text: how do we increase the popularity of ice hockey in the usa? ice hockey is one of the fastest, most exciting and intense sports on the planet. it's loved in canada and europe, but it's only a niche sport in the usa.  most people in the us don't understand it or know much about the pro and college teams, let alone the stars. the best answer is take as many kids as you can to a hockey game.  i love hockey and have from the time i could walk.  i can enjoy the game very much on tv.  i have noticed though that people that dont grow up with it cant on tv unless they have been introduced to the excitement of seeing it live.  hockey is in my opinion the most complex of games.  but that intensity is just not felt on the tv with out the excitement of seeing it and feeling the energy in person.  the other thing that works is share your excitement talk it up explain the suttle things.  oh yeah and tell people that their are fights lol.  some times that works too