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Canada's biggest rival? USA or Russia
View Poll Results: Canada's biggest rival? USA or Russia
Overall it is Russia, no doubt. This goes back to 1972 while the US goes back, maybe to 1991 at the earliest. Perhaps it wasn't until 1996 with the World Cup that the true rivalry started. So Russia has withstood the test of time with us.
I know one thing, that there is always this feeling in the air the day we play Russia that I never feel against any other country. It is a feeling that I've always got. I know that Russians are no longer "commies" but you know what, even in 2012, on the ice in an actual hockey game in my heart of heart they are still "commies" to me. I guess that's the power of hockey for you, it is just deep rooted.
The Americans are a clear #2 though. It isn't as if we don't hate them, because we do. But there has been less of a reason for us to hate them. They beat us in the World Cup in 1996 but until then we didn't really hate them because we weren't threatened by them. After that it wasn't until the 2004 WJC that we had another reason to truly hate them. Then of course 2010 again. Maybe in the Olympics there was some animosity as well. But Canada seems to win these battles more often than not. With Russia it goes in cycles. We all loved to see Ovechkin have to leave the game in the WJC in 2005. We also loved the 2010 Olympics because quite honestly the Russians seemed like the biggest threat.
I will still give the Russians the edge when it comes to my gut as to who the bigger rival is.
Overall it is Russia, no doubt. This goes back to 1972 while the US goes back, maybe to 1991 at the earliest. Perhaps it wasn't until 1996 with the World Cup that the true rivalry started. So Russia has withstood the test of time with us.
I know one thing, that there is always this feeling in the air the day we play Russia that I never feel against any other country. It is a feeling that I've always got. I know that Russians are no longer "commies" but you know what, even in 2012, on the ice in an actual hockey game in my heart of heart they are still "commies" to me. I guess that's the power of hockey for you, it is just deep rooted.
The Americans are a clear #2 though. It isn't as if we don't hate them, because we do. But there has been less of a reason for us to hate them. They beat us in the World Cup in 1996 but until then we didn't really hate them because we weren't threatened by them. After that it wasn't until the 2004 WJC that we had another reason to truly hate them. Then of course 2010 again. Maybe in the Olympics there was some animosity as well. But Canada seems to win these battles more often than not. With Russia it goes in cycles. We all loved to see Ovechkin have to leave the game in the WJC in 2005. We also loved the 2010 Olympics because quite honestly the Russians seemed like the biggest threat.
I will still give the Russians the edge when it comes to my gut as to who the bigger rival is.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
The USA is a Canadian hockey rival, Russia is Canada's hockey enemy.
I feel like USA vs Canada has produced better moments. Certainly at the junior level. Every year the teams seem to outright despise each other which makes for more interesting games, IMO.
I feel like USA vs Canada has produced better moments. Certainly at the junior level. Every year the teams seem to outright despise each other which makes for more interesting games, IMO.
I dunno, Canada-Russia the last two years have been two of the most exciting games I've watched at any level.
Russia because they always take Canada out.
America just because of history. I find that rivalry isn't as intense as the one with the Russians currently.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tortorella
Absolutely. That collapse was one of the greatest things I've seen on ice.
I think Russians are a lot more humble when they win. Losing to the Americans is like nails on a chalkboard. I just hate it so much.
This is true. I have cousins who grew up here but go to college in the States (UConn specifically), and they told me that when the U.S. beat Canada in the preliminary round of Olympic hockey, all their U.S. college friends were chirping them hardcore, including many people who had never watched hockey before or cared about it at all. Though obviously once Canada won gold they shut up.
This is true. I have cousins who grew up here but go to college in the States (UConn specifically), and they told me that when the U.S. beat Canada in the preliminary round of Olympic hockey, all their U.S. college friends were chirping them hardcore, including many people who had never watched hockey before or cared about it at all. Though obviously once Canada won gold they shut up.
It's also true that there are extremely annoying Canadian fans.
The difference seems to be that the more passionate the Canadian fan, the more obnoxious he/she is (although usually it's a he).
The less passionate and knowledge the American fan, the more obnoxious he/she is. (Again, so few female fans are obnoxious, as it seems to be a male trait.
