Olympic hockey gold for team USA good for NHL?
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
February 21, 2010 11:29am CST
Don't you think that it'll be ultimately good for the NHL if the US team won it all the way in this winter Olympics? Specially with the young talents that they have on the team right now? Brian Burke keeps saying that they are the underdog team, but wouldn't it catch the country's fascination if they won gold?
Just like in soccer. When the US team helped the sport by going far in the world cup. I think it helped promote the MLS.
Would a win help the NHL too? What do you think?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
21 Feb 10
No I don't . Hockey will never truly catch on here in The States.It is like a step child in a bad family, It only gets attention when it does something wrong. Many Still think hockey is fighting on ice Only! This Olympic hockey isn't like the miracle on ice.It isn't political. It isn't pros Vs amateurs.Most are in the NHL. Hell I know more Russian Olympians than American ones because they play in the NHL.This is Canada's Must win event. If we Americans win , it will get some press but it won't make many people turn in to the NHL. Many couldn't find NHL on t.v. even if they Wanted to watch!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
22 Feb 10
...like a step child in a bad family...
That line above reminded me about a discussion I heard about Boston sports. They say that the Bruins are like the step child among a brood. The red sox is the favorite, the patriots is second in line, and then the celtics is the once favorite, but is now getting into favor again. Bruins who?
Thanks Sarah.
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@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
21 Feb 10
It would be something should that happen. Maybe people might pay a little more attention for a little while. I'm just not sure that hockey will ever truly be considered an "all American" sport, the players come from so many different countries that I think people tend to view it as more of an international sport, like soccer. With baseball and football and basketball people tend to idolize the games based on the players they fall in love with, for those fans it is as much about the players and the media coverage those players entertain.
It seems that for us all out hockey fans it is truly about the hockey. I know we all have our favorite players and teams, but let's face it, we will watch any hockey game we come across, it doesn't matter who is playing, we will watch the game..and some of us really love the games we have no bias in. We don't care if it's peewee hockey or the NHL, we only care it's hockey.
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@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
22 Feb 10
So true J. I even found myself rooting for the underdog countries when I watched the Olympics. Of course there are the few who already play for the NHL, but the interesting ones are the unknowns which make this Olympics the highligth of their careers.
I cheered for Dmitra when he scored the shootouot winner for Slovakia, Although I so wanted for Ovie to do something sensational in the game.
(Not that he's a canuck or something...)
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
22 Feb 10
So far today I've watched the Russians and the Americans win and I am going to stay up to hopefully see team Sweden beat Finland..mainly just so I can see the mule skate again, it's been too long..I'll get to see a bunch of my wings in this one, but I would watch it without them.
@van_city10 (89)
• Canada
21 Feb 10
I really dont think there's much more hope for hockey in the US to get any more popular. I live in Canada, but have a lot of friends in the US, and most of them dont even realize that the US has a team in the Olympics. Maybe theyre all a little slow, but maybe they just will never care about hockey. Plus, I really hate some of the American players...ie, Patrick Kane, and Jack Johnson. I cant wait for the game today!
@canesfan1964 (544)
• United States
21 Feb 10
I agree with you. It would be so great for the USA to win. I am wearing my USA Hockey tshirt today. Hoping it will give them luck. I am also interested in watching the Russians play today. Be interesting to see if Ovie will help them win.
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