A 24 hour hockey channel is a great idea but, as others have pointed out, the interest in the sport needs to increase. The NHL is not going to suddenly increase their marketing budget ten fold so it is up to the individual fan to take on the task. It starts with decent media coverage of our local team, the Devils. How many fans take the time to write, E-mail, fax or telephone their newspaper when there is lousy coverage of the Devils, especially The Record? How many demand better AHL, ECHL, college and high school stats? Hockey, at the high school level, is growing extremely quickly in New Jersey and new rinks are opening annually. Demand better newspaper coverage on all levels of hockey. Complain to WABC 770 AM radio, and the Devils organization, that the pregame and postgame shows are woefully inadequate. The Devils have won 3 Stanley Cups in the past nine years (and are the defending champions) but you would barely know it based on the coverage the team receives from the media. I can still remember how wild Denver and Dallas went after those teams won the Cup. The media coverage was outstanding and the fans rallied around their teams. Interest will grow with improved coverage and that will in turn lead to better marketing. The time is now as our days grow shorter. We have a generation of children reaching their adult years who have grown up as Devil fans. Their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, etc., may be Ranger, Islander, Flyer fans but this new group of adults with earning power and some $ in their pockets need to be tapped into. The Devils organization is sadly on the fringe and the days continue to grow shorter. Make a difference-you as the individual fan is capable of this task.
Support the New Jersey Devils.
Support hockey.....the coolest game on earth.