BOYS DON'T LIE: NHL STUDY SHOWS HOCKEY HOT AMONG YOUNG GUNS

     In an NHL study of U.S. children, ages 7-14, conducted by
Greenwich, CT-based The Taylor Research and Consulting Group, 49%
of all boys in U.S. NHL team markets named hockey one of the two
"coolest" sports, followed by basketball (41%); football (40%);
baseball (28%); and soccer (26%).  With respect to the sport they
would prefer to play, boys in the same markets cited hockey (44%)
as their number one choice, followed by basketball (37%);
football (32%); baseball (32%), and soccer (30%).  According to
The Taylor Group, there is a "high correlation" among youth
between participants of off-ice hockey and in-line skating and
fan interest in the NHL, with 61% of roller hockey, 59% of street
hockey and 49% of in-line skaters calling themselves NHL fans.
Among boys who in-line skate, The Taylor Group reports that 63%
consider themselves NHL fans (NHL).