Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach
Really? Hockey in Florida is cultural appropriation? Reeeeallly?
Players coming from California, Arizona and Texas are proof that hockey can spread. Florida has only had a successful hockey franchise for the last decade or so. It stands to reason that we probably don't start seeing young players out of Florida in any significant way for the next 5-10 years as young fans become athletes. But it will happen. The popularity of the team (and hockey overall) has changed substantially since 2004. Kids will see the excitement of the game and some will want to play. Some will end up being good.
I don't know why we get so defensive about it. Having our game become popular in unexpected new places is a good thing.
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Case in point:
Shayne Gostisbehere (Pembroke Pines-basically Fort Lauderdale), Quinn and Jack Hughes (Orlando) and Jakob Chychrun (Boca Raton) are all Florida born players, not to mention Garnet Hathaway (Naples). They were all born in the 90's after teams had been in the area for a few years. It's not hard to make the connection. The most successful Florida-born player before that was Dan Hinote born in 1977.
It's taken some time to produce NHL talent, but I know lots of kids who are now playing in youth hockey programs here. I don't expect it to resemble Canadian culture anytime soon, but to say that hockey cannot grow here and quality players cannot be produced here is just bull####...and honestly, defensive and wishful thinking on the part of Canadians.
The rest of the world is catching up to Canada, and with it being an almost singular piece of Canadian identity, many are becoming emotional and irrational about it.