European Players not relatable: Fact or Myth?

Question

There is the theory that North American fans have a hard time relating to and supporting European players. Detroit fans don't seem to have a problem with all of their Swedish players though. Do you think this is true or not?

Answer 1

No I don't think its an issue. Same thing in baseball- Latin players are just as loved.

Answer 2

no i don't think so

Answer 3

let me vary your premise slightly ... do "canadian" fans have a problem with euro and asian players ... absolutely - to think otherwise is to not know the canadian culture - i don't think there is any sport as intrinsically tied to a nation's identity as hockey is to canada ... maybe soccer/brazil - the canadians have always seen foreign players as an assault on their country - believe me, it's not just cherry - i grew up on the other side of the river from canada, in the states - it was vicious playing over there in the 60/70's - a lot of that us/canada stuff is mostly resolved, but the euro/asian thing is prevalent as 1972 - read, watch, listen to anything about the '72 canada cup (whoops, summit series) and you will realize that canadians probably have a more emotional tie to hockey than any other aspect of their country - by the way, check the nationalities of the officials ... expect to see pittsburg on PP most of the series

Answer 4

Myth. I can only really answer for the Wings, but I'm completely at ease with all Detroit's wonderful Swedish and other European players and so are many other people. I think what makes the players harder to relate to is the language barrier. Datsyuk is from Russia and he's still learning English and it's made it harder for fans to get to know him, but players from North America are born into our culture. Europeans who don't know English very well are understandably shy. But I don't think the language barrier keeps fans from supporting European players at all. At the Wings game I went to, there were almost as many people wearing Zetterberg and Datsyuk jerseys as there were people wearing Yzerman jerseys. People admire their skill and the way they play the game. You don't need to relate to a player to enjoy the game of hockey.

Answer 5

Myth created by Don Cherry.

Answer 6

When they first came into the league, they had a hard time being accepted, they weren't tough enough, etc. While that perception may still exist, many fans can relate to players Teemu Selanne, despite his Shakespearean "To play, or not to play, that is the question" this season.

Answer 7

Detroit fans have no problem with European players. I'm a hugeeee red wings fan, and i love them all to death. my favorite player is Valtteri Filppula, and hes from Finland.

and "The Punisher", I'm sorry, i believe you're completely wrong. nobody has a problem, and i have trouble watching other teams play, i love our style. its superexciting(:

really, if you don't have foreigners on your team, you wouldn't understand. but detroiters love euros. no doubt.

Answer 8

fact and myth.  some players have done a lot to help their team win the cup and are some of the best players in the playoffs(elias, salanne, malkin, jagr,  zubov) and others just choke, but believ it or not, THN says that more EURO players have won the cup in the past 10 or 15 years than americans

Answer 9

No, we got over our discrimination age a long time ago.

Answer 10

Detroit fans do have a problem of their European players. i don't think it is because there European either, its just the style they play. The reason is that Europeans aren't big with hitting and fighting except for a few exceptions but most won't and people do buy tickets to see hits and fighting and Europeans don't do that very often for example look at Detroit and Anaheim. You would rather watch a Anahiem game then a Detroit game anybody would because Detroit plays with more skill, they use there stick handling abilities, awareness, and speed to win games and most of Detroits players are European. Were Anahiem use size, strenght, and intimination factor to bully the other teams around plus they do have alot of skill as well but most of them are Canadians. So there for North American Fans like  North American style of hockey rather then European style of hockey.

Answer 11

It may have been something of concern back in the 70s and 80s, but not now. There are so many Europeans on each team...heck the Red Wings have 8 Swedes alone! Fans shouldn't fall for the myth that Euros can't play tough. There is a long list of players that can and do play through injuries, hit, fight, etc. The only standing offense against Euros is that there has not yet been a Euro captain to witn the Cup...but that will change this year when Lidstrom's Wings win it all.