Former Boston Bruins tough guy Doug Doull, left, played two months for the Manchester Storm of the old British Ice Hockey Superleague. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
Feature
For the love of the game
Journeyman player recalls the struggle to watch the NHL in England
Last Updated Thurs., Sept. 27, 2007
By Tony Care CBC Sports
Growing up an avid fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Glace Bay, N.S., Doug Doull discovered how much he missed watching National Hockey League games when he travelled overseas.
His resolve was put to the test in 2000 after he decided to play in England for two months.
Doull, 33, a journeyman left-winger who briefly played with the Boston Bruins during the 2003-04 season, joined the Manchester Storm of the old British Ice Hockey Superleague.
In doing so, the Nova Scotia native sacrificed the opportunity to closely follow the sport and league he relishes most.
"It was a struggle [to watch the NHL]," Doull told CBCSports.ca. "You definitely starve for it, that's for sure. When I was in Manchester, I didn't have a lot of options."
With few alternatives, Doull diligently watched a program devoted to broadcasting one live NHL game a week at midnight. He would stay home most nights, but occasionally visited one of few bars in Manchester that provided the game with his other Canadian teammates.
Desperate for NHL play
The show offered hockey fans a small portion of what the rest of North America could witness every night. Doull needed his NHL fix and wasn't concerned which teams were playing.
"To be honest with you I was just happy that something was on," he said.
"I was fixed on this program that showed live NHL hockey. The show contained a panel of one English guy and one from North America, and that's how you caught your games. As it was, I'm sure for the average U.K. fan it was enough, but for us [Canadians] you wanted much more."
Doull, now an assistant coach with his alma mater St. Mary's University in Halifax, acknowledges England has a loyal section of fans that track the league through websites such as NHL.com for up-to-the-minute statistics. The site also gave him a chance to chart how the Leafs were performing.
'Nice homey feel'
"When you're a [Canadian] over in England and the game that you love at the highest level is being played back home, you always want to see how your favourite team is doing," he said. "It brings back a nice homey feel for you."
While online chats are increasingly popular, Doull credits the creation of YouTube as a better way for fans to follow their team. In 2006, the NHL struck a deal with the highly successful website, which allows users to upload and watch highlight clips.
According to Doull, hockey fights and thunderous bodychecks are such attractions in England that last February's celebrated brawl between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators was downloaded and a frequent rate.
"I'm sure it was big there," said Doull, who still keeps in touch with relatives abroad. "It's a handy device to have for people who can't access the games regularly."
NHL in London
But for the first time, fans will be able to witness personally the skill, speed and devastating hits delivered by some of the best hockey players in the world.
The NHL will converge to London for back-to-back games to start its season, pitting the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks against their cross-state rival Los Angeles Kings. The teams will square off for two games beginning Sept. 29 (CBC, 12 p.m. ET) at the 02 Arena.
So just what kind of reception should the likes of Chris Pronger and Rob Blake expect?
Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Wade Belak played in the Elite Ice Hockey League - an English association formed in 2003 - during the NHL lockout three years ago and has no doubt the people will immediately take to the game.
"I think they are going to get a great reception," Belak said. "It's something that the fans there have never seen before and maybe will never see again. I'm sure it will be sold out. They're going to be excited, loud and rowdy - especially with the defending Stanley Cup champions in town."
Doull backed Belak's endorsement, but also added another piece of advice to the Ducks and Kings:
"I would anticipate the players will be very pleasantly surprised, because there's a group of hardcore hockey fans over there," he said. "And I say for the second tier of fans over there: 'Why don't [the NHL players] put on a little show and brawl for them, because that's what they're looking for.'"
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