Team Canada Announced (Turin 2006 Hockey)

[joncha]

You could fit a normal-sized head into that mouth!

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Pekka
Czechs are awesome but they will have defensive problems and if their great offensive won't be on fire, it's good bye..

What?

They've got Hasek in goal with Vokoun doing back up.

The d-line is strong with Zidliky, Kaberle and Spacek.

Solid all the way through and biggest challenge for Canada.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Pekka
haha, yeah, he looks like a goof no matter how you put it. BTW, I'm not sure how he has carried himself in the NHL regarding statements, but in here he says THE weirdest things. He jokes but he has a weird sense of humour, the kind I like You know when you'd be like 'what did he just say?', but then you know he is like that so you know he is just joking and weird. Unless you knew that, you'd be totally offended or think he is insane or just not able to understand what he means.

During the playoffs, he met some Calgary fans and press outside the Saddledome. They talked for a bit until Ville's linemate, Marcus Nilson, arrived in his car. The fans asked Ville what was his opinion about Marcus.
-Ville: Who?
-Fans: Marcus.
-Ville: Who?
-Fans: Marcus Nilson.
-Ville: Marcus Nilson? What does he do?
-Fans: He plays hockey.
-Ville: Really? On which team?

Also:
'People sometimes say I am poor man's Esa Tikkanen, but it's more like I'm a homeless Esa Tikkanen. Unfortunately, I have never met him.'

[Pekka]

I didn't mean they have goalie problems. I just don't like their blue line. Then again, this is mostly personal opinion, for example I don't think much of Kaberle, who has hogged tons of points and is a great player. But I think he sucks.

Also I see Vokoun to be a bit weak at times.

Kuba? Kubina? These are all world class players but I don't see them stopping the beating that's coming for them. Me says it depends how well their offense works out.

You see, Czech team is just like Russias team. Bad day, they will suck horribly. Good day, they are unstoppable, but they are inconsistent throughout the tournament, they can have the lack luster game when in quarters IMO.

Surely they are favourites of the tournament but I rank them out of medal games because they will fail in quarters .

[Pekka]

I think the problem with Czech team, as well as Russia and USA faces is that their teams, it seems to me, have been slapped in hurry and has no roles in it. For example, we have left better players out, it's not even the best players. Few players should be on that team and 0 euro players. We left our best euro player out, who totally dominated the elite league in here, but he has no role in the team.

Just like Hentunen, he's not just good, but .. they see him having a role. IT's totally roled out the whole team, I see that important factor for tournament modes. I don't see Czech team doing it, I don't see USA doing it and I don't see Russia doing it right now. This be the reason there will be clitches, this will be the reason for defeat when it matters even though on paper they have favourite teams. This is my opinion.

Otherwise we can just lay down the results, Canada wins, Russia/Czechs, Sweden, USA, Finland/Slovakia, etc.

I don't believe this to be true I'm not saying, you know we have one of the weakest teams there. But I think we will outperform the Czech team this year too.

[Tingkai]

The Czechs played great in Vienna last May. I'm not a great fan of Kaberle either. I've seen him screw up too many times in the playoffs with the Leafs. But he was a totally different player in the World Cup.

Vokoun played great too.

Hasek can easily cover for any defensive laspses.

Do you know who will be playing goal for Russia?

[Pekka]

of course I'm more hoping than not.

I just don't like the style of hockey some of these favourite teams play. I don't think it's disciplined, I dont' think it's the success mode. People start thinking they are better than they really are, you know, superstars and stuff. It's a team effort. I rather put nameless folks there who are hungry and want to beat down these otehr teams than team full of 10 million dollar players who won't show up to play every night!

Canada doesn't have this problem, USA most likely doeas not have this problem. I know we don't have that problem, I know Sweden does not have that problem. They play for the team more, every player.

Everyone does their thing, they keep in within the basics of hockey and simply generate lots of shots, little mistakes in their own defense, and that's it, fight for every period, shift, face off. Being consistent, working their way up. You know, not staring at the names of the jersey, that means nothing. What matters is, who came to play, who came to play every night.

Who can get their game going on early enough, good day can mean most fav teams can beat other fav teams, if GOOD day comes. Now let's make that good day come through work ethic, working hard and making the plays. And there are teams that are stronger in that area and there are teams that are ab it weaker in that area. That lack of selfish playing. Taking the hits, giving 110% every second and supporting team mates in and out of the rink.

That's the team that will win. And those are the teams that have, IMO, best chances in the long run, in short tournament modes.

Thus my rankings stand as they are

[Pekka]

But you know guys, no matter what happens, there will be some great hockey. I will enjoy all the games where our team won't play and that's great. Some good games coming up!

I'm waiting for Slovakia to make some waves, look at their roster.. it's not bad at all. I also like the creative hockey Latvia plays, I just think it's great hockey even though they are not in the top level just yet, but they will be in the next 10-15 years, I think it's the next team to truly challenge to top teams, like Slovakia has started to do. I don't know what's up with Switzerland.. they have had some great junior teams, so I don't know why they haven't been able to take it to the next level with adults.

[Tingkai]

The Swiss tried to play offensive hockey against the Swedes last spring. Big mistake. The Swiss got slaughtered.

Meanwhile, Ukraine played a tight defensive game and gave the U.S. and Canada a run for their money. Mind you both games were incredibly boring. Much more fun to watch the Swiss go down.

[Kontiki]

If it weren't for their notorious ability to choke in pressure situations, I'd be worried about Sweden as well. That looks to be a pretty solid team, especially if Lundqvist can deliver in net.

[The Mad Viking]

Too many old slow players on Canada's roster, who aren't even playing well.

Should have Crosby, Staal & Spezza on roster.

No need whatsoever for Bertuzzi. Having a bad year, and besides, I don't want convicted felons representing Canada in the Olympics, especially when the felony was committed during the performance of their sporting event.

Seriously, about 95% of the callers to the FAN radio were opposed to Bertuzzi being on the team. And their Canadians!

I think Italy should tell Canada they will refuse Bertuzzi entry, due to his criminal record.

[Kontiki]

Bertuzzi doesn't have a criminal record.

Something to ponder:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1135291812718&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064

The COC would have trouble defending Bertuzzi's exclusion, given that other athletes who've gotten in trouble in the past were not denied the opportunity to represent Canada:

Mark Leduc served prison time for armed robbery, before he began a boxing career that led him to a silver medal for Canada at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Four-time Olympian bobsledder Ken LeBlanc served three months in prison after being convicted of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm in September 1990.

Ben Johnson pleaded guilty to assaulting fellow track athlete Cheryl Thibedeau and was given a conditional discharge in October 1991. He competed for Canada in the Barcelona Olympics the following summer.

Boxer Andrew Kooner was charged with assaulting a police officer just days after being named captain of the boxing team for the 2004 Athens Games.

[Ninot]

Originally posted by Tingkai


It'll be Canada and the Russians in the final.

Fixed.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by The Mad Viking
Should have Crosby, Staal & Spezza on roster.

The problem with that is they're all centers.

So who would you drop? Sakic, Lacavalier, Richards, Draper?

And before you say Draper, he's a checker, Crosby is not.

[Ninot]

Originally posted by Tingkai


The problem with that is they're all centers.

So who would you drop? Sakic, Lacavalier, Richards, Draper?

And before you say Draper, he's a checker, Crosby is not.

Bah, like a center has never shifted to the wing in his life.

And Draper doesn't deserve to be on the team. Hes having a terrible year and players like him don't succeed as well at the olympic level.