Is Hockey Coming Back To Quebec?

Over the weekend on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, 50,000 Nordique fans came out to support Mayor Lebeaume's efforts to get a new arena built for a NHL team (and to make a bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics) in the capital city. The province and the city have pledged funds but to date Prime Minister Harper has said there were be no money from Ottawa unless the private sector kicks in a substantial figure. There were a number of former Nordiques in attendance, including Marc Tardif, Michel Goulet, Stéphane Fiset, Steven Finn, André Savard, André Dupont, former coach Michel Bergeron and the Stastny brothers – Peter, Anton and Marian.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has also said the city won't be considered for a franchise unless it gets a stadium and a team. The Phoenix Coyotes are in search of a new owner but the prevailing consensus is that if the team moves back to Canada, it will return to its roots in Winnipeg.

The new arena is budgeted at $400 million with Quebec and the city of Quebec each pledging $50 million.