Hasnt the NHL tried expanding into the southern US lately. (since I know little about hockey, I dont even know the teams). That is kind of detriment. We just dont know anything about hockey on average down here. No opportunity to play the game when little, which hurts chances of developing interest in the sport. The only places in the South at all with really the capability to facilitate hockey would be some of the big cities. ANd even then it is easier just easier to use such potential places for football/basketball/baseball/soccer than hockey. (I assume you need ice for hockey.
)
I've actually wanted to get to know about hockey in the past, but there is just literally no one around that knows anything about it either to explain it.
