International TournamentsDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Canada's biggest rival? USA or Russia
View Poll Results: Canada's biggest rival? USA or Russia
__________________
Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
That was a fail. Anyways. I say USA. I still remember jumping up and cheering when Della Rovere crushed Shattenkirk in the boards from behind. Stupid really but I was pumped. Della Rovere was my favourite.
That was a fail. Anyways. I say USA. I still remember jumping up and cheering when Della Rovere crushed Shattenkirk in the boards from behind. Stupid really but I was pumped. Della Rovere was my favourite.
Well last year they were booing the Americans when they weren't even playing Canada. Don't remember that being done to the Ruskies.
The rivalry with the US is less of a hockey rivalry and more of a sibling rivalry IMO.
We're so much like you guys in so many ways, hockey is one big differentiator.
However, I don't think it's enough to supplant the traditional hockey rivalry with Russia, which while diluted through hockey and cultural interdependency over time, is still a bit of a battle of philosophies and hockey schools that has a certain dimension that our North American rivalry lacks.
If you are not sure about your answer, ask yourself this:
Who would you cheer for if the US played Russia for the gold. I bet the answer today would be far different than the answer in 1980 for the semi-final game.
I am far more bitter when we lose to the USA than I am when we lose to Russia. But I think Canada-Russia have a more historic and entertaining rivalry.
I equate this to people asking Leafs fans who their biggest rival is, Habs or Sens. It's great to have new-age rivalries, but for me the ones with history as well always get top nod and get me fired up more.
Games against USA are definitely crazy intense these days, especially with USA's rise to join the elite in the world when playing at the highest level. But the games against Russia are even moreso intense, WITH additional past history sprinkled in. So for me, that's an easy choice.
And I don't think you need to have been alive to respect the past history aspect. Everyone in Canada knows all about 1972 and what it meant, no matter when you were born. Did anyone else hear how they wheeled TV's in for the kids to watch Canada/Russia Game 8 in school? Oh that's right, ya you did, because everyone from that generation brings it up as soon as you start talking '72 with them. LOL
I absolutely LOVE this interview (other than the result that lead to it). It shows the passion and love that Yakupov has for the game, as well as a hint of respect towards Canada with how much it means to them to beat them in their own country.
Eighty thousand peoples! Just 30 guys in Siberia say GO RUSSIA! Haha, love that part. Anybody that loves hockey as much as this kid does is a-ok in my books.
I'm leaning towards USA personally. More satisfying when we beat our neighbor than a country a thousand miles away, although I guess they are both sort of our neihbour. Really close though.
I absolutely LOVE this interview (other than the result that lead to it). It shows the passion and love that Yakupov has for the game, as well as a hint of respect towards Canada with how much it means to them to beat them in their own country.
Eighty thousand peoples! Just 30 guys in Siberia say GO RUSSIA! Haha, love that part. Anybody that loves hockey as much as this kid does is a-ok in my books.
I can only imagine the outrage if a Canadian player did this. It's ok if any other country does it though, right? People love to hate Canada when it comes to hockey. It only means we are the best.
Got to go with Russia as USA has not brought their game in the past. Be it the WJC or the Olympics I always love watching Russia VS Canada as they both tend to play completely different styles of hockey. Watching the USA just does not do it for me.
Got to go with Russia as USA has not brought their game in the past. Be it the WJC or the Olympics I always love watching Russia VS Canada as they both tend to play completely different styles of hockey. Watching the USA just does not do it for me.
I love how you say that yet 2002 and 2010 the US was in the Gold Medal game for the Olympics
I can only imagine the outrage if a Canadian player did this. It's ok if any other country does it though, right? People love to hate Canada when it comes to hockey. It only means we are the best.
-Gretzky
Most of that "outrage" would come from other Canadians who label themselves as "traditionalists"
That is in the dressing room after the game. It's not like from Euro 2008 where Bastian Schweinsteiger is giving an interview and the Spainish team is dancing around them. You think the Canadian kids went home after winning gold several years ago and stone faced went to bed reading a book or something?
I can only imagine the outrage if a Canadian player did this. It's ok if any other country does it though, right? People love to hate Canada when it comes to hockey. It only means we are the best.
-Gretzky
I really think it depends on who says it and how. If you consider he was speaking in his second (or 3rd?) language, was excited and sounded pretty limited by his vocabulary it really isn't that big a deal.
I had no issue listening to Wickenheiser laying a smackdown on everyone after Canada won.
