World Cup of Hockey '04

[cinch]

Well, it's been 8 long years, but it's finally that time again: an NHL-rules international competition is at hand.

The exhibition games have been tantalisingly close. The Yanks are looking strong this year, the Slovaks are playing like they're frigging Czechs or something, and of course, Canada's a perennial favourite .

I'm pumped... the round robin begins tomorrow. Finally, the snooze-fest Summer Olympics coverage on CBC will segue into awesome-tastic hockey programming... Ron MacLean and Steve Armitage will remain, but the excitement quotient will increase exponentially.

So, who do you like? And besides that, who'll win?

Oh, I'm getting ready to be quite a slob during this coming week...

And not a twinge of guilt!

GO CANADA GO!

[Pekka]

YEAH!

less than 12 hours until our first game begins against the Czechs.. they're tough.. very tough.. but beatable.. I think we have a chance of winning.. last week we tied with them in their home arena, today we will play against them in our home arena for points. I hope we win.. I hope so bad.. if we win.. or even tie... we'd be so close to winning Euro Group, because we woudl win Germany and then it's Sweden.. if we can win Sweden after that.. we'd face Germany in the quarter finals.. but we'll see.. tough opponents..

For your hockey fans, I urge you to watch our games too.. us against Sweden and Czechs will be huge super games.. even if your team isn't playing, you should tune in to see some fireworks! I'll watch others games also.

So ANYWAY!

I think, rationally, Canada should win. But you never know! I'm rooting for Finland . I hope we win.

[joncha]

Canada's looked very beatable so far. They've still got a chance to pull it together in time for the big games, but I think this one is open to (almost) anyone.

[cinch]

Originally posted by joncha
Canada's looked very beatable so far. They've still got a chance to pull it together in time for the big games, but I think this one is open to (almost) anyone.

True, very true.

The interesting thing about this tourney is just that; there are so many teams that have a good chance of taking it all. Canada, the US, Sweden, and the Czechs are always threats to take it all. The Russkies usually are, too, but they seem to be in shambles this time around due to weird post-Soviet inner conflict. The Slovaks, as I mentioned, are taking a cue from their former countrymen and playing high-level hockey. The Finns have the skills and if they execute they'll be very dangerous.

I don't think we have to worry so much about ze Germans.

But I think we still have a good chance.

[cinch]

Speaking of hockey:

How about the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes?!

Last year, they were a lower-tier, "bunch o' guys with heart" team that tried hard but sputtered down the stretch. So what does management do during the summer?

Sign Brett Hull, Mike Ricci, Sean O'Donnell, and Petr Nedved. And speaking of Nedved: GODDAMN HIM! He used the Oilers as a bargaining chip to raise his price with other teams. Our GM didn't even have a chance to match the reasonable offer that Phoenix ended up landing him with. Some say this is because his wife urged him to sign with a club closer to the modelling/acting hotspot of Los Angeles, since she's an aspiring one herself.

I guess I can't really say I blame the guy: if I had a super-hot model wife, I'd probably take her advice not to play in Bumkinsville as well.

But as a hockey fan, I have no choice but to hate him and boo him with every fibre of my being every time Phoenix comes to play against Edmonton. The fact that Mike Comrie is also on Phoenix will mean that my lungs will be mighty tired by the end of each of those contests.

ALSO: Phoenix traded Daymond Langkow to Calgary for firebrand defenseman Denis Gauthier and the skilled but inconsistent Oleg Saprykin. I think it was a fair move for both teams, but I think Sutter & the Flames will benefit most from it.

[Fake Boris]

Anyone saw this? Finland humiliates the Czech Republic 4-0.

[cinch]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
Anyone saw this? Finland humiliates the Czech Republic 4-0.

Congratulations, Pekka!

[Pekka]

YEAH! ANd it was DECISIVE victory.. we were able to dominate in every single area from face offs to puck control to shots to goals.. everything. It could have been worse figures for their super team.. And Kipper WAS on fire. The few attempts they made, they were kind of bad, and not lot of shots against goal so dangerous situation, but Kipper was still very good and shut down all attempts.

It was like 12 shots or so they could make against our goal, and we returned with 34, and still missing some vital chances. It was very good.. and most importantly, points spreaded wide, 4 different scorers, and only Koivu was the hot shot, while 3 others were not top scorers, but did score. We still have our top scorers loaded. And we left players like Nieminen sit in the audience with Laaksonen and Hahl. So they are not even used yet.

[trickey]

It should be some good hockey, that's for sure.

I'd like to say Canada is an all out favourite to win, but that's just not the case. The Finns, Swedes, Czechs, Americans could all win as well. I don't think Russia will do so well. In order to win a close tournament like this, you need a top-notch goltender, which they lack.

Watch out for Slovakia, they are a country that will soon join the "elite" teams. Maybe not this year, but soon.

Another team that is quickly rising up the ranks is Switzerland. They are still quite a bit weaker than most teams, but their performance at the junior and under 18 tournaments has been steadily improving over the last little while.

'Twil be interesting

[Chemical Ollie]

Tonight we meet the Krauts. Anything but a large victory would be embarrassing, but our team normally don't play so well vs lesser nations in the beginning of tournaments.

[Gangerolf]

Why are there so few teams? I realise the rest of the world suck at hockey, but still...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
Why are there so few teams? I realise the rest of the world suck at hockey, but still...

It is because the rest of the world sucks at hockey. As it is Germany has no chance of winning so they couldn't find even 8 teams with a chance. Why bring in more?

A short high quality tournament is what this event is about-- If you want to see the lesser teams, like Denmark, France , Japan etc playing the second tier squads of the top nations, then thats what the annual world championships are for.

Hmmm Canada has enough depth that we COULD send a second team and beat the next seven ranked nations. I'm not saying Canada will definitely win this World Cup but I am saying thet Canada has unmatched depth.

Heck, the word was that Joe Thorton may be a healthy scratch but they switched ... (source tsn.ca)

"Although Team Canada has not officially announced their lineup, Patrick Marleau, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Jay Bowmeester, Scott Hannan and Jose Theodore will not be in uniform tonight when they face the United States for its first round-robin game in the World Cup of Hockey tournament."


heck the round robin does not really matter anyway since everyone makes the playoffs and on the North America draw, there is no great advantage to facing one team over another. Even on the Euro side where Germany will be weaker, there are pundits that will say it is better to play tougher teams to keep the intensity going and that an easier victory can be harmful in the long run

[Pekka]

"Hmmm Canada has enough depth that we COULD send a second team and beat the next seven ranked nations. I'm not saying Canada will definitely win this World Cup but I am saying thet Canada has unmatched depth."

Yes. But the beauty of the game is you never know, and every game is played 60 minutes. You still have to bring it and perform, and hope the other one doesn't get too lucky. It's a game...

Well, the game between Sweden and Germany is about over.. Tre Kronor has dominated from start to the finish. They're looking good. It's tough to tell, because they haven't faced the tougher competition yet. But they're looking good no matter.. Especially Sundin.. damn that man.. he is looking strong there's no way around it. He is playing good hockey there, it will be tough for us to break. Salo had a nightmare mistake, bad luck, but maybe he is jinxed now ... we'll see.

5-2 victory for Sweden.. yes.. Isn't US and Canada playing today? We get all the games here live, naturally of course, so I was just wondering.. maybhe I need to stay up and watch it.. but who am I kidding, it's not like I'd sleep those hours anyway

So, the group in Euro is now that Sweden and Finland 1 win both, Czech and Germany 1 lost both. Tomorrow Sweden and Czech faces each other, important game. Day after tomorrow we face Germany, we should win it, and then saturday we face Sweden, and that's when the winner of this group will be decided.

It's like Selänne just said in an interview 'If it's our day, no one can win us'. Well.. it naturally goes for most teams, but it's true!

[Fake Boris]

I know I'm dreaming... but wouldn't it be soooo cool to have a man's only matchup between Canada's and Quebec's bests?

[Sava]

USA USA USA!