I would bet top dollar a UND vs UM outdoor game, nationally televised, would draw over double the tv viewers than an OSU vs UM game. Half the "attendance" at blue jackets games are simply there for social entertainment reasons not because of their dire passion for blue jacket hockey. I also would bet that a small % of those blue jacket fans are die hard buckeye hockey fans. The state is much bigger that is the obvious (and only) reason for more USA hockey members.
The only potential viewers that will watch a nationally televised college hockey game are college hockey fans. Plain and simple; sorry fellow hockey fans our sport is 4th in the food chain and soccer is catching up fast. So who has the best college hockey fanbase...we do.