With no NHL players competing at the Olympics for the first time since 1998, some Canadians are saying the competition has lost some of itB次元官网网址檚 lustre.
From the Lucky Loonie to the Sidney CrosbyB次元官网网址檚 golden goal, Canadians have enjoyed great hockey during the Olympics but an , released on Feb. 7, states one in five hockey viewers (17 per cent) are not going to watch at all this time around.
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According to the study 40 per cent said they will still watch Olympic hockey, but theyB次元官网网址檙e not going to be as invested this time around. A similar number (43 per cent) said they will still watch and their enthusiasm will be unchanged.
Sean Burke, general manager of the Canadian national menB次元官网网址檚 hockey team, believes people will still get behind the tournament and Team Canada because of their pride.
B次元官网网址淚 was very fortunate to play in two Olympics, in 88 and 92, and I remember the competitiveness of the tournament, the incredible intensity, the honour it was for myself, my teammates to put on the jersey and all of that is going to present in this Olympics as well,B次元官网网址� said Sean Burke.
From the to the Grand Rapids Griffins, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Timr氓 IK, the members of Canada's Men's Olympic Team have played anywhere and everywhere to chase their dream.
B次元官网网址� Team Canada Men (@HC_Men)
Burke said the stories behind the players who are seizing the moment to play in the Olympics will also be a draw to fans.
B次元官网网址淚 think that is what people will latch onto quickly with this club. There is a lot of great stories, individual stories on this team. Guys that have got to this point through adversity and perseverance and then as a whole just the nature of this tournament. There is a lot of teams that feel they have a chance to compete for a medal and that alone will make it incredibly tense and competitive. There is a lot of things to draw on from this tournament for sure.B次元官网网址�
The study notes that 36 per cent of Canadians who said they were not going to watch the Olympic hockey tournament at all, regardless of who was playing, were left off the graph that asked the question: How does the decision to not allow NHL players to participate affect your likelihood to follow the hockey tournament in PyeongChang?
Undesirable start times could see some viewership drop compared to previous Olympics. Canada kicks off the menB次元官网网址檚 hockey tournament on Feb. 15 at 4:10 a.m. against Switzerland. On Feb. 16 they face the Czech Republic at 7:10 p.m. and then will play South Korea on Feb. 18 at 4:10 a.m. (PST).
Record viewership for menB次元官网网址檚 hockey came in 2002 when the Olympics were in Salt Lake City (10.3 million) and the Vancouver 2010 Games (16.7 million).
The absence of NHL players at the Olympics also could open a door for womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey to take the spotlight. At the Vancouver 2010 Games, the womenB次元官网网址檚 gold medal game netted the 10th most viewers in Canadian broadcast history with 7.5 million. The womenB次元官网网址檚 gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi is considered by many hockey experts as one of the most thrilling womenB次元官网网址檚 ice hockey games to have ever been played.
B次元官网网址淚t will be a good opportunity for our team to be in the spotlight and I think when we get people watching our sport, we usually can get them hooked. It is just a matter of getting those fans in the first place,B次元官网网址� said womenB次元官网网址檚 national team member Brianne Jenner. B次元官网网址淚 think it will be a good opportunity for us and I think our game has come a long way and it is a great product on the ice for hockey fans.B次元官网网址�
Overall, 58 per cent of Canadians say theyB次元官网网址檒l be following the Olympic Games this month.
