Why does Washington State produce so few players?

nutbar

Registered User
Jan 19, 2011
1,588
9
For a state with a relatively rich history in the game over the last 100 years, they haven't produced many players themselves.

I believe Tyler Johnson, TJ Oshie, Scott Levins, and David Wilkie are the only ones who were raised there that have played more than a handful of games in the NHL.
 

bleedblue1223

Registered User
Jan 21, 2011
51,762
14,675
And Oshie played high school hockey in Minnesota, so while he's still a Seattle boy and a Seahawks fan, Minnesota is more responsible for producing him.
 

MastuhNinks

Registered User
Apr 30, 2011
6,203
6
The Iron Throne
I think it's a little generous to say they have a 'relatively rich hockey history'.

I can only assume you're referring to the Seattle Metropolitans, a team that only existed for 9 years.
 

ecemleafs

Registered User
Jan 4, 2009
19,416
4,355
New York
I think it's a little generous to say they have a 'relatively rich hockey history'.

I can only assume you're referring to the Seattle Metropolitans, a team that only existed for 9 years.

probably including the WHL teams like seattle, everett, tri-cities, spokane, and tacoma
 

VanCity Millionaires

Registered User
Oct 4, 2005
2,015
272
Vancouver
images
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nutbar

Registered User
Jan 19, 2011
1,588
9
I think it's a little generous to say they have a 'relatively rich hockey history'.

I can only assume you're referring to the Seattle Metropolitans, a team that only existed for 9 years.

Yeah but they've also had teams in the old PCHL and WHL (Seattle Ironmen, Seattle Totems, Spokane Comets, Tacoma Rockets), the WIHL (the old Spokane Chiefs), and several teams in the junior WHL since the 80's.
 

Rocko604

Sports will break your heart.
Apr 29, 2009
8,562
273
Vancouver, BC
No NHL team. I see more players in the WHL coming out of California, Arizona and Texas than I have Washington. Lack of NHL team is the first reason I think of.

Another problem is they don't have any elite hockey past the Bantam AAA level. They don't have a Major Midget league, and only have one Junior A team, based in Wenatchee. While they do have four WHL teams, they are not going out of their way to improve the quality of elite hockey in the state since they don't need to recruit or draft within the state. It seems the NHL teams in non-traditional markets usually are the ones who do that.
 

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