World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team North America

[Canuckistani]

I still can't believe this insult of a team is actually going to happen.

It'll be hard to imagine these guys giving a damn about the outcome or viewing American/Canadian rivals as teammates, especially if they end up playing against their own country.

Bettman is a complete POS for putting these guys in such a situation.

 

[admire]

Do I understand it correctly that there will be olympic qualifying in the same period as this? or at least just before.

 

[wej20]

Any love for Matt Murray as one of the goalies?

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

After watching the recent World Championships and seeing what an International tournament is suppose to look like , this looks even more of an insult to the intelligence of Hockey fans. But then again the nhl is just a league that thinks two countries exist on this planet.

$$$ is the only thing that matters to this league. If they wanted this to be serious you hold it in Europe first and grow it, don't see this growing past 2 tournaments judging how many Canadians even consider this a joke.

 

[Addison Rae]

You're right.


Sportsnet's projected roster:

Brandon Saad (23)- Nathan MacKinnon (20)- Jonathan Drouin (21)

Sean Monahan (21)- Connor McDavid (19)- Ryan Strome (23)

Alex Galchenyuk (22)- Jack Eichel (19)- Johnny Gaudreau (23)

Boone Jenner (23)- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (23)- Mark Scheifele (23)

Sean Couturier (23)
Max Domi (21)

On the bubble: Jonathan Huberdeau, Bo Horvat, Linden Vey, Curtis Lazar, Matthew Nieto, Sam Reinhart, Anthony Duclair


Morgan Rielly (22) - Aaron Ekblad (20)
Seth Jones (21) - Jacob Trouba (22)
Morgan Rielly (22) - Dougie Hamilton (23)

Ryan Murray(22) - Mathew Dumba (22)
Damon Severson (22) - Cody Ceci (22)

On the bubble: Noah Hanifin, Griffin Reinhart, Nathan Beaulieu, Darnell Nurse, Jamie Oleksiak



John Gibson (22)
Malcolm Subban (22)
Calvin Pickard (23)

On the bubble: Zachary Fucale, Eric Comrie, J.F. Berube, Thatcher Demko, Connor Hellebuyck

(Note: Player's age as of Sept. 17, 2016 is listed in brackets.)

linden vey lmao

 

[Aceonfire*]

Gotta wonder who the coach will be.

Babcock is a lock for Team Canada.

Maybe McLellan if he is available or Richards if he isn't with Team U.S.A.

Also...who the hell is going to manage the U23 team?

 

[JackSlater]

Gotta wonder who the coach will be.

Babcock is a lock for Team Canada.

Maybe McLellan if he is available or Richards if he isn't with Team U.S.A.

Also...who the hell is going to manage the U23 team?

I've heard Cooper's name mentioned as a coach of the Young Gunz. He's Canadian with dual citizenship, and Hockey USA seems to like using Canadians who have American citizenship only due to their mother. He would be pretty neutral to each federation I would think since he hasn't coached internationally before.

 

[jfc64]

Swedish-Finnish & Dane Not-Yet-24 by sep 1 2016 Team


Rask - Lindholm - Forsberg
Teräväinen - Barkov - Landeskog
Granlund Ma. - Zibanejad - Armia
Burakovsky - Rakell - Jensen
de la Rose - Wennberg -

Lindholm - Larsson
Ristolainen - Määtä
Klefbom - Brodin
Hägg - Olofsson

Ortia / Forsberg

 

[NHL Dude 120]

I honestly think its a great idea if Hockey Canada and USA Hockey assign top up and coming GM's, coaches and executives to build the team. that way when the old executives retire these guys will have international experience. The U23 team isnt expected to medal so its a win win situation.

 

[wej20]

I honestly think its a great idea if Hockey Canada and USA Hockey assign top up and coming GM's, coaches and executives to build the team. that way when the old executives retire these guys will have international experience. The U23 team isnt expected to medal so its a win win situation.

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Scotty B]

If my math is right off the top of my head any player from canada or USA born on or after Sept 2 1992 is eligible.


Monahan nuge gaudreau
Drouin mackinnon huberdeau
Mcdavid schiefele strome
Saad couturier Jenner
Horvat/eichel/wilson/Reinhart/domi etc who knows?!

Ekblad jones
Reilly Hamilton
Trouba seversson
Murray/oleksiak/nurse

Gibson
Fucale/subban

A la McDavid, Eichel ( Yankee McD ) is a lock for the team! Trust me, NHL brass wouldn't let a golden opportunity like this go by, to market the hell out of these guys...these golden boyz who many have called generational talents !

Boy, the way Larkin played at the WC's wouldn't mind seeing him make it either.

People been saying these NA u23's have no shot at a medal. But that's wrong. A far, FAR less talented USA roster had the Russians on the ropes ( again at WHC's ) for 40+ minutes...Yeah , Yeah... Russians were thin on D...BIG DEAL...look who their forwards were !

Mark my words...These young guns could easily send one of Hockey's historical heavyweights home early!

 

[leafsfuture]

So is it confirmed that late 92s will be allowed??

If so that would be HUGE. Saad and Couturier would be major players. Couturier would be a great shutdown 3C, and Saad could either roll with him, or you put him with a RNH type

 

[Canuckistani]

What reason do we have to believe that any of these players will give a damn about this stupid team?

They'll be representing their age group for crying out loud - possibly against their own country.

Can McDavid or McKinnon be expected to want to defeat Team Canada alongside some American kids? Would any Canadian want them to?

 

[Pominville Knows]

What reason do we have to believe that any of these players will give a damn about this stupid team?

They'll be representing their age group for crying out loud - possibly against their own country.

Can McDavid or McKinnon be expected to want to defeat Team Canada alongside some American kids? Would any Canadian want them to?

What makes you think americans and canadians more or less hate eachother? Look, i love when Sweden beats Finland but i actually quite like finnish people like i like my brother in a way. Like the USA and Canada like eachother like brothers. In individual sports i like nothing more than to beat my brother, but in a two people team sport i like nothing more than to team up with the same brother. The Under-23 team consists of brothers in the same age group, they have many more things in common then i as a swede are aware of.

 

[Aceonfire*]

What makes you think americans and canadians more or less hate eachother? Look, i love when Sweden beats Finland but i actually quite like finnish people like i like my brother in a way. Like the USA and Canada like eachother like brothers. In individual sports i like nothing more than to beat my brother, but in a two people team sport i like nothing more than to team up with the same brother. The Under-23 team consists of brothers in the same age group, they have many more things in common then i as a swede are aware of.

The U23s may not be playing for a country, but many of them are RFAs. This is a good chance to showcase their skills.

The hard part is when they find that their country is cheering against them.

I for one will be cheering for this team as well as the Euro All-Star team. They have a huge disadvantage and will be massive underdogs. Its a meaningless tournament so I would be fine with Canada losing to a bunch of younger players. It could teach them a lesson in humility.

 

[Canuckistani]

What makes you think americans and canadians more or less hate eachother?

Who said anything about hate? They might be best of friends, but at an interntaional event they'll still want to play for their country as opposed to their age group.

I'm sure Finns and Swedes get along fine, but no player would want to join a Sweden/Finland U23s instead of his national squad.

 

[drew5580]

i dont completely hate the idea of this team as much as some seem to. I get what the organizers are saying. i like this rather than putting in a country that would be steam rolled by everyone else.

 

[PuckG]

i dont completely hate the idea of this team as much as some seem to. I get what the organizers are saying. i like this rather than putting in a country that would be steam rolled by everyone else.

But what motivation do the players on the team have? If it was me personally, the only reason I would play for the U23 squad would be to hopefully impress enough so that I can make my national team for the next large scale event.

 

[leafsfuture]

If you think these kids wont play hard against Team Canada or Team USA, then you have never played a competitive team sport in your life.

These kids will play HARDER against their home countries.

 

[xxxx]

If you think these kids wont play hard against Team Canada or Team USA, then you have never played a competitive team sport in your life.

These kids will play HARDER against their home countries.

I agree. I have no doubt that both the NA and European teams will be playing their best. Call me crazy, but I believe it.

 

[Gaps]

Who said anything about hate? They might be best of friends, but at an interntaional event they'll still want to play for their country as opposed to their age group.

I'm sure Finns and Swedes get along fine, but no player would want to join a Sweden/Finland U23s instead of his national squad.

No average hockey fan in Finland would root for a Sweden/Finland team (no matter which age group). We have a love/hate relationship with our Western neighbors and in hockey it tends to gravitate more towards hate, from our side anyway. Our cultures are also vastly different, especially when it comes to management style. I would actually argue that Finns get along better with Americans than Swedes. A Sweden/Finland team would be nothing but laughing stock in Finland.

 

[JayP812]

If you think these kids wont play hard against Team Canada or Team USA, then you have never played a competitive team sport in your life.

These kids will play HARDER against their home countries.

Seriously. People here are acting like playing against players who are also within the imaginary lines that you are from is the same as giving up everything you are as a person. Hockey is a game, not your sole source of national pride. I'm a proud American and a proud U23NA fan.

 

[Jablkon]

Seriously. People here are acting like playing against players who are also within the imaginary lines that you are from is the same as giving up everything you are as a person. Hockey is a game, not your sole source of national pride. I'm a proud American and a proud U23NA fan.

I just dont think it is healthy for young players to being force to eliminate your own A team. This will be probably first tourney where guys from the same country are playing against each other.... Common this could be done in peewee, not on senior level. Nonsense....

 

[Scotty B]

I just dont think it is healthy for young players to being force to eliminate your own A team. This will be probably first tourney where guys from the same country are playing against each other.... Common this could be done in peewee, not on senior level. Nonsense....

If our U23's beat our A Team, good on them. I'll have mixed emotions about the game anyway. David vs Goliath stories are always compelling, especially on a Big Stage...Not quite Miracle on Ice II, but close enough

 

[Jablkon]

If our U23's beat our A Team, good on them. I'll have mixed emotions about the game anyway. David vs Goliath stories are always compelling, especially on a Big Stage...Not quite Miracle on Ice II, but close enough

But you are fan. What about the players from U23? If you had mixed emotions they would be completely mixed. I dont even know if being "a good pro" means that you have to play against your own country on int. stage without any strange taste in your mouth. They are not robots..Well, I actually think it is a biggest nonsense and noone should be pushed to do that. I wouldn't definetely play for 100% against Jagr. You can not avoid national pride factor on int. stage....

I remember Nedved wasy saying that it was quite weird to play against czechs in 94 OG. I can not imagine entire team. But I admit I might be completely wrong.....