Why do you think hockey is not popular in the United States?

May 23, 2020 | Guava Cheese Puff

[GuavaCheesePuff]

The only hockey players most Americans can name from the top of their heads are Gretzky, Howe, Messier, and Lemieux.

I would rate hockey at the lowest of the 4 big sports.

Why doesn't it get much attention?

[Dr. Sivana]

A bunch of guys sliding at top speed all over in a willy-nilly manner hoping to get a chance to hit a puck with a stick might not be as interesting to watch as some folks think it is.

It is NOT willy-nilly. If it were willy-nilly, a forward skating at 30 mph wouldn't be able to pass the puck at 50 mph to another skater going 30 mph.

I suggest looking at it this way... a LOT of people world-wide like soccer. Speed it up by a factor of five, add contact, and shrink the playing surface so you can see most of it. Much better game. Main problem is the availability of ice and Zambonis.

[CodeToad]

Yeah, that’s right on the edge.

[dfwgator]

Denis Lemieux will teach you everything you need to know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peAqMbF_u3w

[Secret Agent Man]

Some sports get a chilly reception.

[Dr. Sivana]

American-made and perfected. Baseball, Football, Basketball.

We are past the peaks in all three. Adding a pitch clock to baseball? Blasphemy.

Football has a lot of amazing talent, but added complexity has been encouraged (e.g. headsets in the QBs helmets) that make the game less fun and watchable most of the time compared to the '70s version.

Basketball? Let me know when they start calling travelling and double-dribbling again.

[dfwgator]

The best part of the playoffs is the overtime, they play as long as they have to until somebody scores, and there are few TV breaks.

[Gay State Conservative]

It’s a religion in Canada but apart from the cities of the Original Six (where it does tend to get cold in winter) most people don’t care.

[Gay State Conservative]

Yes you can...with a tennis ball.We did it when we were kids.

[Gay State Conservative]

Well,you certainly don't see many when Tukka Rask is between the pipes.

[SamAdams76]

Who doesn’t know Bobby Orr?

[Gay State Conservative]

Basketball? Let me know when they start calling travelling and double-dribbling again.

Well,let *me* know when Bird,Parish,McHale and DJ return.

[pinkandgreenmom]

My opinion: hockey is a great sport to watch live (I miss not living in an NHL town; we are stuck with minor league hockey here in the upstate of SC), but it is a bit hard to watch on TV.

[Gamecock]

No idea. I just know you got to support the team.

[SKI NOW]

I'm surprised they don't employ CGI to somehow highlight the puck...

One of the networks tried that one year. It didn't catch on, kind of distracting I thought. They could just zoom in on the action better, don't need to see the whole rink.

[Fledermaus]

Nashville got a team. Very popular, big fan following.

[Fledermaus]

Nashville got a team. Very popular, big fan following.

[wny]

1994 NY Rangers - NJ Devils semi-finals game 7. One goal thru 59:52 when it was tied up at 1 each, rangers won in double overtime. 85+ minutes of flawless hockey. One of the most exciting games ever. Low scoring doesn’t make it boring. Those that think so are just not hockey people.

[headsonpikes]

Actually, ice hockey is essentially lacrosse on ice, a warrior sport with max aggression.

Watch a minor-league or college game in person rather than on TV to experience real ice hockey.

[Mears]

Number four,Bobby Orr.

[quantim]

Never mind which sport is best, and yes hockey is one of them having growing up in the Detroit Red Wings market for decades.

But when you remove the epitome of human skill between the hand and eye soccer ceases to be come a sport.