THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Will we be Kraken junkies in North Idaho?

Let’s call the hiring of Andrew Allen a story worth following.

Now then…

This is just a guess, but I’m thinking most sports fans throughout North Idaho would offer one of three likely responses to the news about Allen.

“Who in the hell is Andrew Allen?”

“It’s a decent hire. The guy has been a pretty savvy professional at almost every level.”

“Not so sure about this one. He’s had some disappointing results doing the same type of job.”

In case you happen to be in that first group and need an introduction, Allen was chosen this week to be the goaltending coach for the Seattle Kraken.

I’m assuming you know that the Kraken, the Northwest’s fledgling National Hockey League team, begin play this fall.

They won’t be lonely, either.

The Kraken could have just about filled Climate Pledge Arena twice over when season tickets went on sale.

Bottom line: The Kraken will be a hot, hot item — and at top-dollar prices, too.

HOWEVER…

The reason I teased you with that little item about Andrew Allen is pretty simple.

I’m trying to peer a couple months down the road, while wondering how the Kraken will be received here in our neighborhood.

Will the excitement of seeing the NHL — with games against Toronto, Montreal, Boston and plenty more of the league’s historic sluggers — carry east and make this a true part of Kraken Country?

What do you think?

One reason to suspect we might get somewhat caught up in the hockey hoopla is that all Kraken games are going to be carried on ROOT Sports — so it’s not like the NHL will be just a rumor around here.

If you want to see NHL hockey, it’s going to be right there for you.

The question is whether or not there WILL be a hockey fan base here.

The area has some ties to the world of skates and ice.

Spokane is home to the minor-league Chiefs — with a serious fan base that believes hockey is heaven.

CAN THE Kraken capture the hearts of our ever-growing mob of California immigrants?

Are they even hockey fans at all?

I’d honestly like to know what you think.

My own guess is that the Kraken will attract a smallish but rabid fan base here, with supporters gathering to watch games at various watering holes.

As for everyone else, well…

Did Russell Wilson suffer a cramp during a workout?

Hockey fans in other American markets tend to go in that direction — either they’re all-in, or they wouldn’t recognize Wayne Gretzky on the golf course.

Personally, I love the speed and skill of elite-level hockey.

I’ve been a longtime fan of the San Jose Sharks (and wrote a book about the club’s marketing effort when it joined the NHL).

But…

Hey, I could be a Kraken junkie.

I suspect that the availability on ROOT might lure some new fans into the Kraken camp, but the other side of that argument is that hockey‘s demographic runs to the younger side.

And that’s not us.

Who knows, though?

It’s a thrilling sport, and now we have our own NHL team.

Tell me what you think.

I’m ready for the Kraken.

You?

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Steve also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published once per month during the offseason.