Where's the Hockey?

"We want the Cup." "We want the Cup." "We want the Cup." It was a mantra heard for miles in Boston just three days ago after the Bruins forced a game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Now the Bruins fans can scream, 'We got the Cup.' The Stanley Cup Finals are over and the Boston Bruins are the champions. Did you know? Hockey has taken a dramatic turn from the 4th recognized sport in the United States to a sport barely heard from even during their finals. Lord Stanley is the best trophy in all of sports. A Game 7 of any round of hockey is more physical, tense and exciting then any other sport. NHL should ride the waves of these great playoffs and try to put themselves back in the sight of sports fans.

I'm guilty of not watching hockey for the past few years. That is until this year and these playoffs. I didn't have a rooting interest in the playoffs as the team I use to follow was the Colorado Avalanche. I loved Patrick Roy, the greatest goalie in NHL history. Tim Thomas for the Boston Bruins reminded me of Roy. Thomas was damn near perfect in every game. In total of 7 games, he averaged 1 goal a game. The majority of those were in the early games. When Boston needed him the most, Thomas came up large including a shutout in Game 7. The shutout in Game 7 was the first time ever a road goalie got a shutout in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The series was a tale of 2 goalies. Luongo was solid at home giving up only 6 goals. The problem was Luongo was yanked in two games in Boston. His confidence had to have been shaken. You can't place all the blame on Luongo as Rome did the damage to turn the series a complete 180.



That hit on Horton really flamed a fire inside the Bruins that never went out. Normally a series will turn the other way. The Canucks would use that hit to pump up the whole team and they would go on the attack. The momentum swing was fairly apparent when Bruins put 8 on the board in the same game. If these playoffs and Finals were so damn good, the media should have been talking about it.

The media always finds other crap to talk about, some relevant and some not so much. The major sports network with 4 letters won't talk much about the NHL after they left the network a few years ago. If they don't own it, it barely gets attention. Versus doesn't reach as many people either. NHL hurt themselves leaving the big network. At the same time, NBC isn't helping the league enough. NBC should have a game every single weekend at least on Sundays after the NFL is over with. This offseason for the NFL has opened the door for MLB, NHL and Nascar to reach a bigger audience they haven't had. No one wants to hear athletes complain with owners who are both making billions. The leagues that are playing, NBA heading to a lockout on June 31st, have the opportunity. NHL is digging themselves out of the hole albeit slowly because of management.

Gary Bettman is the Commissioner of the NHL and hasn't been seen much or heard from during the playoffs. When Horton went down after that hard it, Bettman should have come out right away to acknowledge that those types of hits don't belong in the NHL. He didn't say anything. Rome was suspended but it was quietly. If we look at an example of the NBA, Stern would have been front and center if something like that happened in his league. He did just that when Bynum smacked J.J. Barea in the Lakers Mavs series. If the NHL wants to start helping their cause, Bettman and league officials need to be seen and heard from, good or bad.

On a personal note, hockey is my favorite sport to see live in person. If you have never been to a hockey game, go to a game. I don't care if you think it's a stupid sport, don't know the rules or any other lame excuse, hockey is great live. There is so much action, it's hard to relax. Hockey also benefits from High-Definition Televisions. I expect NHL may be even better once 3D is in everyone's homes.

The NHL is starting to gain the momentum and come back as a big time sport. These playoffs certainly helped. They are getting help from the NFL and the NBA (soon). NHL needs the networks of Versus and NBC to get into more homes and more games on television. If you are thinking about purchasing season tickets to the NFL or NBA, maybe think about NHL or a local hockey team. You won't be disappointed. I don't need to ask the question now because I know where my hockey is and I hope you find it too.

J Call