Ice Hockey World Cup

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher
I swear that guy plays just like Yashin.

Who cares? He is Canadian who thinks he can do better than your entire national team. And he is damn right

Did you see the playoffs this year at all? Are there any Russians doing anything when it matters?

Of course I did see this year's playoffs of the Russian championship. I don't care for anything else.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher
The best Russian scorer so far in this playoffs is ranked 19th in the league.

Now that's domination!

Beat us at Olympic, then pretend that your are a worthy hockey nation. Otherwise - just shut up.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Serb
Beat us at Olympic, then pretend that your are a worthy hockey nation. Otherwise - just shut up.

Does all of Russia revolve around a tournament that involves teams being formed a day before it begins?

It seems like a pathetic excuse for a country.

And the team assembled was just awful. I mean, jesus christ...Bryan McCabe was one of the best defensemen in Canada?? I'd rather Mike Commodore go...

[Asher]

The most prestigious award in hockey is the Stanley Cup. Period. It predates the existence of Russia, even!

When a Russian team wins the cup, then we'll talk. Or even a team compromised mostly of Russians. Or even a Russian that can score when the game gets tough in the playoffs...

[Asmodean]

You can't compare club/franchise hockey with national team hockey. They are different entities.

Without doubt, the most prestigious club/franchise award is the Stanley Cup.

The most prestigious national team hockey award is the Olympic gold medal.

But to say that one is more prestigious than the other, is like saying that strawberry ice cream tastes better than pastrami. Not really comparable either

Asmodean

[Asher]

Originally posted by Asmodean
You can't compare club/franchise hockey with national team hockey. They are different entities.

Without doubt, the most prestigious club/franchise award is the Stanley Cup.

The most prestigious national team hockey award is the Olympic gold medal.

But to say that one is more prestigious than the other, is like saying that strawberry ice cream tastes better than pastrami. Not really comparable either

Asmodean

But that's not true.

Ask any real hockey player -- what would you rather have, a Stanley Cup Ring or an Olympic Gold Medal? 99% of them will tell you the Cup.

The Olympic hockey teams are less of a joke than the World Cup teams, which are less of a joke than the other Ice Hockey Championships, but it's still a joke. The players literally pause the NHL games, hop on a flight where they meet their teammates the night before their first games.

Hockey is an intense team sport. Teams that have less NHL players have an advantage there in that they can train as a team. They know eachother and how to play together. For international tourneys, countries like Canada are at a disadvantage because the entire team is professional players who don't have time to practice for months before a tournament together. Not to mention the fact that many of the best players don't go to these things for many reasons (injury risk, exhaustion, etc).

The only championship in hockey that really matters is the Stanley Cup. All of the other championship victories will always have a little asterix after it -- eg, Russia won, but Canada sent a crappy team as their best players stayed home. That's a fairly empty win, except when you have nothing else (which is Russia's situation).

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher

Does all of Russia revolve around a tournament that involves teams being formed a day before it begins?

It seems like a pathetic excuse for a country.

And the team assembled was just awful. I mean, jesus christ...Bryan McCabe was one of the best defensemen in Canada?? I'd rather Mike Commodore go...

Excuses, excuses, it's so Canadian, so pathetic.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher
The most prestigious award in hockey is the Stanley Cup. Period. It predates the existence of Russia, even!

When a Russian team wins the cup, then we'll talk. Or even a team compromised mostly of Russians. Or even a Russian that can score when the game gets tough in the playoffs...

I have a three major news for you.
The first is:
- the Stanley Cup is not the most prestigious hockey award.
The second is:
- the Sun doesn't rotate over US and Canada.
And the third is:
- Russia is at least as twise as older than US and Canada combined.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Serb
I have a three major news for you.
The first is:
- the Stanley Cup is not the most prestigious hockey award.

Yes it is. That's why your good players come over here to try to win it.

The second is:
- the Sun doesn't rotate over US and Canada.

I suggest you go to school if you don't think the sun ever comes over the US or Canada.

And the third is:
- Russia is at least as twise as older than US and Canada combined.

Russia was formed in 1990!

[Asmodean]

Originally posted by Asher


But that's not true.

Ask any real hockey player -- what would you rather have, a Stanley Cup Ring or an Olympic Gold Medal? 99% of them will tell you the Cup.

The Olympic hockey teams are less of a joke than the World Cup teams, which are less of a joke than the other Ice Hockey Championships, but it's still a joke. The players literally pause the NHL games, hop on a flight where they meet their teammates the night before their first games.

Hockey is an intense team sport. Teams that have less NHL players have an advantage there in that they can train as a team. They know eachother and how to play together. For international tourneys, countries like Canada are at a disadvantage because the entire team is professional players who don't have time to practice for months before a tournament together. Not to mention the fact that many of the best players don't go to these things for many reasons (injury risk, exhaustion, etc).

The only championship in hockey that really matters is the Stanley Cup. All of the other championship victories will always have a little asterix after it -- eg, Russia won, but Canada sent a crappy team as their best players stayed home. That's a fairly empty win, except when you have nothing else (which is Russia's situation).

I can only conclude then, that Canadians must have no sense of nationality. In almost all other team sports (where training together is equally important) most players itch to play for their country.

The same goes for hockey, as far as my country is concerned.

So let's play a scenario: Russia wins the world cup with a 3-1 final victory over Canada. Russia have the bragging rights. Canadians will say that they could have won if they had sent their best players. Russians will say .... "Well why didn't you? " Canadians will say, because our best players are at the Stanley Cup, and the Russians will say "Not our problem...we still won" That is not hollow in my book - that is life.

I'll tell you what the real problem is here. And that is the fact that the IIHF has absolutely no balls. If they had, none of this would have to happen.

FIFA would never allow a situation like this.

FIFA
IIHF
Football
Icehockey

Asmodean

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher


But that's not true.

Ask any real hockey player -- what would you rather have, a Stanley Cup Ring or an Olympic Gold Medal? 99% of them will tell you the Cup.

The Olympic hockey teams are less of a joke than the World Cup teams, which are less of a joke than the other Ice Hockey Championships, but it's still a joke. The players literally pause the NHL games, hop on a flight where they meet their teammates the night before their first games.

Hockey is an intense team sport. Teams that have less NHL players have an advantage there in that they can train as a team. They know eachother and how to play together. For international tourneys, countries like Canada are at a disadvantage because the entire team is professional players who don't have time to practice for months before a tournament together. Not to mention the fact that many of the best players don't go to these things for many reasons (injury risk, exhaustion, etc).

The only championship in hockey that really matters is the Stanley Cup. All of the other championship victories will always have a little asterix after it -- eg, Russia won, but Canada sent a crappy team as their best players stayed home. That's a fairly empty win, except when you have nothing else (which is Russia's situation).

Blah...blah..blah...
IIRC, Russia has a history of Olympic encounters with Canada 8:1 in our favour. You've beat us only once in 60's, iirc, while we crushed you 8 times.
If your Olympic team is so pathetic each time, then you should really withdrow from Olympics. Why bothering? Keep playing in your fancy NHL sandbox and admit that you are out of class.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Asmodean
I can only conclude then, that Canadians must have no sense of nationality. In almost all other team sports (where training together is equally important) most players itch to play for their country.

Many do, but you also can't get yourself injured.

There's also other problems. Tournaments like this one? Players CANNOT play for their country because they are currently playing for the real prize -- the Stanley Cup. Not to mention contract obligations.

You are ignoring the point, anyway. The point is contests with teams assembled days before the tournament are rather unimportant because it's a team game...and contests where your best players can't go are rather unimportant for obvious reasons.

So let's play a scenario: Russia wins the world cup with a 3-1 final victory over Canada. Russia have the bragging rights. Canadians will say that they could have won if they had sent their best players. Russians will say .... "Well why didn't you? " Canadians will say, because our best players are at the Stanley Cup, and the Russians will say "Not our problem...we still won" That is not hollow in my book - that is life.

No, it's a rather meaningless win. They win the title, but they know they didn't beat Canada's best. And it drives them nuts to know that.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Serb
Blah...blah..blah...
IIRC, Russia has a history of Olympic encounters with Canada 8:1 in our favour. You've beat us only once in 60's, iirc, while we crushed you 8 times.
If your Olympic team is so pathetic each time, then you should really withdrow from Olympics. Why bothering? Keep playing in your fancy NHL sandbox and admit that you are out of class.

Because it's fun to watch? The players that go seem to enjoy it.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher

Yes it is. That's why your good players come over here to try to win it.

Our players go there for experience and money.

I suggest you go to school if you don't think the sun ever comes over the US or Canada.

I suggest you re-read my post.

Russia was formed in 1990!

No comments. Fancy Canadian education. No comments.

For your education, USSR has collapsed in 1991, not 1990. And Russia is at least a thousand years older that that.

[Asher]

Olympic medals in ice hockey by country:

Canada: 19

Russia: 4

Fact...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games

also, IIF World Hockey Championship medals:

Canada: 44

Russia: 3