I need Hockey
 

I am in Toronto 2nd Nov - 5th then onto Vancouver until Monday 8th. I want to see a Hockey game, any help would be great.

Hello Ryan,

I think we "met" (in the virtual sense) when you started planning your round the world trip. If I remember correctly, you're from Australia.

So, you've made it to Canada. Welcome! Hope your RTW trip has gone well so far.

Um ... I don't know how to break it to you, but I understand the National Hocky League is involved in some sort of strike, lock out, or something of that nature.

Sorry, I ordinarily don't follow hocky, and this issue is very much at the periphery of my attention.

Anyway, I hope you'll find other stuff to do in Toronto and Vancouver.

Yes, I do think that the players are still locked out and there are no hockey games.
ryan, my son lives in Japan and relies on me and satellite radio for his hockey fixes, he is 'needing' his hockey now too:)

You can't see an NHL game because of the lockout... but there is still lots of hockey going on all over Canada...including junior league hockey (younger players, many of whom will end up in the NHL one day). Many people feel it's better hockey, played by young guys who haven't yet gotten spoiled by huge professional salaries and who play with more heart.

In Vancouver, I'd recommend the Giants - but they are on the road when you'll be here. There are certainly other minor league teams from various suburbs (eg the Richmond Sockeyes who play Nov 8 so you'd miss them), but they are younger guys playing at a lower level.
There have got to be some teams in the Toronto area that'll be playing when you're there - maybe someone from that area can suggest something....

Other than minor league hockey, the universities/colleges usually have hockey teams where the games are quite often much more exciting than NHL games.
The best resource for information about sports events is normally the local newspaper(s) - pick one up when you get to Toronto (the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun) or in Vancouver (the Vancouver Sun or the Vancouver Province), they'll not only list the games, but the venues and where to pick up tickets (if you're not buying them at the door). Here are the websites for these newpapers:

www.thestar.com

www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/index.html

www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/index.html

The lockout of the NHL players was in response to a "labour" dispute between owners and players - it all has to do with money, as usual (millionaires arguing with millionaires).

Actually, the hard copy of the Vancouver Province (which has the most detailed sports section of the 2 Vancouver dailies) does not list venues for BCHL (B.C. Hockey League) or WHL (Western Hockey League, a step up from BCHL) games, just times of games a couple of days in advance, and it doesn't normally mention anything at all about university games.
That may be different on the weekends, but on a daily basis the info just isn't there.
You'd have much better luck doing an internet search on the individual teams, to get their scheds and venue info - tickets would be readily available at the door, since these games would only sell out once in a blue moon.
Or if you did choose to go to a university/college game, you should call the school for info.

The Mississauga Ice Dogs play on Friday Nov 5 against Owen Sound Attack at the Hershey Centre.

Check out http://www.mississaugaicedogs.com/home.asp#

Other teams in the GTA are:
Brampton Battalion
Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Oshawa Generals

Check out the OHL site at:
http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/schedule.php