It is clear by this point that there will be no NHL season this year. With the Player’s Association more united then ever in trying to avoid a salary cap, and the owners not swaying away from their failed proposals, the odds are slim that a deal will be reached this season.
In Toronto, there is no doubt that the Maple Leafs generate the most fan interest of any team, as well as an immense amount of revenues for the city itself. At this time of the year jersey sales usually skyrocket, the Air Canada Centre is overloaded with events, and newspapers are filled with pages full of hockey talk.
This year, however, with the absence of the beloved Leafs,
hockey fans and sports fans are looking to different places for their sports entertainment.
The most popular avenue of sports entertainment in the city currently is the Toronto Raptors.
When there is a normal hockey season the Raptors are usually second to the Leafs in terms of fan interest. This year, however, there is little doubt that a lot more attention will be paid to basketball in the city.
After all, the Raptors are the only sports franchise in Toronto that is a part of a serious professional association: the NBA. Basketball has always been a focus of interest in the city. The same company that owns the Leafs -Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), would not have purchased the team if this were not so.
For the first time the Raptors have a chance briefly to be the kings of the castle. Who knows if the Leafs will be able to recapture this title when, and if, NHL hockey ever does resume.
Fans can also satisfy their hunger for bloodthirsty competition by watching the Toronto Rock, this city’s National Lacrosse League (NLL) team. The Rock are a very popular franchise, and in reality are the only team that has been able to get Toronto a championship in three of the last four years.
Fans will be keeping a closer eye on the Rock, since there is no NHL to distract them. They have traditionally had an awesome home record and outstanding attendance numbers in their short history, which should only increase this year.
Lacrosse as a sport has been generating a lot of interest in Canada, with other franchises in Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver. The absence of hockey is bound to draw more people to watching the sport and cheering their local team.
There is also a lot of hockey to follow, for those who can simply give up the game for an entire year. At a grassroots level there is the Greater Toronto Hockey league (GTHL) that has over 80 clubs competing against each other. There are tournaments almost every week, and ticket prices are very reasonable.
At a more professional level there are several leagues that fans can follow. The Ontario Hockey League (OHL), The American Hockey League (AHL) and Canadian Hockey League (CHL), to name a few, are all worthy of attention. These leagues produce the stars of tomorrow’s NHL before they become rich and powerful. The only disadvantage to these leagues is the lack of media coverage; but the quality of hockey is exceptional.
The National Hockey league has a strong following, but its absence will not prevent sports fans from enjoying themselves this winter. If people look around they will be surprised to find a variety of leagues at a variety of levels and price ranges, which can make up for the loss of hockey entertainment.
