I love the hockey forum!
Here in Portland the threaten to bring in an NHL team. While I like watching the NHL, the junior team we have here is awesome (along with the other teams that are in the WHL). While the teams aren't always top notch, we get to see what the league calls the stars of tomorrow. A short list of people who played (even for a little bit) for the Portland Winter Hawks.
Cam Neely (Boston)
Mark Messier (Edmonton, NY, Vancouver, NY)
Ray "Chicken Parm" Ferraro (Too many to list)
Marian Hossa (Ottawa Senators)
Brenden Morrow (Dallas Stars)
and my favorite.....
Andrew Ference (Pittsburgh Penguins).
This is a small list. There are tons of great stars that have come through here on our team and visiting that can be seen on the NHL ice today.

and the WINGS are going to smoke them all graemlins/thumbup.gif graemlins/thumbup.gif

Yeah, I think it would be cool as fuck if they brought an expansion team up there in the northwest. I figure either Seattle or you guys will have one soon. graemlins/thumbup.gif

I only agree if the team goes to Seattle. But they will need a new arena. There is a Jr team in Seattle that plays in the Key Arena, but barely 60% of the seats for basketball are usefull for hockey due to horrible sight lines.
The Rose Garden in Portland works for hockey very well, but that would most likely mean we would lose our Jr team. Not a trade off I'd like to give. I can get great seats for the family of 5 for a total of 55 dollars. I might be able to get 2 nosebleeds for that price if I am lucky.

GO PENGUINS!!!!!! graemlins/cheers.gif