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I like the larger ice too, but I dont see that expensive shift coming to soon- but I bet someday.
One rule change I really like is the regular season OT, 4 on 4. You can still have a tie- but you get a wide open run for a win. That beats the stupid shoot out solution.
You know, I dont see hockey as being held back- Its booming. Inline has raised a generation of skaters. I recall there is at least one NHLer who played on a pro inline team...on the Devils maybe? can't remember his name.
When we lived in Austin in the 90s we got the Ice Bats. We went to some games in the Travis County Rodeo center- the enthusiasm was there, the game was just a bit...foreign. And there was no doubt that Bubba likes the speed, rough and tumble. There are a lot more fans in Dallas these days.
Hockey continues to shift south- Minnesota to Dallas,Hartford to Carolina, Quebec to Denver, Winnipeg to Phoenix. And other than MN the expansion has all been south.
USA hockey is stronger than ever- and perhaps one more indication is that US college hockey is starting to draw international talent and produce more NHL players- not unlike football and basketball. Thats not necessarily a good thing if they arent able to consider themselves students first . Ugh, the quagmire of college athletics. I admire the Canadian and Euro systems of major junior hockey- dont even pretend that these kids want to be in school right now- they are gearing for the pros. Of course if you're smart, you can take that free business degree,too.
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