I would like to see a WNHL.

[JRLeft]

I think the level of play has reached a level high enough to create this league. What do you guys think?

[PoliticAverse]

1. You would like to see it, but would you actually pay to go to games ? n/t

[riqster]

3. Fuck yeah, I would.

I pay for Bluejackets and Crew tickets. A WNHL team would be great.

[kcr]

6. That always gets asked. This is a timely question given what's been discussed.

No one wants to pay to watch women play. Even though this is some damn fine hockey to watch that any hockey fan would enjoy watching. But heaven forbid we have gender wars on DU to discuss the reasons why this is so.

[Brickbat]

2. More importantly, they should allow checking.

[KamaAina]

8. Actually, the lack of checking makes it interesting

it leads to a lot of skating, passing, and shooting, especially by the Americans, who racked up an unbelievable 70 shots in the semifinal against Sweden. (The NHL record is 59, just set by my Sharks, who still managed to get shut out. ) In fact, the Swedes pulled their goalie even though she was playing well, having given up only four goals, but she was tired!

There is a Canadian Women's Hockey League, which has a team in Boston. (Does that mean Massachusetts gets single-payer? )

http://www.cwhl.ca/view/cwhl

But something on the model of the WNBA, with the teams being affiliated with (M)NHL teams, could work. San Jose Dolphins? L.A. Queens?!

[Brickbat]

12. I disagree; I think body checking is a legitimate tactic that can be used with great effect.

It's a different game without it, and one I don't find quite as interesting.

[Lizzie Poppet]

13. The idea of affiliating with a men's team also works in the NWSL.

Only one team was so affiliated in the league's first year (my beloved Portland Thorns FC, the inaugural champions, affiliated with the Timbers). That relationship was very, very successful. It gave the Thorns access to excellent facilities, a large stadium, big fan base, and a large existing support and marketing structure. While the Thorns' record-breaking (for all of women's club soccer) attendance was largely due to Portland being Soccer City, USA, all of the above factors certainly helped. The model was successful enough that the leagued first expansion club, the Houston Dash, have followed the same model and are tied to the Houston Dynamo.

Would this work for women's ice hockey? In the stronger hockey markets, I think it could.

[laundry_queen]

4. I'm certain there's enough fans

I can't count the amount of tweets and phone calls on the local radio station from people who were staying home from work to watch the women's gold medal game.

[scheming daemons]

17. For an Olympic final with Canada there are fans.... for a regular season

in North America with play MUCH watered down from what you're seeing right now on TV and the games meaning much less, there would be very little interest.


1/10th what the WNBA gets... and the WNBA gets hardly any interest at all.

[laundry_queen]

18. I disagree.

but I'm in Canada. You can get 1000 people at a kid's tournament final here.

[shenmue]

5. Me too

It's about time.

[1000words]

7. The NHL is already a financial mess. WNHL would be an epic failure.

The athletic skill might be there, but there's little interest.

[CANDO]

9. I like the fact they can actually play the game.

As they've pointed out during the game.....in women's hockey no checking allowed. The skilled skaters can skate and show off their talent without the usual goon squad that permeates the men's game. The men's game isn't much more than an organized assault on whomever currently controls the puck.

[Lizzie Poppet]

10. I'm not all that knowledgeable about hockey, but I like watching this Final.

To my admittedly soccer-oriented eyes, the greater restrictions on contact seem to create a subtle, intricate passing and skating strategy. The women don't have the option of just blasting the opponent off their skates. This is fun to watch.

Would I go see WNHL games if there were a team here in Portland. I would, although I don't think I'm enough of the fan of the sport in general to buy a season ticket (like I do for the Portland Thorns FC..."weeeeee are the champions!!!&quot .

[Blue_Tires]

11. The NHL just barely became solvent in recent years

despite the league's epic mismanagement...And some teams/cities are still huge financial black holes...

The NHL (like the NBA) would be the ones bankrolling a women's league...The NBA has the mountains of cash reserves to absorb the net loss and never miss it...This is a shaky proposition for the NHL...

[1000words]

14. It's my understanding ...

Three teams (Toronto, Montreal, NY Rangers) absolutely clean up, a handful barely turn a profit and the rest are losing money. The lock out was a huge blow to an already dwindling fan base.

[The2ndWheel]

15. The lockout didn't do much either way

Women do need a pro league as a goal, or else why bother to develop the talent to play hockey? The only issue is the interest, from the general public, and advertising. The WNBA can maybe get a foot in the door, because it has been backed by the NBA, and the NBA has some clout. The NHL really doesn't.

However, and it's of course not my money, but the NHL wouldn't have anything to lose if it started up a WNHL. If it went away quickly, at least they tried. It would have to start off pretty small though, maybe 5/6 teams, in hockey cities, and the closer together, the better.

[scheming daemons]

16. Pittsburgh and Detroit are also in the black