After a 16 hour meeting, the NHL owners and NHL Players Union finally ended the lockout and reached an agreement to restart the NHL season.
This news has not only brought happiness to the ears of hockey fans everywhere, but fantasy fans as well. Now that the NHL season will actually take place, fantasy hockey seasons can also resume.
Fantasy hockey may not be as popular as fantasy football or even fantasy basketball, but it brings just as much excitement.
There are many sports fans who do not understand the game of hockey, which in the end makes them not watch the sport; but I believe fantasy hockey could be a great helping point when it comes to raising awareness of not only hockey but the NHL as well.
Coming off one of the most successful NHL seasons in history, the league has taken a big step backwards after the lockout. Fans are sick of being let down by the league, its owners and players; and why wouldn’t they be? When leagues like the NFL are able to reach new Collective Bargaining agreements before the season begins, why can’t the NHL?
The NHL struggled greatly to comeback after the 2004/05 lockout and will most likely have an even larger uphill battle after this one. After going so long with no hockey on television and always having an option to watch college sports, NBA and NFL games, it may be hard for the NHL to draw attention from more than just loyal hockey fans.
In order for the NHL to succeed, I believe the NHL will need to meet the needs of not only hockey fans, but sports fans in general. One way to do this is by attracting more sports fans to take part in fantasy hockey.
The success of fantasy football has helped make the NFL more popular than ever, and maybe fantasy hockey can do the same for the NHL.
If you know of people that do not care for the NHL, or you yourself do not have any interest, try joining a fantasy hockey league. Who knows, you may just create some more hockey fans and help contribute to the comeback of the NHL.
For e-mail updates whenever a new article is posted, please use the SUBSCRIBE button to follow me. Also join me on Twitter: @apalinckx89 or E-mail me at apalinckx@yahoo.com
Comments