Post by wpgmikos on Apr 7, 2011 17:16:04 GMT -5
Toronto Star: www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/971164--the-last-nordique-dreams-of-nhl-s-return-to-quebec-city
There are a number of really good reasons for the NHL to return to Quebec City — the renewal of that great rivalry with Montreal, giving rabid hockey fans a team to cheer, getting another NHL building filled on a regular basis.
Recent talk of a new $400 million arena has revitalized speculation that an NHL franchise could come back to the city, renewing all of those old passions.
But retired sniper Michel Goulet has his own personal reason to hope for the Nordiques’ return. He still plays alumni games for the Nords, and the old-timers are kind of running out of players.
“It’s kind of difficult because we’ve been gone (from Quebec) for 16 years,” says Goulet, now a scout for the Calgary Flames. “It’s hard to get people. We’ve been the same group forever. We need some younger players.”
There’s only one Quebec Nordique left playing in the NHL — Colorado Avalanche defenceman Adam Foote.
“I feel old,” said the 40-year-old Foote. “I keep telling people, the fans there recognized the guys who aren’t even in the lineup.
“It’s a small city, but they can support a team. They showed up at every game. It was a packed house, they were right on top of you. They love the game of hockey. It would be awesome to see a team back there.”
Foote played five seasons with the Nords, leaving with the team to Denver for the 1995-96 season. He played two and a half seasons with Columbus, but returned to the Avs in 2008.
Speculation is Foote — limited by injuries this year — will retire after this, his 20th season. The Denver Post said as much when it revealed what appear to be his post-retirement plans: He has signed on to become the coach of the Colorado Thunderbirds’ under-13 team for the 2011-12 season.
Foote is expected to announce his retirement during a news conference on Friday at the Pepsi Center, home of the Avalanche.
Of course, if the movers and shakers of the Quebec political and business scenes have their way and build an NHL-sized arena by 2015, there may be more Nords in the future.
“There’s no question the excitement is there,” said Goulet. “The mayor wants a team. There’s an owner (Quebecor) who wants a team. It’s a pretty exciting time for the city of Quebec and the hockey fans of Quebec.”
About 11,000 people showed up earlier this year for an alumni game between old Habs and old Nords at the Pepsi Colisee, the Nords’ old home.
“I had flashbacks to the 1993 playoff series,” said retired forward Scott Young, who played in the game with Joe Sakic and Guy Lafleur. “(Imagine) 11,000 people for an alumni game. Tell me they don’t deserve a hockey team.”
The Nordiques bolted Quebec to start the 1995-96 season in Colorado, sold by businessman Marcel Aubut, who was hamstrung by a small arena in the league’s smallest market.
It was a time of rising salaries cast against a low Canadian dollar, making it difficult for Canadian teams to make money even with arenas filled. It was again cited as the reason the Winnipeg Jets were sold to American interests and moved south to Phoenix for the 1996-97 season.
The Hartford Whalers also moved south, to Carolina, for the 1997-98 season as the NHL abandoned smaller markets in the hopes of establishing a broader national appeal in bigger American cities.
But times have changed. The Canadian dollar is stronger than the U.S. greenback, meaning salaries — paid in U.S. dollars — won’t chew up all of the team’s revenues.
Empty arenas and ownership issues in multiple southern markets have been an embarrassment to the league. A protracted legal battle over the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes has many in Winnipeg — with a new, NHL-quality arena — dreaming of the franchise coming back home.
And the NHL has quite warmed up to the idea of returning to Quebec, where the sport is popular and a $400 million arena is in the offing. The province is contributing $200 million and the city $187 million, with the rest coming from the promotion group J’ai Ma Place.
Naming rights have been sold to Vidéotron, with the media group paying $63.5 million over 25 years if an NHL team comes, $33 million if one doesn’t. Vidéotron will also pay the city $3.5 million annually to manage the building.
“We will build an arena,” said Luc Paradis, president of the Quebec chamber of commerce. “We’re not counting on getting an NHL team. But we (are) praying for that.”
Those who played there remember the city fondly.
“The city is very passionate about their hockey,” said Leafs assistant coach Tim Hunter, a Nord in 1992-93. “Everywhere you went, everybody knew who you were. I was a new player there and yet everyone knew where I was. The game atmosphere was incredible.”
Ex-Leafs captain Wendel Clark, traded to the Nords in a multi-player deal for Mats Sundin in 1994, said players loved visiting Quebec, calling it one of the best road cities in the league.
But he threw a little water on the theory the NHL would be a roaring success.
“We all want as many teams in Canada because we live and breathe hockey, and I know the fans would show up. But is the city big enough to withstand changes if you’re not in the playoffs five years in a row?” said Clark. “Does it have enough corporate (backing)? And if the dollar goes 20 cents the other way, what happens?
“That’s the big picture the league is looking at.”
Foote, for his part, hopes a team returns soon.
“It would be nice for those fans to have that,” said Foote. “We left a long time ago but it seems like it’s gone fast. I don’t know if they have a feeling for the Avs anymore, but I have a feeling for them.”
There are a number of really good reasons for the NHL to return to Quebec City — the renewal of that great rivalry with Montreal, giving rabid hockey fans a team to cheer, getting another NHL building filled on a regular basis.
Recent talk of a new $400 million arena has revitalized speculation that an NHL franchise could come back to the city, renewing all of those old passions.
But retired sniper Michel Goulet has his own personal reason to hope for the Nordiques’ return. He still plays alumni games for the Nords, and the old-timers are kind of running out of players.
“It’s kind of difficult because we’ve been gone (from Quebec) for 16 years,” says Goulet, now a scout for the Calgary Flames. “It’s hard to get people. We’ve been the same group forever. We need some younger players.”
There’s only one Quebec Nordique left playing in the NHL — Colorado Avalanche defenceman Adam Foote.
“I feel old,” said the 40-year-old Foote. “I keep telling people, the fans there recognized the guys who aren’t even in the lineup.
“It’s a small city, but they can support a team. They showed up at every game. It was a packed house, they were right on top of you. They love the game of hockey. It would be awesome to see a team back there.”
Foote played five seasons with the Nords, leaving with the team to Denver for the 1995-96 season. He played two and a half seasons with Columbus, but returned to the Avs in 2008.
Speculation is Foote — limited by injuries this year — will retire after this, his 20th season. The Denver Post said as much when it revealed what appear to be his post-retirement plans: He has signed on to become the coach of the Colorado Thunderbirds’ under-13 team for the 2011-12 season.
Foote is expected to announce his retirement during a news conference on Friday at the Pepsi Center, home of the Avalanche.
Of course, if the movers and shakers of the Quebec political and business scenes have their way and build an NHL-sized arena by 2015, there may be more Nords in the future.
“There’s no question the excitement is there,” said Goulet. “The mayor wants a team. There’s an owner (Quebecor) who wants a team. It’s a pretty exciting time for the city of Quebec and the hockey fans of Quebec.”
About 11,000 people showed up earlier this year for an alumni game between old Habs and old Nords at the Pepsi Colisee, the Nords’ old home.
“I had flashbacks to the 1993 playoff series,” said retired forward Scott Young, who played in the game with Joe Sakic and Guy Lafleur. “(Imagine) 11,000 people for an alumni game. Tell me they don’t deserve a hockey team.”
The Nordiques bolted Quebec to start the 1995-96 season in Colorado, sold by businessman Marcel Aubut, who was hamstrung by a small arena in the league’s smallest market.
It was a time of rising salaries cast against a low Canadian dollar, making it difficult for Canadian teams to make money even with arenas filled. It was again cited as the reason the Winnipeg Jets were sold to American interests and moved south to Phoenix for the 1996-97 season.
The Hartford Whalers also moved south, to Carolina, for the 1997-98 season as the NHL abandoned smaller markets in the hopes of establishing a broader national appeal in bigger American cities.
But times have changed. The Canadian dollar is stronger than the U.S. greenback, meaning salaries — paid in U.S. dollars — won’t chew up all of the team’s revenues.
Empty arenas and ownership issues in multiple southern markets have been an embarrassment to the league. A protracted legal battle over the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes has many in Winnipeg — with a new, NHL-quality arena — dreaming of the franchise coming back home.
And the NHL has quite warmed up to the idea of returning to Quebec, where the sport is popular and a $400 million arena is in the offing. The province is contributing $200 million and the city $187 million, with the rest coming from the promotion group J’ai Ma Place.
Naming rights have been sold to Vidéotron, with the media group paying $63.5 million over 25 years if an NHL team comes, $33 million if one doesn’t. Vidéotron will also pay the city $3.5 million annually to manage the building.
“We will build an arena,” said Luc Paradis, president of the Quebec chamber of commerce. “We’re not counting on getting an NHL team. But we (are) praying for that.”
Those who played there remember the city fondly.
“The city is very passionate about their hockey,” said Leafs assistant coach Tim Hunter, a Nord in 1992-93. “Everywhere you went, everybody knew who you were. I was a new player there and yet everyone knew where I was. The game atmosphere was incredible.”
Ex-Leafs captain Wendel Clark, traded to the Nords in a multi-player deal for Mats Sundin in 1994, said players loved visiting Quebec, calling it one of the best road cities in the league.
But he threw a little water on the theory the NHL would be a roaring success.
“We all want as many teams in Canada because we live and breathe hockey, and I know the fans would show up. But is the city big enough to withstand changes if you’re not in the playoffs five years in a row?” said Clark. “Does it have enough corporate (backing)? And if the dollar goes 20 cents the other way, what happens?
“That’s the big picture the league is looking at.”
Foote, for his part, hopes a team returns soon.
“It would be nice for those fans to have that,” said Foote. “We left a long time ago but it seems like it’s gone fast. I don’t know if they have a feeling for the Avs anymore, but I have a feeling for them.”