Unlike Buffalo it has a ton of young professionals who can attach themselves to a team and be fans for life.
- hubie

DUDE-

this is hockey heaven...

And that is in a nutshell why USA Hockey will catch up and surpass Hockey Canada in 20-30 years. That is happening in a lot of areas around the country.
- Gunner Staal

Correct, I beleive that Hockey Canada is at its peak its ceiling if you would. USA has tons of places it can improve on. Hockey is now a viable option for kids in non traditional hockey areas. We are now seeing the first wave of Cali kids which people will see and kids who may have played soccer or basketball now will try hockey.

Its like any other city has its good parts and bad parts. Unlike Buffalo it has a ton of young professionals who can attach themselves to a team and be fans for life. Hockey is on the rise in Mid to South Ohio. 10 years ago J-Crew U (Miami @ Oxford) wasn't anything special and now they are huge. Colleges are now starting hockey programs that are growing.
- hubie

I stayed a 2 nights in Columbus when i was traveling to NY from Nashville (and back)... I liked the area that the Arena was in.

DUDE-

this is hockey heaven...
- battelmt

its more of a jab of young people move away and most dont come back and whats left is an aging population who dont go to games

Until Darcy trades away our number 1 pick in a desperation move to save his job.......
- billyk

Not worried about that...with his job status the way it is....for him to expense a coke should take 6 signatures at this point - let alone make a material trade...

DUDE-

this is hockey heaven...
- battelmt

Just wait till contracts start being boughht out and all the UFA talent out there will command HUGE dollars. Demand will be way higher than the supply. It will make VL contract look awesome
- RynoBull

Reality is sad

Correct, I beleive that Hockey Canada is at its peak its ceiling if you would. USA has tons of places it can improve on. Hockey is now a viable option for kids in non traditional hockey areas. We are now seeing the first wave of Cali kids which people will see and kids who may have played soccer or basketball now will try hockey.
- hubie

Gary Bettman's unpopular southern expansion will ultimately be what propels the US program to its highest levels. The stats I gathered on participation based on specific US regions was staggering since 1991 southern expansion.

I love seeing douchbags act tough from their seats behind 1" of Plexi.
- RynoBull

i'd like to think he was directing that as hard at south buffalo as he was to #88.

Gary Bettman's unpopular southern expansion will ultimately be what propels the US program to its highest levels. The stats I gathered on participation based on specific US regions was staggering since 1991 southern expansion.
- Gunner Staal

tampa does not support any of their teams
neither does miami, cept the heat

the canes and preds are doing fine, mostly due to the hard work from people within the organization

dallas has dropped off over the last few years

atlanta, nuff said

I do find more hockey when I head into bars then I did 5 years ago, but that is because of the casual fan here and there. And all of them are transplants, like myself

I would not have been disappointed if Grigorenko stayed in Quebec. In this shortened season, it would be a lot of pressure on a young guy who has not played in the league before the season began. His agent probably will not be too concerned. He is 18 and continuing to grow. He has been working on his skating to pick up his speed. Once conditioning improves, his game should too. I am not worried. Tyler Seguin and Steven Stamkos had played sparingly in their first years and they took big steps the following year. Rolston has done great with developing talent and if all goes well, Grigorenko should make strides. Now if only Tyler Myers had stuck to a conditioning routine, this team would not be such a mess.

I would not have been disappointed if Grigorenko stayed in Quebec. In this shortened season, it would be a lot of pressure on a young guy who has not played in the league before the season began..
- Blueliner17

If they were going to roll 3 lines, with him as the third line center, it made sense

given the cluster(frank) that it has become, it is a colossal mistake

Gary Bettman's unpopular southern expansion will ultimately be what propels the US program to its highest levels. The stats I gathered on participation based on specific US regions was staggering since 1991 southern expansion.
- Gunner Staal

i just sold goalie equipment on ebay and shipped it to hawaii...

Gary Bettman's unpopular southern expansion will ultimately be what propels the US program to its highest levels. The stats I gathered on participation based on specific US regions was staggering since 1991 southern expansion.
- Gunner Staal

Id beleive it. I think Gary knew that it would catch on with youth but didnt think it wouldnt as much with the young professional-professional age.

tampa does not support any of their teams
neither does miami, cept the heat

the canes and preds are doing fine, mostly due to the hard work from people within the organization

dallas has dropped off over the last few years

atlanta, nuff said

I do find more hockey when I head into bars then I did 5 years ago, but that is because of the casual fan here and there. And all of them are transplants, like myself
- homiedclown

I'm only talking about participation numbers in USA Hockey. The fact that those markets have NHL hockey has spawned a huge growth in the number of kids playing.

Each year the USA World Jr roster has some more interesting non classic hockey markets represented.

i just sold goalie equipment on ebay and shipped it to hawaii...
- battelmt

I bet the shipping cost more than the equipment

tampa does not support any of their teams
neither does miami, cept the heat

the canes and preds are doing fine, mostly due to the hard work from people within the organization

dallas has dropped off over the last few years

atlanta, nuff said

I do find more hockey when I head into bars then I did 5 years ago, but that is because of the casual fan here and there. And all of them are transplants, like myself
- homiedclown

I think he was talking more about kids playing hockey, then people watching the NHL.

You can unload at any time, be it at the trade deadline or in the offseason. The point is to get something, anything, for some of these guys. Unless Darcy turns into some sort of bumhole looking to sabotage the operation, as long as he's only unloading deadweight, he can't really hurt much of anything else anymore. The damage has already been done.
- buffalofan19

Yeah your probably right. I'm getting the feeling though, that outside of who to draft, Darcy is being told what to do. We know he was told to fire Ruff. And if he has any plan to make a big roster move, you know he has to clear that with Terry.

I think he was talking more about kids playing hockey, then people watching the NHL.
- Chipd

Ive never lived their but know a few who have id bet now kids play street hockey where 15 years ago didnt happen.

I'm only talking about participation numbers in USA Hockey. The fact that those markets have NHL hockey has spawned a huge growth in the number of kids playing.

Each year the USA World Jr roster has some more interesting non classic hockey markets represented.
- Gunner Staal

I bet Connor Murphy and sean kurley arent on the jrs team without the jackets

I'm only talking about participation numbers in USA Hockey. The fact that those markets have NHL hockey has spawned a huge growth in the number of kids playing.

Each year the USA World Jr roster has some more interesting non classic hockey markets represented.
- Gunner Staal

Hell eayh Gunner. I volunteer for USA hockey, and have been a memeber for like 21 years now. USA hockey is a beautiful thing.


On a side note, Ron Rolston better never let Garth knows where he lives because Garth is real unhappy with the way he talks about his man crush, Grigorenko.

I'm only talking about participation numbers in USA Hockey. The fact that those markets have NHL hockey has spawned a huge growth in the number of kids playing.

Each year the USA World Jr roster has some more interesting non classic hockey markets represented.
- Gunner Staal

There has been a ton of growth in that area

When Atlanta moved, youth hockey was up an insane amount
it's strong in dallas as well

it's odd that it has never translated into higher nhl numbers down here

you can get a ticket for a bolt game for $5
$10 for a playoff ticket

I think he was talking more about kids playing hockey, then people watching the NHL.
- Chipd

yeah

I need to read (reed) more and post less

Hell eayh Gunner. I volunteer for USA hockey, and have been a memeber for like 21 years now. USA hockey is a beautiful thing.


On a side note, Ron Rolston better never let Garth knows where he lives because Garth is real unhappy with the way he talks about his man crush, Grigorenko.
- Morskdog89

I havent been involved with USA Hockey in about 7 years since my focus has been at the high school level but USA Hockey is a tremendous organization. The same principals and philosophies taught to coaches in Buffalo are also taught in Miami, FL. They do a great job of streamlining their information/training.

The USA National Development Team is a great way to train our nation's best young players.

Anybody want to see Ruff as our newly appointed general manager in the summer? (i'm partially joking)