Looks like it, yeah. Definitely better than The Globe, there's no doubt about that. I just think it's going to be hard to create a good atmosphere even if the arena is going to be at full capacity. Has there ever been an International ice hockey/football game in Sweden where the atmosphere has been decent? WC in Stockholm was dead quiet and at the opening game of Friends Arena, 2000 traveling English supporters was the only thing you heard throughout the game. Except maybe for when Zlatan scored that goal.
I'd love to see them bring a WJC to the NY metro area. They always keep it close to the Canadian border, but they have like five NY metro arena's to choose from. They could use MSG, Prudential Center, Barclays, Continental, and Islander's stadium. By the time a WJC comes to USA, Islanders arena would be vacant.
Hell, they can play one group (the one without USA obviously) in the Islanders arena and the bigger profile guys in Prudential Center or MSG.
I know I personally would love to see that, and I think it's far enough so that the Canadians don't take away the home ice advantage, per se.
Coquitlam coach/general manager announced Thursday that his star pivot is gone for the year, requiring surgery after injuring his shoulder three weeks ago in Kelowna.
"There's no chance he's coming back," Calvano said. "He's going to require surgery, then rehab and all that fun stuff. It should be a four-to-six month situation, in which he'll then be off to Harvard."
Scarlett's numbers aren't bad but what is more impressive is the huge improvement in his plus/minus compared to the past two years. I think it shows a maturation and an improved learning of the defensive side of the game.
He still needs to bulk up a little more but at this point, he looks like he could be destined for Albany soon enough and that alone isn't bad for a 6th rounder. If he continues to improve from there, then who knows - a lot of depth ahead of him.
Not super impressed with matteau but it was my first look at him to be fair.
Different game. Only an exhibition so I would guess it wasn't as physical as it could have been. Plus aren't WJC rinks bigger than normal North American rinks?
Different game. Only an exhibition so I would guess it wasn't as physical as it could have been. Plus aren't WJC rinks bigger than normal North American rinks?
Yeah this is big ice, which might really neuter the physical play.
To be honest, the whole game seemed pretty toned down today. You could tell which players were really trying to make an impression though.
If it was the same rink that had the Canada/Finland game, the rink they were playing on was a hybrid rink, meaning it's a in between of NHL size and Euro size.
I saw Matteau on his 1st shift wack some Swede behind the leg when he fell down behind the opposing net and I was like "good god, even in exhibition games, this kid likes to play a "dirty" game"
I'd be thrilled if he turned out as Pepe Lemieux 2.0
Finland just smoked the US. Horrible defensive turnovers abounded. Zero team play. It looked like one team was composed of selfish players fighting for roster spots against a team ready to do what was necessary to win.
