Most Canadians support Coyotes move to Hamilton

The bid for a seventh Canadian NHL franchise continues to gather momentum, with a new survey showing overwhelming support across Canada for the proposal to re-locate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton.

A nationally representative survey of 1,009 Canadians commissioned by PSE Sports Entertainment (PSE) found a whopping 87% of respondents agree that Canada deserves another NHL team because Canadians are the best hockey fans.

72% support the bid by Jim Balsillie and PSE to buy the Coyotes and move the club to Hamilton.

The survey shows that support for the Balsillie bid to move the Coyotes to Hamilton is deep across the country including 86% in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, 83% in British Columbia and 70% in the Prairies.

While familiarity with the bid is low in Quebec, where 29% say they have no opinion, a majority (54%) still support the bid.

From coast to coast, increasingly Canadians believe the bid will be successful.

53% of respondents expressed confidence in Balsillie's ability to move the Phoenix Coyotes to Canada.

"This shows, in quantifiable terms, the phenomenal degree of support for bringing a seventh NHL team to Canada," said Bill Walker, spokesperson for Balsillie's PSE Sports and Entertainment, which is mounting the bid. "Further it demonstrates that the support is nationwide to bring a team to southern Ontario - the biggest un-served hockey market in North America."

The poll also found:

- 78% agree that the move would benefit the rest of the NHL, since a team in southern Ontario would be more successful than the Coyotes have been during their time in Phoenix. Only nine per cent disagreed.