Just about every NHL fan would agree to whatever plan gets hockey back on their TV the soonest, can best make up for the original regular season and postseason schedule, and will produce a fair and valid playoffs and champion. However, it’s doubtful that anyone figured that the best way to resume the season could be to send teams to Grand Forks, North Dakota. Yet, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman writes that the college hockey hotbed has been discussed as a possible ideal location for a neutral site continuation of the NHL season.
Friedman stresses that any plan for re-starting the season is only speculation at this point, but that non-NHL locations for neutral sit games seems like a possible outcome. Whether the regular season resumes as scheduled or if there is some sort of abbreviated schedule or play-in tournament, travel time could be cut back by having teams in just a few locations and neutrality removes any undue benefit to a home team. If games proceed without any fans, another distinct possibility, a location like Grand Forks also makes sense given it houses a world-class facility minus the capacity of an NHL rink. Friedman also notes that the low population density of North Dakota could make it one of safer places to continue play without an increased risk of Coronavirus exposure, while the cold climate could mitigate the ice quality risks of summer play.
Again, nothing is imminent in terms of when and how the NHL will resume play, if they do at all, and that is not expected to change for at least another month or two. Once the league comes up with a suitable plan, the players will have to agree to the terms as well. So, for now the NHL and NHLPA are exploring their options, both in format and locale, for the day we all hope arrives when hockey can return.
North Dakota, for the first time American heros
Why not just say screw it and go far north. Alaska, NWT, or the Yukon
Why not Montana it is sparsely populated as North Dakota as well. Alaska sound good as well as mentioned.
Because Montana doesn’t have an NHL level facility like North Dakota does.
This may make cities that are planning on keeping their citizens in perpetual lockdowns reconsider their draconian approaches.
because Montana doesn’t exist, silly
@DarkSide830 – I beg to differ! Frank Zappa’s legendary tune: link to youtube.com
“Legendary” might be a bit subjective here…
North Dakota actually has less cases than Montana
This is the best news for a dreadful week. Hopefully the NFL,NBA and MLB will move to North Dakota also.
Two-a-days at the Ralph! UND fans & students attend free! Regarded as one of, if not the best, barn in NCAA Div-I…
You could have 4 a day. There are 2 rinks!
@Siouxforever – JACKPOT!!!
link to en.wikipedia.org
They do actually have hockey in Montana, and Mac that Going to Montana by Frank Zappa is a classic as am a Zappa fan for many years. here is above list of teams that have been playing hockey in some capacity over the years so click on and check the teams out. Montana is home of Snake River Canyon where legendary Evel Knievel failed to jump across canyon he is from Butte Montana , they are on that list of Hockey Teams .
That link just takes me to Joe Montana
@dugdog83 – There you go trollin’ again… Now, G has to double-check his link! :) Now, back to tending to that lonely dental floss…
One Of the main reasons North Dakota is being considered, no doubt, is because The Ralph Englestad Arena and facility is as nice as any in the NHL. The home locker room is nicer than any in the NHL per Zach Parise, according to the Grand Forks Herald. The Ralph $100 million dollar (that’s ND $’s!) 2 rink palace is set up for first class broadcasting, with state of the art lighting, sound and wiring. The 60k city 2 hrs south of Winnipeg has over 2k hotel rooms built for Canadien shoppers. Ok so Holiday Inn Express isn’t the Grand Hyatt but it would get the players paid!
link to grandforksherald.com
Mac, the wikipedia page I did find on Hockey Teams in Montana, thou it does state that it hasn’t been updated since March 27,2017 so yes technically not a lot of information regarding which teams as did not look at each listing. Grateful thou for Siouxforever for info on arena on University of North Dakota and it is well equipped for Hockey in Grand Forks, Thanks Siouxforever.
Now with MLB discussing bringing back Baseball without fans, is a step in right direction for Hockey and Baseball and the fans and players and teams and recent report all games will be in Arizona from ESPN report. Hope this can be in best interest health wise for all athletes and organizations to bring back sports , in doing so other sports can follow behind and bringing back entertainment to a lot of people that need something positive , than what we all are going through with the epidemic and loss of life all over the world. Hopefully if this works it can be done in other countries around the world. Stay safe everyone.
Be well, G!