To find America’s most passionate hockey community, Kraft Hockeyville decided to bring on one of America’s most passionate hockey people.

“Get the guy with the biggest mouth who’s not afraid to talk,” said Jeremy Roenick, the former NHL great-turned-NBC commentator.

The Kraft Hockeyville USA program is based on that same successful program in Canada, which rewards one lucky community with prize money and an NHL preseason game in their arena. The winning town will be announced on May 2, and will receive $150,000; the total money split by the winner and runners-up is $425,000.

“They wanted it to be 10 percent of the participation they’ve had in Canada since 2006, they’re already at 20 percent and it just started,” said Roenick. “It’s been an overwhelming success.”

Visit Kraft Hockeyville USA for more info on entering your town.

We spoke with Roenick about the USA vs. Canada; Jack Eichel’s World Junior championship flop; helping to run an NHL team in Seattle or Vegas; his Stanley Cup Final pick; and some major love for P.K. Subban.

Q. How important is it for the U.S. to develop its own Hockeyville and Hockey Day in America and all that stuff?

ROENICK: “They one thing that Canada has going for it is that it’s hockey crazed from coast to coast. So no matter what you do, in any part of the country, it’s going to take off in leaps and bounds.

“The U.S. is a little different because we’re not one of the top three sports. We might not even be one of the top four sports if you take NASCAR into consideration. It’s very much a regional battle that you’re dealing with. Southern California is getting better, parts of Texas, parts of Florida. You’re always going to battle that mainstream that is football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR.

“But I think it’s improving. Our youth programs are growing. Our junior programs are the best in the world along with Canada … unfortunately, not this year in world juniors, because they had a little ego problem.”

So what do you think happened with world juniors this year?

“I think the U.S. is a good team. And I think they knew it. And I think they tried to choose their spots to play. When you’re playing in the international tournament, you can’t pick your games. You have to play consistent every night.

“I think Jack Eichel hurt himself a little bit with his draft status. A lot of people thought he could go No. 1 ahead of McDavid. But I think he hurt himself in that aspect.

“He seemed too cool for school. I heard how fast he was, how mean he was. I didn’t see that. He stood around, going through the motions. You can’t score three points in a 5-game tournament and expect to be the top pick.”

But do we weigh world juniors too heavily? Erik Johnson earned a No. 1 pick through his play there, for example.

“I think there’s a lot of stock and I think there should be. It’s the best teenage players in the world. You’re not going to have better competition. If you can’t play at a level against the best players, the red flag’s going to go up.”

View photos Jan 26, 2014; New York City, NY, USA; NHL former player Jeremy Roenick skates with youngsters on a miniature rink before the Stadium Series hockey game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium. (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports) More

We were both at the balmy Winter Classic in D.C. Where do you stand on NHL outdoor games? Too many? Too few? Just enough? Tired of the same teams?

“As I went through the year last year – I did every one with the exception of Vancouver – I was worried they were diluting a good product. But everyone that I kept going to, it had the same excitement. The same feel. Not the same temperatures, but it still brings back that aura of nostalgia. People really enjoy it.

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