Ontario Is Hockey

It's one of those mysteries.

Montreal loves hockey yet it can't seem to support any hockey teams that are not the Montreal Canadiens. For example, in junior hockey there's one team in the Montreal region playing in the Quebec majors. One of the province's biggest city - Laval - is not the one. Once upon a time there were quite a few but for some reason we're down to Blainville-Boisbriand 35 minutes north of the city.

It's a shame because I used to go to watch Les Voisins de Laval at the now rickety Le Colisee throughout the 1980s where one Mario Lemieux played. I even played in that arena as well as the gym for ball hockey.

Also, 12 of the 18 teams are in the 'Q' are from the province while the balance are in the Maritimes.

Toronto, by contrast, supports seven or eight teams depending where you draw the GTA line. Is London considered GTA? I think it is. If so, it's eight teams. 19 of the 20 teams in the Ontario Hockey League are from the province with one team coming from the USA - Erie in Pennsylvania.

Population plays a role no doubt as does wealth with Ontario getting the edge on both. However, there's sufficient population and income in Quebec to support more than it does in my view.

It gives credence to the saying Montreal isn't a hockey town; it's a Habs town. Toronto is hockey as my friend learned when he went to live in London for school. To him, Toronto with hockey was akin to basketball in Indiana. "We love hockey but Toronto is batshit insane. Everyone and I mean everyone, ever house, everywhere you turn there's a fucking hockey net."

It's almost similar to the question as to why Los Angeles doesn't have an NFL team.