Finally, the National Hockey League has returned to Europe. After a couple of years stuck in North America during the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL ventured back across the pond for a media event in Paris last month. Fittingly, France and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pierre-Édouard Bellemare was on the scene to boost awareness of the sport and league in his hometown.
“I think it’s pretty cool. I love it,” Bellemare told NHL.com. “The only downside of it is the French media is not aware. I would’ve loved to have French media so we could use it also for growing the game in France because it’s needed.”
Bellemare, one of three active NHLers from France, broke into the league ahead of his age-29 season and has amassed 118 points (56 goals, 62 assists) in 587 regular season appearances for the Philadelphia Flyers, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Lightning.
The 37-year-old’s story is one of perseverance. He spent four seasons in his homeland’s top-flight, before earning a move to Sweden, where he went onto win two national championships.
Bellemare produced at a blistering rate in 2013-14, propelling Skellefteå AIK to the Swedish Hockey League title with 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 14 playoff appearances. He also starred at the World Championship for France, scoring eight points (three goals, five assists) in eight games.
His form sparked interest from the NHL, with the Flyers winning the race to sign the left-shooting forward. From there, the rest is history.
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare: ‘There is a possibility to live out the dream’
“When I was a kid, the only time you would see the NHL was on TV, and that would happen never,” Bellemare said. “The only thing you would see was the Olympic Games every four years. So, that’s why I never grew up thinking about the NHL or dreaming about it. I never cared about it because it was not something you could achieve.
“Now, it’s really easy with the internet to be able to watch an NHL game every time when they’re on.”
In the future, could it become even easier for Bellemare’s countrypeople to tune into the league? NHL Deputy Commissioner thinks so.
“Part of the reason we decided to come to Paris was in part another short summer, and we’re asking our players to make a commitment to capture media content to promote the game,” he said.
“In making that request you want to pick a location in Europe that players want to spend time in and bring guests to. Part of it is about accommodating player interests, but do we have an interest in making hockey bigger in France generally? Of course, we do. That starts at the grassroots level, more participation in hockey.”
When asked if decision-makers at the league’s New York headquarters had considered taking the Global Series to the French capital, Daly added: “It would be great to bring teams over here at some point in the future and play a game. Probably a preseason game at first, but that’s certainly on the radar screen, although maybe a longer-term radar.”
It is an idea that Bellemare, the 13th Frenchman to suit up in the NHL, finds incredibly attractive.
“I think the rink would probably be full,” he said. “People would book way ahead because the game is not big, but it would just put hockey on the map in France.
“At the end of the day, what I’m doing, what Roussel is doing or what Texier is doing, we’re just trying to make sure that people see that there is a possibility to end up in the NHL. There is a possibility to live out the dream.”
If, someday, the NHL takes to the ice in Paris, it wouldn’t be the league’s debut in an emerging hockey nation.
The LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks filled London’s O2 Arena in 2007, while the Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks heading to the hockey hotbeds of Finland and Czechia this autumn.
“If there was an NHL game, it would bring media to the game,” Bellemare said playing in France. “Media would bring money to hockey, and that will give the possibilities of reusable equipment. … A little bit more money into hockey would bring more possibilities for the federation to bring equipment to each team so that they could invite people to try it.
“And as you soon as you play it, you get stinged by the game 100 percent.”
Do you agree with Pierre-Édouard Bellemare? Would you like to see the NHL head to France? Join the conversation by tagging @BritIceHockey on Twitter.
