Rumor: NHL considers resuming season in remote location.

The National Hockey League has suspended the 2019 - 2020 NHL regular season and thus far as hockey fans we have not been given much hope for the possibility of the season resuming. I say thus far because we may finally have our first glimmer of hope that a return to hockey will in fact be possible this season, and it comes from none other than Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman.

In a recent article published for Sportsnet, the NHL insider revealed that the league is currently looking at options to finish out their current season around the country and it sounds like they may in fact have one on their radar already. Although Friedman made sure to indicate that this was only informed speculation at this time, he did point to North Dakota as a realistic possibility for a return to NHL hockey with no fans in attendance. 

From Friedman:

Several sites would be necessary, but Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., makes sense. Host of the 2005 World Junior Championships, the 2016 World Under-18s and the NCAA’s Fighting Hawks, it is an impressive facility that is definitely more suitable than many other available non-NHL options in the United States.

Obviously, nothing is imminent. Hotel availability in Grand Forks would be a challenge. We also don’t know about travel scenarios, necessary logistics, or if the state itself would be willing to host such an event. But the area makes sense because of the arena, the likelihood of games being played without fans and North Dakota’s relatively low population density (only Montana, Wyoming and Alaska have fewer people per square mile).

It is expected that the NHL and NHLPA will discuss other locales this week. It’s never wrong to explore your options, regardless of what eventually happens.

By the sounds of things we are still very early on in this process but there is no doubt that this is some truly fantastic news for hockey fans who have been starving for some on ice action. Again this is the first real sign that the NHL seriously intends to resume play sooner rather than later, and even if that means we will not be able to attend any of the games I will be keeping my fingers and my toes crossed.