Quote:
Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin
I never said that the Olympics was the only way to grow the game in the US. Obviously the grassroots programs do help.
I lived in California for 4 years, and I was there during the Vancouver Olympics. I have a number of American friends and colleagues who have followed the NHL more closely since those Olympics.
|
Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin View Post
Keep NHL players in the Olympics and continue to have the World Championships. This grows the game all over the world, especially in the USA.
Yes you did.
The majority of people watching the Olympic hockey are already hockey fans, and it will attract some adults to the game. The kids that need to be attracted to the game, and playing the game, are the kids in the grass roots programs. Kids like Emerson Etem, Seth Jones and others from non-traditional hockey markets got into the game through these programs. The traditional US hotbeds, Michigan/Minnesota/New England/Wisconsin have had hockey programs going back 30-40 years because of the NHL viewership and sponsor programs. People want to credit the Miracle on Ice team but ask the question, whey did those kids start playing hockey?