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More talk surrounds the NHL in Saskatoon

Oct 1, 2014 | 6:33 AM

The debate continues as to whether the NHL could work in Saskatoon.
 
The city was once again treated to some pre-season action Sept. 28 as the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks played in front of over 10,000 fans at Credit Union Centre.
 
John Graham with On Ice Mangement, who has helped bring NHL pre-season play to Saskatoon, firmly believes the city is the strongest Canadian market option.
 
“I will put this market up against anyone’s,” said Graham. “It’s got very stable government both municipally and provincially.  It’s got great community people that get behind it and you get 10,000 people out to these pre-season games cheering for teams that aren’t even theirs.”
 
And Graham will continue to push Saskatoon as an NHL market for years to come, but as he continues that push, many say Saskatoon won’t work.
 
Sporstnet’s Drew Remenda is one of those people.
 
“First of all, John is a great man,” said Remenda. “But I just don’t believe Saskatoon’s a great NHL market.”
 
“You hear people compare Saskatoon and Winnipeg all the time and that Winnipeg isn’t that much bigger than Saskatoon.  You have to remember the Winnipeg Jets is owned by the richest person in the NHL. They’ve got that backing if they falter a little bit.”
 
Remenda also touches on the fact that Saskatoon isn’t even on the NHL’s radar.
 
“Expansion doesn’t come around very often,” said Remenda. “Moving teams is something the NHL is very reluctant to do and when they do, Saskatoon will just be down on the list.”
 
“Bringing a team to Saskatoon would not make the NHL market because Saskatoon is a small market, Canadian team.  The NHL is looking at Las Vegas, it’s looking at another team in Toronto, and it’s looking at a team in Seattle.  It’s not looking very hard at the small, Prairie towns.”

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