There are factors even now that don't make hockey king in the 416/905 area.
The sport is too expensive, seen as the sport of white privilege among younger and Canadians of colour. The equipment is over engineered with too much hard plastic. Middle men are mooching of the developmental leagues, parents are paying too much for red tape. And the ever present threat of severe injury including concussion.
And the way hockey is marketed rings hollow. Linking hockey with patriotism doesn't work, playing the sport doesn't make kids better human beings. Fuck that, I know enough pick up hockey players who drink excessively and ask me for money. The adverts they run reinforce privilege bordering on white supremacy. And finally how do you promote hockey to younger and/or Canadians of colour when you have a racist 80 something blowhard as your main promoter.
For the last 3 years I've watched more Raptors games than Leafs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IixF9CJ0NWY