Toronto is a sports city. We have the money and the fan base to keep teams going. I think Toronto could support a NFL team. My thoughts are the Baby Leafs and even a WHA team will mostly be supported by the average fan. Whereas, I think a lot of the revenue for the big teams comes from the corporations.

Toronto is a hockey city... people are now even starting to buy seasons tickets for next year; and the turn-out for the NHL Alumni vs Leaf Alumni game was just shy of a sell-out crowd.

As for sports bars... some have taken to showing old play-off series when AHL or European games aren't on - except of course the '93 series vs LA.

As for teams in town; aside from the minor hockey leagues (house league and such) there are:
the 3 university mens teams (UofT, York, and Ryerson);
the 2 university womens teams (UofT & York) - both have Olympic players;
the 3 OHL teams - Brampton Battlaion, Missaugua Ice Dogs (coached by Don Cherry), St. Mike's Majors.
the 35 OHA jr. A team leauge with games all around the city;
there's even a Gay Hockey Leauge, and a Jewish Hockey Leauge...

So there is a large base of players and fans out there, with a lot of NHL supporters...

For those of you suffering from hockey withdrawls....AHL All-star game is tonight on ESPN-2. Several NHL players are playing for Planet USA and Team Canada. For more information: www.theahl.com

For Canadians, the game is on CTV SportsNet.

Oh, and it's 4-0 Canada at the end of the 1st. :D

Damn!
 

How the hell do you lose a 4-0 lead???!!!!

And to lose it in shoots outs? Hello where was the defence?????


And no, this writer is a crack pot. Nobody likes shoots outs...shootouts is the absolute worst way to settle a game. I don't know why they would have shootouts in AHL hockey anyway?

No Spezza, you only get shut down with a complete team lapse. Nobody loses a 4-0 lead just like that.

They got cocky.

oh well, what can you do? :(

P.S here's the article I took those quotes from
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/artic...14_225251_5288

Have only read the headline, but it appears the players have agreed to a salary cap. Maybe some movement?

Too late?

i thought the owners rejected their offer?

May be. As I said, I only read the headline, or I would have added more.

As far as I have heard, both sides are talking with little or no progress. I think it is time to accept the inevitable - there will be no 2004-2005 NHL hockey season. What they save isn't even worth it at this point, IMHO.


As for shootouts in the AHL...Normally there is a five minute sudden death overtime played before the shootout. While I hate the fact that I am chewing my nails during the shootout. It is also nice to have an actual winner at the end of the game.

They announced this morning that the players association has agreed on a salary cap but they are $12 million apart. Last I heard, they were still talking somewhere in Niagra Falls.

They don't have shootouts in the NHL. It will forever be the worst way to settle a game. I am firmly planted in that opinion. Nothing irritates me more in hockey than a shootout. You play as many overtimes as you need. Someone will eventually win.
The only time shootouts should be used is in houseleague when you have a time limit on the ice.

So now the Players' Association has counter offered the NHL with a 49 mil cap. Even if the season is cancelled tomorrow, I have a feeling that hockey'll be back next fall. It's all about the money now.

It's official, the season is canceled.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/02/16/nhl.season/

if people weren't money-grubbing bastards...

(this is aimed at all sides of the situation)

I'm so sad...if Mark Messier retires without playing another NHL game, I'm going to be seriously pissed. And they got us all hopeful that progress was there...ick.