I think people are misunderstanding the true meaning of this comment. Cherry even admits he's being a sore loser. What he's getting at is Canada is developing all these hockey players and you may as well slap Canada as the team name of every team in this tournament because its Canada's hockey programs that's developing them into the future stars they are.
Sweden has the grand total of 2 players playing for Canadian junior teams. That's not even as many as the number of Canadian players on US teams.
But sure Sweden are only where they are thanks to Canada's hockey programmes
I think this rant among all by cherry puts the proverbial cherry on the cake..
Hes saying that the talent is developed in the CHL, come on let's look at some of the greats of the game that never stepped foot in the CHL... Swedes ( forsberg, sundin, lidstrom,alfie, the sedins, naslund.. To name a few.. Let's look at the fins ( selanne, the koivu's,) the Russians ( Alex ovechkin, malkin, gonchar) among other countries, jagr, chara...
Not saying that the CHL doesn't give the NHL quality prospects because they do.. Guys like Crosby, up and comers drouin and mackinnon...
Just saying the basis of the NHL isn't soley based on talent from the CHL,
/rant
Cherry's been put through the ringer so many times for his tired old dinosaur views, and it never once shuts him up. Ever. He's going to keep getting on that same old soapbox as often as he can, BECAUSE he can.
He's done a lot for this game as a Canadian, and his HHOF ticket is more or less stamped by now I think. So he's earned that much.
I just wish he would ride off quietly into the sunset and stop making us look bad with these little rants that he does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SephF
Seriously, we need to start taking pride in important things like maple syrup and tobogganing.
He's said it before and he is as wrong now as he was back then. Good foreign players in CHL make the Canadian players better because of better team mates/opponents.
I think Cherry hasn't kept up with what is happening in the hockey world. Other countries develop good hockey players. Sweden have a terrific youth program. USA almost has as many registered players as Canada. No wonder they'll be able to beat Canada some of the time.
Cherry's been put through the ringer so many times for his tired old dinosaur views, and it never once shuts him up. Ever. He's going to keep getting on that same old soapbox as often as he can, BECAUSE he can.
He's done a lot for this game as a Canadian, and his HHOF ticket is more or less stamped by now I think. So he's earned that much.
I just wish he would ride off quietly into the sunset and stop making us look bad with these little rants that he does.
You're forgetting our most valued institute!
I was gunna go to work today but my polar bear collapsed. How the hell am I gunna get between places now?
Exactly. Some see his comments as racism. They confuse, in my opinion, racism with patriotism. He likes a lot of players from other countries and he has never shied away from saying it, just like he'll pounce on a Canadian player not doing the right things.
Grapes is simply showing a bit of patriotism and in his opinion, he would like to see the CHL be reserved to young Canadian players to be developed.
Personally, I don't see that as a crime. If it is, crucify me with him on that one.
Different perspective from an American. Isn't the CHL a for-profit business, and their primary goal is to put the best product on the ice for the fans who pay to see the games? While they do develop talent - the CHL's primary goal isn't to get players ready for the NHL.
It's just my perspective that by doing a good job of getting players ready for the NHL, they receive the following benefits.
1) They get to add more elite talent to the league from overseas in the way of gifted players who see the CHL as the best way to prepare for the NHL.
2) Because the NHL respects the job they do, the NHL agrees to a series of restrictions which includes restricting players who were drafting out of the CHL from playing in the AHL until they are 20 years old, and the NHL not being able to call up CHL players during the CHL season (except on an emergency basis).
That being the case - wouldn't it be the paying fans who pay for restricting the CHL to Canadian citizens only? It's not like there is an elite level talent Canadien kid cut from the CHL to make room for Nail Yakupov.
And if the CHL is really the best place to develop talent for the NHL - what benefit is there to restricting it to Canadian kids? Overall, it just seems like a opinionated, reactionary rant when Team Canada lost.
He's an old fart, with old views...guys like Grapes are the type that give every country the motivation to beat Canada...I will give him his props for admitting he's a sore loser...
