Non-traditional hockey markets producing good players By CHRIS STEVENSON, QMI Agency

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. (QMI Agency/VERONICA HENRI) Ex-pat Canadians now raising blue-chip, hockey-playing offspring in the United States Michigan developing next wave of American NHLers Despite success, USA Hockey's NDTP still has its critics Texas city becoming hockey prospect factory Seth Jones poster boy for U.S. hockey growth

PLANO, TEX. - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has taken his lumps for expanding into America's Sunbelt.

But as time goes on, there's more proof putting NHL teams in places like Florida, Texas, Arizona, Tennessee and California has accomplished at least one thing in the NHL's favour: those non-traditional hockey markets are now producing some pretty good players.