I think you've missed the point, the guy asked "Does the average UK citizen know what hockey actually is" and the answer to that is yes. It doesn't matter how much they know about it, they still know what it is.
Hockey is there in popular culture, mostly in films (even if it's not specifically about hockey). When the mighty ducks movies came out they were very popular among 90's children such as myself, I did see them before I ever became remotely interested in hockey. Hockey was once featured on a Top Gear episode. Goon was shown in UK cinemas. Games always used to be on EuroSport and the Olympics were on BBC. The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash got a considerable amount of news coverage here the day it happened.
It's true the British game gets little to no exposure but the sport as a whole does.
I can only answer for London, people I know, lads in late 20s to mid 30s, all know what it is but the marketing is terrible. But we all know it from the legendary mighty Ducks.
As a note for London, I bought 8 tickets for Haringey Racers at Ally Pally as it was on wowcher, just as a throw away to see if anyone would come. Cleared them within half hour, with everyone looking to come again on a semi regular basis. People have an interest when it's prompted.
Looking back at the London Knights, people just didn't know it was on, really an issue with marketing. And in the past, rinks in Romford, London arena and Bracknell, I live near Wembley, well they are all over an hour drive with traffic probably a lot more. Even Ally Pally, it takes over an hour on the tube then the overground. The rink locations for London has pretty much buried every team we have had.
Pretty much everyone knows NHL teams, just it hasn't been progressed, although I think if it were to be marketed, then I think it has potential. Hoping the Wembley team happens, nice 15 minute walk and a London team that works is great exposure.
