Many numbers have become immortal in hockey history. 99 for the great one. 66 for Lemieux. 87 for Sid. But now a new number has joined the club. And that number is 17.6. Seventeen-point-six is the television rating that the Olympic Gold Medal game got here in the United States. As the Americans faced off against Canada in the biggest game in hockey history, no one was quite sure how the game would do in the States. There was no question that everyone in Canada would be watching, but here in America, that was far from likely. Hockey has been by far the fourth sport here following Football, Baseball and Basketball respectively. However yesterday was hockey’s day. Yesterday Hockey was king. Yesterday everyone was watching a puck instead of a ball.
I wrote a blog a few months ago regarding the NHL sending their players to the Olympics. Rumors are still circulating that it won’t be done. That the league won’t let their players go. I still see why the league is afraid to send their players. Injuries and fatigue play big factors when the players return. But now my opinion has changed. The NHL MUST send their players. What yesterday’s game did was put hockey back on the map. The amount of skill on the ice was incredible. Patrick Kane, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla. The list goes on and on. The truth is the NHL needs the Olympics. People are suddenly interested in hockey which is great. If the players don’t go, the caliber of play won’t be as high and the names won’t be players we recognize.
The NHL has plenty of time to make a decision. I just hope it’s the right one.
