Comments on: Patrik Elias will miss games in Canadian cities

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:12:15 +0000

cshearing: Yes, there is a difference in population sizes between the two countries, but that’s deceptive. If you compare Canada’s population with the combined populations of the New England and upper Mid West states where the overwhelming majority of US hockey players still come from, they are roughly the same.

My point is not disingenuous at all. I have read a number of perceptive articles by hockey and non-hockey writers that has looked at the growing population of immigrants in Canadian urban areas and how they are changing what it means to be Canadian. More and more these people are interested in, for example, soccer and not ice hockey. I have also read articles that suggest that the degree to which the average Canadian follows hockey is overemphasized and many Canadians just do not follow the sport that closely. My wife and daughter are reflective of that.

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:56:18 +0000

cmonmanzz: I don’t think I did say that. Elias was saying that Canadians are much better hockey fans than Americans and I was pointing out that his statement isn’t necessarily true.

By: cshearing

cshearing — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:40:01 +0000

53.3% this year. Close though. You are right that the lead is closing. This does not surprise me; hockey is an awesome sport that people are just catching on to in many areas. But lameasish does make a good point about population sizes.

However, to say that hockey is losing ground in Canada is a bit disingenuous. Sure, the percentage that follow hockey has gone down a little, but it is still far and away the #1 sport up here. Most of the people that you find that do not care for hockey do not care for sports in general. And no offense, but your wife and daughter do not like it? Anecdotal evidence does not a trend make.

By: cmonmanzz

cmonmanzz — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:20:08 +0000

You just can’t honestly say USA are better at hockey than Canada. That’s just not true.

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:47:06 +0000

Actually my comment was thoughtful, reasoned, and factual. Yours was…lets just say that I know a lot of intelligent Canadian fans and you do not sound like one of them. And if you followed hockey history at all you would know that the percentage of Americans in the NHL has risen dramatically. Canadians used to constitute well over 90% of NHLers and now its under 50%. The remaining 50+% are divided roughly evenly between Americans and Europeans.

By: lameasish

lameasish — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:15:26 +0000

Also a foolish comment by you pal. When America starts putting out more players than Canada, we can talk then. There is also the population difference, over 300 million compared to just over 30 million.

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:50:10 +0000

Like most generalizations, Elias’ comment was more than a bit foolish as well as unwise PR-wise. I moved to Terrace, BC–2009 Kraft Hockeyville–when I got married in 2006. My Canadian born and bred wife and daughter could care less about hockey and, in fact, dread playoff season as their favorite CBC shows get pre-empted for HNiC.

More to the point, Canadian demographics are changing and there are many urban areas where hockey does not predominate as it used to. On the other hand, there is a vital hockey culture in New England, upstate New York, and the upper MidWest that is as old as hockey itself. Very foolish and uninformed comment by Elias.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:10:58 +0000

You can’t blame him for telling the truth

By: lsxphotog

lsxphotog — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:39:03 +0000

Games in Canada are much better. The people do indeed understand hockey more than most US cities, and their actual fans who live in the cities aren’t dumb. Sitting at a game and not overhearing dumb people comment on hockey has always been a fantasy of mine. It came true when I went to a Leafs game at the Air Canada Center. So I can certainly agree with him. Playing in the NHL in those cities, like Montreal and Toronto, has to be fantastic.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:37:34 +0000

I am also not a fan of the new scheduling. As a Bruins fan, now I have an interest in all Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, and other rivals games. While they are out of the division, playoff seeding is always important. Next year, once you sew up a playoff spot, games take on less meaning. The NHL always finds new ways to hurt themselves.

By: quizguy66

quizguy66 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:29:46 +0000

Patty is enough of a pro and true Devil that I don’t mind what he said. I’ll miss having fans from Canada come down as well as they are fun to talk hockey with.

-QG