The Conference Board of Canada have indicated that soccer is looking to take over NHL with a shift in demographics being the main factor.
With an increase in immigrants and an ageing population, ice hockey is in danger of losing out to Major League Soccer clubs Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and the incoming Montreal Impact according to the report.
"For many, soccer is their team sport," said the report. "Ignoring the demographic reality today could hurt the financial viability of professional sports teams in the future."
Average attendances of a lot of MLS clubs are beginning to rise whilst the NHL is neither gaining nor losing but with a high number of immigrants not taking to the national sport; the world game is beginning to see some positive results.