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The National Hockey League needs first to recruit the 1980 US Olympian hockey gold medalist to promote hockey in the United States. These Olympians should visit arenas, small and large, around the country to autograph and teach youngsters the tricks of the hockey game. Right now, the talent level of American hockey players is secondary to Canada and other nations around the world.

Also the NHL should donate ice time at major hockey arenas, before the NHL games, to get the youth excited about the game. Plus the NHL should donate money to the US Olympic hockey team so the players could be better prepared and perform better during the Olympics. By doing so, the game will recapture the tremendous interest it had during the 1980 US Olympic championship season.

Obviously, the NHL's top competitors are the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League baseball. In this country, unlike Canada and other parts of the world, we have four major sports. Most youngsters are more interested in playing baseball, basketball, or football rather than hockey.

This could change. The NHL should hold high school and college games hours before the NHL game starts. This will get a lot more youngsters into playing hockey, knowing they are playing in the same rink as the pros.

As far as recruiting today, the NHL sends scouts to college hockey games. They know which players are worth keeping an eye on. Nevertheless the college ranks haven't produced that many pros, simply because the players don't face the same competition as in Canada, Sweden, and Russia. And most American hockey players simply don't get enough ice time to sharpen their skills.

If hockey were more heavily promoted to the youth and budding talent, the lack of American players in the NHL would change. One step in the right direction would be to have the 1980 gold medalist tour high schools and colleges to promote the sport and the American hockey spirit. This way it would get more youngsters involved.

The more youngsters involved the better the talent pool. Usually the gifted athletes play football, baseball, or basketball. And only die-hard hockey fans play hockey. If the talented baseball player tries his skills at hockey, he might go farther in the professional ranks than playing a popular sport like baseball.

Right now, the NHL knows all about the talent in American Amateur hockey. They are minor leagues scattered through the northeast as well as Midwest. The only reason these players don't develop to NHL level is because the competition is not so strong. If the NHL started an exchange program, let's say with Sweden, an American youngster would get the chance to develop skills against better competition.

The bottom line is, however, promoting the game to budding hockey stars. Just for them seeing an American gold Olympian and the shiny medal won, could inspire the young to concentrate more on the game rather than on other sports.

Learn more about this author, Frank Lavoine.
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