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Ice and ice-time is what is prohibiting the growth of the sport. Even in areas where ice comes naturally, it's only for a few months out of the year. You need ice to practice the most important skill needed to play hockey. GM's complaining about the cost of gear really doesn't relate to the amateur level. Pros go through so much gear over the course of the year.
I don't think the cost of gear is what is preventing the sport from growing. The NHL does a crappy job at marketing their game. The lack of any real TV contract doesn't help them either. The NHL would be better served putting teams in hockey rich markets instead of forcing them into markets that can't support it.
Hockey is doing fine in Canada and other parts of the world. It's pretty big here in New England and I know it's huge in the Great Lakes region.
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