
San Jose
Anaheim
Phoenix
LA
Dallas

[Jon Crofts]

I went to 1 game back in Jan 2007, Washington Capitals v Florida Panthers.
It had everything in it, a good fist fight in the first 5 minutes (and several later on) a shootout and OT.

I couldn't believe the seat prices mind, they were season tickets, held by a friends law firm, incredible per match price in excess of $250 a game!

The plus side was beer & good food in your seat and the fact 2 Brits attracted a lot of attention as we seemed to be the only ones egging on the fighters in punch ups!

It's not an event I'd go to again, just a tick in the box kind of thing NHL, done.

[Tucson Villain]

The NHL needs to stop chasing the TV money and TV markets and accept that it has a small hardcore fan base. They missed a golden opportunity to improve the game by not making the ice surfaces international size with all of the brand new arenas they now have. The players are now too big for the small 200 X 85.

Get rid of the gimmicks (4 on 4 OT, shootouts) and lose the following teams and let them play in the CHL or the ECHL.

Carolina
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Florida
Washington
Columbus
Nashville
Colorado
San Jose
Anaheim
Phoenix
LA
Dallas

Whilst I will agree that some of those cities might not be the best for hockey(including my own team the Coyotes) I will tell you as a former season ticket holder that San Jose is a great hockey city.
It is the only game in town and the team has always been very well supported even through a lot of lean years and everything else that the Bay Area has to offer.

[pmarachi]

The NHL needs to stop chasing the TV money and TV markets and accept that it has a small hardcore fan base. They missed a golden opportunity to improve the game by not making the ice surfaces international size with all of the brand new arenas they now have. The players are now too big for the small 200 X 85.

Get rid of the gimmicks (4 on 4 OT, shootouts) and lose the following teams and let them play in the CHL or the ECHL.

Carolina
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Florida
Washington
Columbus
Nashville
Colorado
San Jose
Anaheim
Phoenix
LA
Dallas

What the.........

Columbus?!?!?!

As in Columbus OHIO!?!?!?!

They have a TEAM!?!?!?!




Nashville?!?!?!?! REALLY?? They have a team too!?!?!




Somewhere, the Hartford Whalers mascot is rolling in his grave.

[Comrade Blitz]

Glad to see the Flyers have finally caught up to the Penguins.

Not glad to see that the Penguins were given 11 power plays vs the Islanders last night.......

Same old NHL.....

[Mortimer's Bear]

This has probably been covered in the past here in off topics but I'm going to the ice hockey in coventry tonight to watch cov v belfast and I just wondered who else is going or has been before, and peoples thoughts of it? Is it any good?

 I've never been before but I'm hoping to see a few rucks!

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Been there myself on a freebie last year and it was excellent. Well, the kids loved it and the bar was open....

[pmarachi]

is Ice Hockey big in England? I play and have played for my whole life, but it is not that big here, or at least not as big as it used to be.

And what is with this thing I saw online? This Roller Hockey? With grown men in rollerskates?

I have heard that it's big in spain, italy and portugal...

What the hell is that?

[PaulTheVillan]

Have fun.