Yes and sort of - the NHL was in a lockout. Hockey still existed in other leagues and forms, but the epic stage of NHL was nonexistent until yesterday.
I'm actually not surprised no one cares about hockey - very few of my local "IRL" friends even acknowledge the sport. It's great, though. Give it a go, but make sure you check out the rules first - otherwise you might be lost when they call an "icing."
I simply dont understand how sports like basketball, baseball and football are so popular in the US and yet Hockey isnt. Hockey is harder hitting then football and has more action than any other sport available to the ADHD US population.
Hell, Winter Olympics Curling has more action in 1 round than an entire NHL season does for 1 team. 18 games times 7 1/2 minutes of ball movement equals 135 minutes of ball movement on average for a single team in a football season. To get that 2 hours and 15 minutes of ball movement, you have to sit through 54 hours of replays, commentary on replays, huddles and commercials. Sorry, no fucking thanks.
Dont get me on the pussies in those other spots, jammed finger cant play basketball, blister cant play baseball and turf toe cant play football. Broken jaw, broken foot, 15 stitches and they are back out playing the fucking game.
I am still confused why anyone would watch anything else? Everything else is boring when its compared to hockey. Rugby players are the only ones I would put on par with hockey players.
While I do enjoy football, basketball and baseball, I'm totally with ya' EE. Hockey is the best and most exciting sport there is. I think a lot of people who trash talk hockey don't understand all of the rules and nuances which make it a really amazing game.
I think the same can be said for die hard fans of any of the other sports mentioned as well. Kids aren't brought up in the US watching and playing hockey nearly as much as the other three, and every kid sees the baseball/basketball players making bazillions of dollars.