IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Norway will be able to cause good teams trouble imo. Because they don't have any NHL players(but good SEL & KHL players) right now, they have both a lot of chemistry and are beneficiaries of the big ice. Especially early on in the tournament it's an advantage.
Seeding:
Group A: Russia (1), Slovakia (6), USA (7), Slovenia (18)
Group B: Finland (2), Canada (5), Norway (8), Austria (15)
Group C: Czech Republic (3), Sweden (4), Switzerland (9), Latvia (11)
The US has only themselves to blame for their seeding. The same guys that are going to be on this team are the same players that decided getting ****faced over the off-season (looking at you Patrick Kane) is more important than playing for the national team.
I wish USA Hockey would start refusing to take players to the Olympics who pass up on the WC team. Take the guys that actually care about giving back to the programs that developed them and not the guys who just want to be on TV at the opening ceremony.
That is my point, for a team to be the best second place team they will need to run up the score against someone in the top 3 of the pool which won't happen in that pool.
lol at you thinking I'm that ignorant to take shots at Slovak Hockey.
I knew what you meant, I was only messing with ya, hense the winky face.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EbencoyE
The US has only themselves to blame for their seeding. The same guys that are going to be on this team are the same players that decided getting ****faced over the off-season (looking at you Patrick Kane) is more important than playing for the national team.
It doesn't really matter anyway. To win gold (or any medal) you are sooner or later going to have to beat a few very good teams.
But ya... If the US wants a better IIHF ranking leading to a potentially more favourable draw in IIHF sanctioned tournaments like the Olympics they should start sending better teams to IIHF tournaments that the rankings are based on. Over the past decade or so at the WC the US has more trips to the relagation round than medals. For a country with as large a player pool as the US this shouldn't be happening.
The US has only themselves to blame for their seeding. The same guys that are going to be on this team are the same players that decided getting ****faced over the off-season (looking at you Patrick Kane) is more important than playing for the national team.
I wish USA Hockey would start refusing to take players to the Olympics who pass up on the WC team. Take the guys that actually care about giving back to the programs that developed them and not the guys who just want to be on TV at the opening ceremony.
I'm mean sure it would be nice to be playing against teams Finland and Norway like Canada does in Group B but I personally don't have a problem with the US playing against Russia and Slovakia, it forces them to play with a sense of urgency from the start and get the 3 points on a nightly basis so they can advance beyond the preliminary round.
With respect to Patrick Kane, I agree it was pretty selfish of him to not represent his country at the World Championships, it's just a shame considering many of the top European players like Chara, Ovechkin, Malkin, Zetterberg, etc... seem to gladly accept the invite to represent their countries at this tournament last year and throughout the years. It's a shame.
Did I miss something, or since when Finland is a "walk" for Canada? In 2006 Olympics group stage Finland beat Canada you know, and Finland tends to always overachieve in Olympics.
As a Canadian fan, I hate group B. Hardly any time to see if the starting goaltender is up to snuff (which has clearly been a Canadian issue at past Olympic tournaments) and if the lines have any legitimate chemistry. I hope the Finland game is informative, and I wouldn't mind seeing Canada play a qualifying match after group play.
As a Canadian fan, I hate group B. Hardly any time to see if the starting goaltender is up to snuff (which has clearly been a Canadian issue at past Olympic tournaments) and if the lines have any legitimate chemistry. I hope the Finland game is informative, and I wouldn't mind seeing Canada play a qualifying match after group play.
Wholeheartedly agree. Our game against Germany in the qualifying round in 2010 was when Babcock shuffled the lines and put together the Toews-Nash-Richards unit that was so good for us the rest of the way through, and bumped up Morrow to the Getzlaf-Perry combo which gave them some life (they were a non-factor up to that point). Theoretically the bye past the qualifying round should help, but at least for Canadians, that extra game has helped us in the past. And, as another poster above said, we'll have to beat at least a few excellent teams to win gold anyway.
Neither do I. When we play you guys I either see a decent U.S. win or we get absolutely blown out by you guys. The three of us dogging it out for two spots while Canada gets the walk makes me sick.
What I would rather see is them go to a 4 group 4 team system in the olympics.
the tournament would be 3 round robin games
group winners get a bye
2nd vs 3rd are the play in round with winners facing the group winners
With this system it will be less on the NHL players....which also means the league wouldnt have to shut down for 2 weeks.
What they could do is play NHL games opening weekend of the Olympics 9Friday/Saturdayy)
The players travel to the Olympics for a Wednesday start.
Round robin Wed-Sun
Tues play in round
Wed Quarters
Thur off
Fri semis
sat silver
Sun gold
the NHL impact would be limited where
they play 1 game Sun-Tues
they shut down from Wed-Thur (or they play only 2 games this stretch)
they resume play on Friday/Saturday games
for the Qualification tournaments they really should have done the first round in September 2012 or May 2013.
then the Olympic qualification round in September 2013.
Personally when the Olympics are going, I really don't even think about the NHL at all. It use to be the other way but with the emergence of my national team at the junior level and the level at which the game is played on a national level in terms of talent, its no contest.I finally understand what the Swedes and Russians were talking about. When the Olympics are on, I am completely enamored for a good 3 months leading up to it. NHL completely takes a back seat.
We really all need to thank NBC for making the Olympics with NHL players happen.
The NHL didn't know it but when they accepted the NBC's national spotlight contract, it was going to be a foregone conclusion to include their own players.
Personally when the Olympics are going, I really don't even think about the NHL at all. It use to be the other way but with the emergence of my national team at the junior level and the level at which the game is played on a national level in terms of talent, its no contest.I finally understand what the Swedes and Russians were talking about. When the Olympics are on, I am completely enamored for a good 3 months leading up to it. NHL completely takes a back seat.
We really all need to thank NBC for making the Olympics with NHL players happen.
The NHL didn't know it but when they accepted the NBC's national spotlight contract, it was going to be a foregone conclusion to include their own players.
Heh, I'm like this for ALL international hockey - not just the Olympics.
I was more pumped for the Olympic qualifiers and the World Juniors than I was for the end of the lockout. And unless my team (Tampa) is in the playoffs, I'll surely be paying far more attention to the World Championships.
I'd probably boycott the NHL if they ever ruined the Olympic hockey tournament by not letting the players go. I mean I'd still enjoy it, but it's the one time all the national teams are near-full strength. Plus Team USA without NHLers would probably get routed every game.
Heh, I'm like this for ALL international hockey - not just the Olympics.
I was more pumped for the Olympic qualifiers and the World Juniors than I was for the end of the lockout. And unless my team (Tampa) is in the playoffs, I'll surely be paying far more attention to the World Championships.
I'd probably boycott the NHL if they ever ruined the Olympic hockey tournament by not letting the players go. I mean I'd still enjoy it, but it's the one time all the national teams are near-full strength. Plus Team USA without NHLers would probably get routed every game.
It's true man. Every World Juniors I start getting super pumped for. For the past five years I just am all about it. It's been good to for us thus far because the US world juniors team has been pretty solid the past five years. Can't wait for next year. Less than a year man...less than a year.
It's true man. Every World Juniors I start getting super pumped for. For the past five years I just am all about it. It's been good to for us thus far because the US world juniors team has been pretty solid the past five years. Can't wait for next year. Less than a year man...less than a year.
I think with the WJC being a staple on tv now we will be seeing more hockey fans getting excited over this tournament. the NHL Network does the best they can when the tourney is on European ice, and I hope it gets the same buzz again next year.
I am more excited for the WJC than pretty much anything else...and that is the truth. I just love that tournament as it is pretty much the last purity of our sport where kids are truly playing for love of the game and their country.
Heh, I'm like this for ALL international hockey - not just the Olympics.
I was more pumped for the Olympic qualifiers and the World Juniors than I was for the end of the lockout. And unless my team (Tampa) is in the playoffs, I'll surely be paying far more attention to the World Championships.
I'd probably boycott the NHL if they ever ruined the Olympic hockey tournament by not letting the players go. I mean I'd still enjoy it, but it's the one time all the national teams are near-full strength. Plus Team USA without NHLers would probably get routed every game.
I thought I was a pariah for stating I care more about the international tournaments than my club's success in the league. Mainly because of the loyalty and consistency of the players, and the fact that there is something that ties them down to play for that team, even if it's something as arbitrary as their country of birth. Players generally just chase the paycheque when playing for their clubs and I hate the fact that I can buy a player's jersey one day and within the same season he'd be traded to a rival team. There is nothing that unites the members of a club team other than the fact that they are all paid by the same owner. Generally when a player hits free agency they go for the best deal they can take, and so I feel no particular connection to the players in my club. JMO. I respect those who care about the clubs > country and I know these opinions can lead to quite emotionally charged and fanatical debates. I think my preference comes from my international background, world travelling and previous obsession with European soccer ("football").
On that token, the Olympic Games is by far the most entertaining form of hockey for me regardless if Canada has been eliminated or not, followed by the playoffs if my team is in it, followed quite closely by the WHCs and then the WCs if Canada's still playing. I don't even watch the NHL regular season anymore, just follow the updates. I secretly didn't care if the lockout continued... we might have had a pretty good WC this year if so.
Basically means Finland will be the best second placed team as they have Norway and Austria
You mean Canada?
(Well, to be honest, obviously they are big favourites, but that's just one game and Finland is known to overperform and have excellent goalies, so I wouldn't count chickens before hatching....)
I thought I was a pariah for stating I care more about the international tournaments than my club's success in the league. Mainly because of the loyalty and consistency of the players, and the fact that there is something that ties them down to play for that team, even if it's something as arbitrary as their country of birth. Players generally just chase the paycheque when playing for their clubs and I hate the fact that I can buy a player's jersey one day and within the same season he'd be traded to a rival team. There is nothing that unites the members of a club team other than the fact that they are all paid by the same owner. Generally when a player hits free agency they go for the best deal they can take, and so I feel no particular connection to the players in my club. JMO. I respect those who care about the clubs > country and I know these opinions can lead to quite emotionally charged and fanatical debates. I think my preference comes from my international background, world travelling and previous obsession with European soccer ("football").
On that token, the Olympic Games is by far the most entertaining form of hockey for me regardless if Canada has been eliminated or not, followed by the playoffs if my team is in it, followed quite closely by the WHCs and then the WCs if Canada's still playing. I don't even watch the NHL regular season anymore, just follow the updates. I secretly didn't care if the lockout continued... we might have had a pretty good WC this year if so.
No doubt. I'm right there with you. I'm a soccer fan as well and I love the TRUE free market they have in soccer where you can actually tell if a player wants to be where he is or not and isn't just following the money.
And best of all about soccer, the national teams always come first. It sickens me when NHLers pass up on their WHC teams just because they feel they're "too good" for it, and no longer need to play in it to raise their worth to NHL teams.
I'm not nationalistic by any means, but I believe giving back to the programs that developed you and promoting the sport in your homeland is far more important than chasing a paycheck. But what are we supposed to expect from the same players who have canceled a season and two half-seasons just because of money? Modern greedy society is a shame. I'm proudly against modern football, and similarly against modern hockey.
I thought I was a pariah for stating I care more about the international tournaments than my club's success in the league. Mainly because of the loyalty and consistency of the players, and the fact that there is something that ties them down to play for that team, even if it's something as arbitrary as their country of birth. Players generally just chase the paycheque when playing for their clubs and I hate the fact that I can buy a player's jersey one day and within the same season he'd be traded to a rival team. There is nothing that unites the members of a club team other than the fact that they are all paid by the same owner. Generally when a player hits free agency they go for the best deal they can take, and so I feel no particular connection to the players in my club. JMO. I respect those who care about the clubs > country and I know these opinions can lead to quite emotionally charged and fanatical debates. I think my preference comes from my international background, world travelling and previous obsession with European soccer ("football").
On that token, the Olympic Games is by far the most entertaining form of hockey for me regardless if Canada has been eliminated or not, followed by the playoffs if my team is in it, followed quite closely by the WHCs and then the WCs if Canada's still playing. I don't even watch the NHL regular season anymore, just follow the updates. I secretly didn't care if the lockout continued... we might have had a pretty good WC this year if so.
Heh, I'm like this for ALL international hockey - not just the Olympics.
I was more pumped for the Olympic qualifiers and the World Juniors than I was for the end of the lockout. And unless my team (Tampa) is in the playoffs, I'll surely be paying far more attention to the World Championships.
I'd probably boycott the NHL if they ever ruined the Olympic hockey tournament by not letting the players go. I mean I'd still enjoy it, but it's the one time all the national teams are near-full strength. Plus Team USA without NHLers would probably get routed every game.
Not just that, but I doubt we'd have AHLers either. Why would Minnesota let Charlie Coyle or Jason Zucker go to Russia when they might call them up for a game in the NHL?
We'd basically be down to college players and European pros. We would need...... almost....
I believe you are correct. Three byes and the team with the most points and tiebreakers is Goals for.
Yah I'm with you. I've already assumed Switzerland's going to piss people off. They are fun to watch and as far as I'm concerned they've got the talent to be put into the same category as the rest of us. That's a solid a grouping too though with the Czechs and the Swedes.
Hopefully I'll be able to get my ass there. Looking up ferries from Varna to Sochi otherwise I gotta shell out the dough for a flight or drive for two days.
Two days?
How fast do you drive? It took me nearly 17 hours to drive from Ukraine to Sochi and 10 hours to go from Eastern Ukraine to Moldova and there isn't a good direct route across southern Ukraine, trust me, I've tried it, it's horrible.
How fast do you drive? It took me nearly 17 hours to drive from Ukraine to Sochi and 10 hours to go from Eastern Ukraine to Moldova and there isn't a good direct route across southern Ukraine, trust me, I've tried it, it's horrible.
Usually put in 12 to thirteen hours on extended road trips. Done the US twice then again the roads in Eastern Europe aren't nearly as well maintained. I'll probably end up flying as flights to Moscow from Sofia are relatively cheap. The crappy thing is its less than six hundred miles as the crow flies directly across the Black Sea. Varna and Sochi are literally on polar opposite ends of the Black Sea from one another.
