A Salute to California Hockey

Back a few months ago, I had a brief interview with a Predators blogger. Going into the interview, I had my biases about Nashville being a "real" hockey market, and I was not afraid to express that bias. I am what my friend Ms. Conduct would say is one of those people in Minnesota that thinks they are better than everyone else in the hockey world.

She and I have had many discussions on the topic. We here in Minnesota suffered with Hartford, Winnipeg, and Quebec when our teams were yanked from our markets and sent south, into lands that we never felt deserved hockey, let alone deserved OUR hockey teams. Of course, the Nordiques went to Colorado, so I will give them a bit of a break. At least it gets cold there every now and again, and the fans immediately and ever since (well, until this year) have supported them passionately.

Our North Stars moved to Dallas, and once they shed the disease that is Norm Green, have become a respectable hockey market. The team is growing youth hockey programs, etc. Not as much can be said about the hate Coyotes (hockey in a desert will NEVER be OK), and the Hurricanes, who despite real success and a great team, still have little or no fan support.

So you can see where a bit of bitterness may creep into a Minnesota boy when dealing with teams south of the Mason-Dixon.

Then I started reading some of the love that teams like Nashville have. The Preds have as loyal a fan base as any in the league, and while they may not be able to sell out every game, they come close, and are gaining steam.

Then you have the Sharks. A team I have liked for a long time. When they were new, I was still bitter from the loss of my beloved team, and I took it out on them. However, the Sharks built a franchise using the old tried and true method of sucking for years, and finally putting some good players on the ice, building a fan base the entire time.

Not to mention, the team is owned by the Gund family, former owners of the California Golden Seals, and North Stars themselves.

Then, today, my good friend Newnik sent me this link and i decided to read it, despite the fact that anything with the name "Sedin" in it is likely to make me retch.

Excellent article, excellent writing, excellent read. Head over and check it out. i do not know the back story, but the post is worth the time to read. The Sharks have a sell out streak going, are one game from clinching the President's Trophy, and are poised to go far in the playoffs. San Jose may sound like a hockey grave yard, but trust me, the market is fierce and it is loyal.

They also hate the Coyotes, Kings, and Ducks as much as I do.

And for that, I am thankful.

-Buddha