Pittsburgh is the new Hockeytown

At the Penguins’ victory parade on June 15, Dan Bylsma told the world what the city of Pittsburgh had known for years.

“The ‘City of Champions’ is much better than ‘Hockeytown.’”

When the Penguins defeated the reigning champion Detroit Red Wings in seven games, many suggested that the torch had been passed from a group of championship-tested veterans, to a group of young superstars hungry for more. But perhaps the real torch had finally been passed from Hockeytown to…Pucksburgh?

Okay, the name might need a little work, but Paul Ladewski from The Fourth Period says it’s time to make it official.

As for the best hockey town in the United States, well, let’s pass the torch right here, right now.

So long, Hockeytown, Michigan. Hello, Pucksburgh, Pennsylvania.

Detroit was worthy recipient of the title over the years, but no city in the US of A deserves it more than the Pittsburgh now. In the Penguins, the ‘Burgh has a talented young team with a steely revolve whose best days are ahead of it, one that plays in a town that has been puck nuts for years, win or lose.

The Penguins, averaging 103% capacity this season, have a sellout streak currently sitting at 118 games, a franchise record. In fact, as many as 10,000 fans per game who couldn’t score tickets inside watched the playoff games on a big screen outside Mellon Arena. Oh, and good luck trying to get season tickets. The waiting list is 3,000 strong and is only expected to grow in anticipation of the team moving into the new Consol Energy Center in 2010.

Throw in Pittsburgh’s record TV ratings (Game 7 in Pittsburgh drew a 42.2 rating – the highest local mark for an NHL game since the league began tracking in 1995) and merchandise sales, and it’s hard to argue against Pittsburgh’s newest title.

Pucksburgh. Hockeyburgh. Hattricksburgh?

The name needs work but that’s about the only thing in Pittsburgh that does.

(Photo: Getty Images)