For the first time in the history of the league, the NHL will kick off its 2007-08 season in Europe. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks will open the new hockey season against neighboring Los Angeles Kings in the battle of California. The teams square off for a weekend series on September 29 and 30 at London's '02 Arena.
The Los Angeles Kings, former team of Wayne Gretzky, will be in tough against the ducks – who have made large off-season signings of Todd Bertuzzi and Mathieu Schneider. Both players are strong contestants for the Hockey Hall of Fame but after his infamous incident during the 2004 season, Bertuzzi’s reputation as well as the value of his rookie card has faltered.
NHL Hockey is truly a North American game which of course begs the question – is the NHL making a wise decision by opening the season in London just as the Premiership gets underway?
England of course is quite familiar with the game of hockey
– but hockey of a different kind. Ask any native Brit what hockey entails and
the vast majority of people will tell you the game is played on grass or turf,
rather than on ice. Field hockey is Britain's most popular sport behind only football and cricket.
How
will the Brits react to the NHL coming to London? Will they pack the stadium
eager to experience a North American tradition – or will Londoners pack the football
stadiums completely oblivious of the fact that Canada's most watched game is taking place in their very own city?
Eric
getitnext.com
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