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November 30, 2008
Garth Woolsey
Toronto Star
The hockey fans have spoken.
Well, some of them have, the ones who take their sport seriously enough that they've joined the now 10-year-old, 30,400-member NHL Fans Association.
What do they say?
Among other things, results of a November mini-poll indicate there's a split on many issues, agreement on others, according to the association members' nationality (roughly 60 per cent of the Ottawa-based organization's membership are Americans, 40 per cent from Canada).
So, what would your answer be if asked, "Should the NHL relocate struggling franchises from the U.S. to Canada?" Is it any surprise that 92 per cent of the Canadian respondents thought more teams up here would be a good idea? Perhaps more surprising is that 52 per cent of Americans thought so, too. (Then again, perhaps the "struggling" franchises are as under-represented in the fan group polled as they are at the turnstiles.)
If a team were relocated northward, southern Ontario consistently tops the most-likely list. To the question, "Do you think it is a good idea if Toronto (or the Greater Toronto Area) had two NHL franchises?" 67 per cent of Canadian voters agreed, as did 42 per cent of Americans.
As for expansion to Europe, a scant 7 per cent of Americans thought it was a good idea, 15 per cent of Canadians voted yes.
Another interesting Q&A: "In your opinion, do you think the NHL needs a new commissioner?" Sorry, Gary Bettman, but nearly eight out of 10 Canadians who voted thought he has to be replaced, 64 per cent of Americans.
The only votes that really count to Bettman and his job security belong to the NHL's board of governors. But they would be well advised, always, to listen to the folks who pay the bills.
© Toronto Star
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