Best kept secret in American sports?

[John Corn]

Is there a non-mainstream, "niche" sport that you follow, that you can't believe isn't embraced by more people?

I think that NCAA Ice Hockey is by far and away the most exciting sport in America.

If you live in New England or the Upper Midwest, I'd highly recommend checking out a college hockey game if possible.

It's kind of like the NHL, without fighting, no two line pass rule, an emphasis on smaller skilled players instead of larger goons, and a meaningful regular season.

[EricG]

John-
LOVE your new sig !!

Go Bucks !

[John Corn]

:D....Thanx

[Mike]

Out west, we don't have hockey in schools. It's tough to really follow the sport when the papers in the West don't carry scores some days. Fred Roggin, Mark Lewis, Rock Rote for example and other sportscasters don't talk about it at all on the sports on the newscasts out here. I see some games on satellite though. Channel 8 in the NE carries Dartmouth hockey. New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan State teams are on FSN backhauls. It's tough to really follow out here on the west coast.

[Rick_EE]

The only sport I got into when I went to college at Minnesota was hockey. A lot of fun to go to those games.

Rock Rote? He used to be here in Milwaukee- so he is no stranger to hockey.

[Maniacal1]

I agree with you, John. My alma mater's only Division I sport is men's ice hockey.

I can't stand watching hockey on television, but I love watching a hockey game live.

[Martyva]

i went to the University of Denver in 1960-61 and to this day have not seen any better live spectator sport than hockey. TV just can't capture the essence of the sport.

[djlong]

Haven't been to a college hockey game, but I've certainly enjoyed going to a couple of AHL games at the new Verizon Arena in Manchester.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the new, expansion, hometown Monarchs had a winning season (and are having another good start).

New England has an embarassing amount of riches when it comes to hockey. In the AHL, you have 8 teams spread from Bridgeport CT to Portland ME - lots of local rivalries.

Everyone was worried that when Manchester started, the Lowell (Lock Monsters) franchise would have to move as they had the worst attendance in the league. Not only did Manchester set records, but Lowell's attendance went UP - most likely due to a nice local rivalry.

...and you can afford the games too. Unlike the ticket prices at the Fleece Center.