It seems hard to believe that a market, who annually, sells out all their home games and attracst big ratings on the television has failed to make hockey workout at any level.

This fall, the Laval Rocket will hit the ice as the Montreal Canadiens' newest AHL farm team in the new Place Bell. Unfortunately, we've seen how teams in the area who are not the Canadiens fail into folding or relocation very early in their tenures, but this time I believe it will be different.

In the past Major Junior teams in Montreal and Laval are always doomed with little attendance and attention from local media. The Titans, Junior Canadiens, Juniors and even another team named the Rocket fizzled out. News keeps coming out as well how the Armada, who play out of the North Shore in Boisbriand, face questions about their future despite a relatively new arena and solid attendance. But what they don't or didn't have is the full backing of the Montreal Canadiens.

The parent club can and will pump money and resources into keeping their call-ups a quick metro ride away instead of hours away in Hamilton in St. John's. They will not want people seeing that this near by system work can work in Toronto, but flop here like it currently in in San Jose. Plus the Place Bell would become the most costly beer league arena out there if this does not work out.

To ensure that this will work at the gates they need to look no further than the Marlies on how to get big market fans to minor league games. In the beginning, MLSE were charging NHL prices to go to AHL games thinking that people who couldn't see the big club would pay anything for hockey (they failed to realize that Major Junior hockey in the GTA has been a flop too).

As well, they need to have their prospects spend time there, so people can see the future and invest in it. If there are only plugs, washed up players and guys who just aren't good enough then people won't care. Not drafting NCAA guys all the time and not rushing top prospects gives the local market a first hand look at seeing their team's future stars grow.

Develop a winning culture. Sounds tough the way it is now, but turning this ship will bring people to the gates in Laval and create optimism that the future of the big club will also be bright. If you have a losing culture for young guys coming up then it will stick with them when or if they ever make it.

Like the prospects themselves, only time will tell if the Rocket will be successful. Though not neglecting the AHL team will go a long way in making sure that this will be the forever home of the Montreal Canadiens' farm team.

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