Dakota NHL Team

If South Dakota's largest city has 165k people (230 metro) and North Dakota's has 115k (220 metro) can a NHL hockey franchise be sustained between the two places combined?  They don't amount to Winnipeg's area totaled up (660k (=450k)).  That is to say that there would have to be some passion required, indeed.

Wouldn't it be neat to have a traders market in a plaza outside of some unique facilities in these two towns for a Dakota NHL travel team?

These cities, Sioux Falls and Bismarck, are around 240 miles apart, which is for the most part the distance between Cleveland and Cincinnati.

As far as being the smallest sustainable hockey market in America, I bet it's the Dakotas.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/small-market-nhl-cities-need-more-than-fervent-fans/article614791/

How about being called the Dakota Shield?  Dakota Spears?   Scouts, Arrowheads?  Dynamite, Steeds, Stallions, Broncos, Mustangs, Horseman, Cattleman, Cowboys, Colts, Bison, Herd.... .

Cheering on North Dakota on ice.

I'm Dakota Fanning.  Get it?  [Not the name; the verb]

See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine.