With salaries expected to double by 2002, club owners say the franchises in Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver could soon go south as the Quebec city Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets already have, to Denver in 1995 and Phoenix in 1996 respectively.

ECONOMIST: Canada

Benoit Clairoux, the author of "'Les Nordiques de Quebec: 1972-1995, " said Quebec City's attachment to the team is tied to an inferiority complex.

WSJ: Quebec: The Only Thing Missing Is a Team

Some fans just started following the local junior team, the Quebec Remparts, which draw 11, 000 fans to the Nordiques' old rink, Colisee Pepsi.

WSJ: Quebec: The Only Thing Missing Is a Team