Study names Detroit best hockey city; Ann Arbor, Houghton, Big Rapids all top five for college puck

By @MichaelCaples –

Hockey fans in Michigan will certainly agree with the findings of a study conducted by WalletHub.

The website – a personal finance site owned by Evolution Finance – named Detroit the best hockey city in the country in its annual “Best Cities for Hockey Fans” examination.

WalletHub’s survey also examined college hockey towns, and – in no surprise to us – Ann Arbor, Houghton and Big Rapids all claimed spots in the top five.

According to the WalletHub post, analysts ranked the 72 largest cities using 17 key metrics that ranged “from ticket prices to stadium capacity to the performance level of each city’s teams.”

Detroit took the top spot – and top NHL spot – with a total score of 54.91.

Ann Arbor, home of the Michigan Wolverines, checked in at No. 2 on the college-specific ranking, and No. 23 on the national scale, with a 15.17 score.

Houghton, home of the Michigan Tech Huskies, was ranked No. 25 overall, and No. 4 in the college poll.

Big Rapids was next at No. 26 – the home of the Ferris State Bulldogs checked in at No. 5 in the college poll.

East Lansing wasn’t far behind – the home of the Michigan State Spartans was No. 33 overall, and No. 15 for college puck.

The Lake Superior State Lakers’ hometown, Sault Ste. Marie, was No. 37, and No. 20 for college hockey.

Marquette, home to the Northern Michigan Wildcats, was No. 47, and No. 27 for the college game.

Kalamazoo, home to the Western Michigan Broncos, was No. 60 overall, and No. 42 in the college category.

For more information, click here.

Thanks to the Detroit Free Press for the original find.