Greatest upset in history of World Championship hockey?

[JohnT]

It's not looking good for my country's national hockey team if nobody from America bothers to post in a thread about them. It's a sad state of affairs for ice hockey when you get a livelier American response in a thread about US football/soccer teams.

[Winston]

It has always puzzled me how Americans seem to take absolutely no interest in their national team in any sport, except when the Olympics are on - and even then, whatever amount of enthusiasm is built up, it's gone in no time at all afterwards.

And the same with the Football/Soccer World Cup. Every 4 years, a bit of enthusiasm from some people, but once the finals are over, no interest in building up/maintaining a team of importance and strength suitable for the country's size and potential.

In sports, it's like the rest of the world doesn't exist to Americans. Except in 'professional team' ice hockey where the existance of Canadian teams is acknowledged for the purpose of playing the Stanley Cup...

[JohnT]

Our best athletes in our most popular sports go to the professionals. That's why.

[Winston]

So do European athletes, but national team sports are very strong here. With professionals participating.

[JohnT]

Your countries are (mostly) small, making your fan base more concentrated. That probably has something to do with it.

[Pekka]

Every country loves WC, except the US. Even Canada follows it just a little bit. US is the only one with complete ingorance to the games, and the games todays are very high level with best pro players too. These games are filled with THE best pro players from NHL. They want to win it, they appreciate it, they like to represent their country. So, this is problem Americas problem. Not ours.

[Pekka]

Doesn't look good for Denmark.. Switzerland is winning Latvia here.. Denmark needs Latvia to win. Or they have to win Sweden AND Latvia.. Oh well.. even without Denmark advacing to quarter finals, they have played helluva games.

[Flubber]

People in Canada aren't following these championships much since most attention is focused on the NHL playoffs. Besides, these games hardly matter, except as a method to get your team playing well. The Canadian team is certain to make the quarters and then its single elimination games so everything that went before is pretty much irrelevant . . . It does determine opponents but with the increased parity, thats less of an advantage compared to even 5 years ago.


That said, it is almost certain that the medallists will come from the big 6 of Russia, Canada, Sweden Czechs, Slovaks and Finland. These 6 have taken every medal since 1997 (USA bronze in 1996) and all but one since 1962 when the US took a bronze). Everyone else would be delighted to just win a quarterfinal game and truthfully most are delighted just to get to play in one ( making the top 8)

For the top teams, there was always the debate over whether you even want to finish at the top of your group since players have a tougher time getting motivated for a supposed "easy game" in the quarters. The theory was that it was better to have a tougher contest to sharpen the team.

[Pekka]

Flubber,Sure. But at least some Canadians check out the results from internet .
Well are there any other countries that would be real challenge, lets say in olympics or world cup? Or is it just, that the US and Canada don't care about international games at all?

[Flubber]

Canada cared about the Olympics as did the US and the result was Canadian gold. Canada also cared at Nagano but Hasek stole the game (semis) with his brilliance and the team couldn't get it together for the bronze.

Canada cares about international hockey but the placement of the IIHF worlds during the NHL playoffs means that the very best players-- from pretty much all countries but more so from the elite nations, are not available. Its hard to get excited about the worlds when its not a contest of best vs best. Also , the gap between the best teams and the rest would be greater.

Note: don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good players there and some good hockey but it hardly elicits much in the way of bragging rights.

Personally, I'm not watching anything except highlights until the quarters when I will try to watch the games

[Pekka]

You mean to say we beat you guys in Nagano?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Peter Forsberg IS the best player in the world right now? He is in the games.. so is Sundin and maybe rookie of the year, Zetterberg for Sweden. So I wouldn't say they are that bad.. Only one who scored over 50 goals? Hejduk.. plays for the Czechs.. etc etc list goes on.

But I know what you mean... people get really excited when quarter finals are played.. the first games are not that important, since they always go the same way, same countries getting into those games. And if we think about it from players view, if there was only one thing they could win.. everyone would say 'Stanley Cup'.
So sure, that means the most for the players.
And don't get me wrong, I follow NHL very closely, I like NHL more than any other league or tournament.
It's just that now I have two things to follow, good hockey in both, so I don't know why I should concentrate only for the other one..

[Winston]

Shute. I can't even watch Sweden-Denmark, which has just started. None of the channels I have are showing it.

I found a teletext page with updates though.

Go Denmark!

[cinch]

People in Canada aren't following these championships much since most attention is focused on the NHL playoffs

That's true, in a way, but I think you may be undervaluing the interest in the WHC here. Sure, the games don't get watched too much, mostly due to their outrageously early times, but on the highlight shows, WHC highlights usually come directly after NHL ones, preceding basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. The WHC can't match NHL-style interest, but it's not in danger of being forgotten.

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Also, as for this tourney not being worth much, because it doesn't feature the "best of the best"... I suppose it's arguable, but I'd, personally, rather watch a Team Canada featuring Dany Heatley, Daniel Briere, & Steve Staios, than the same-ol'-same-ol' of Shanahan, Lindros, & Niedermayer.

It makes for exciting hockey.

[Winston]

Sweden-Denmark 1-1 after (presumably) the first period.

He-he.

[Pekka]

cinch, yeah, Canada has decent team this year. They play exciting hockey and try hard.. and are having success so far. I didn't take into account that the times are horrible for you guys.. Too bad. It would be cool if they held it in Canada soon, or the US.