Blue Jackets games have been fantastic last few years. Bigger then expected hockey presence in Columbus
Do people refer to them as the BJs? Always wondered about that.
Does this mean Whalers fans aren't or weren't really hockey fans? Or is it just logistics, it is a long way to either Boston or NY for a hockey game (yet obviously lots of people make this trek for Sox or NY teams).
What does youth hockey participation in the Hartford area look like now vs 25 years ago?
I think it does kind of speak to the fact that the Whalers weren't a no-brainer in a big hockey town. Canadian comparisons aren't fair, but Buffalo I think is a good comp and if they lost the Sabres I think hockey fandom there would remain large and find another outlet. Helps too that Buffalo has another pro sports franchise and can pull from lots of other upstate NY towns - whereas Hartford only has the greater Hartford area before it loses fans to NY & Boston.