I wouldn't say failure by no means but maybe some fireworks missing talentwise and it sounds like bit too corporate centred approach by the hosts - it can easily kill the buzz if the tickets not reasonably priced for the actual fans (as a Finn I know this only too well...)
2017 WJC Failure?
- Thread starter ChiefWiggum
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AINEC*
AINEC
- Jul 4, 2011
- 7,332
- 2
This year is by far the least interested I've ever been in a WJC tournament. I would regularly anticipate the annual NYE team Canada game, but this year could not have cared less. Not sure what it is, but the lack of any really captivating prospects (on team Canada) definitely doesn't help. I definitely need to catch some Dahlin however.
- Feb 23, 2014
- 27,914
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Finland deserves exactly what's her getting, including the still-possible relegation. The coaching approach starting from the naming of the coach has been such a bad show of what's worst in the Finnish hockey management shenanigans that it's only good that this forces that midden to be turned upsidedown a bit and putting the focus on the sportsy side of things.
- Feb 23, 2014
- 27,914
- 87,522
One of those damned if you do, damned if you don't things. The World Juniors were nothing 20 to 25 years ago, but TSN breathed a whole life into it (kudos to them) and generated it into what it is today. Have they made the WJC too big for its own good? Possibly.
Personally, it has a lot to do with the setting. Having it take place in Toronto and Montreal strips the charm of the tournament right down. I want to watch this in a rinky dinky, dimly lit arena in small town Sweden or Finland, or a smaller Canadian city like Saskatoon, than a big league city that views this as yet another corporate schmoozefest. I'd also rather sit around on Boxing Day at 1 in the afternoon cheering on Canada than have this on in prime time going up against all the big league sports.
This tournament was the best in the 80's and early 90's when it was a USSR-Canada showdown and the great Sweden teams of the early 90's. Now the best Juniors are almost all already in the nhl.
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 33,364
- 23,729
I think people are fatigued by the whole thing. There's very little spectacle to it. Maybe make it a once every two years thing.
- Apr 27, 2005
- 36,405
- 36,602
I mean obviously this year isn't going to have the star power we saw last year. The top 7 rookie scorers in the NHL all played in Helsinki last year.
hototogisu
Poked the bear!!!!!
Between CZE trapping and CAN struggling to put a pass together for the first 30 minutes, I certainly wouldn't call it a classic by any stretch. It was a choppy, ugly game IMO until Canada finally started to assert themselves in the last half (but then you're just watching Canada dominate which is not very entertaining either).
Privet
Registered User
This is the first world juniors that I can honestly say I do not care about, I am not excited about, and I have not watched a full game yet... and I haven't bothered to watch the highlights..
yawn.
yawn.
ChiefWiggum
Registered User
The outdoor game between Canada and the US will be the final push off the cliff to capitalism for this tournament
Rocko604
Sports will break your heart.
That tournament, and the 2015 Women's World Cup, crossed my mind while going through this thread and the "Poor Attendance" thread. When the 2007 was out here in Vancouver (Burnaby) tickets were nearly impossible to get because they were priced aggressively and the venue was small (10,000).
I tried searching for ticket prices for the 2015 Women's World Cup but couldn't find any figures, other than you could see every match, including the QF, SF and Final for $50 or under. Pretty sure the lower bowl for the final wasmore expensive than that, but I do remember the Canada prices being very reasonable for the R16 and QF that were at BC Place.
While it was nice having the tournament here more often at first, I honestly would like to see them go back to Europe more frequently. I know it's not as $ucce$$ful there, but when the tournament did come here every 3 years or so, it was a big deal. Now, not so much.
Canadian Finn
Oskee Wee Wee
I think the overload in the last couple years isn't going to help in Buffalo next year.
I know Buffalo is expecting at least 50% of the fans to come up from Canada.....
Recently speaking with my friends on NYE, trying to drum up interest, when asked if anyone wants to go to any games in Buffalo.....no one asked me "how much the tickets cost"....rather, they all just said, nah.....
These are the same guys that went to five games with me in Toronto 2015.
I know Buffalo is expecting at least 50% of the fans to come up from Canada.....
Recently speaking with my friends on NYE, trying to drum up interest, when asked if anyone wants to go to any games in Buffalo.....no one asked me "how much the tickets cost"....rather, they all just said, nah.....
These are the same guys that went to five games with me in Toronto 2015.
Limited star power yes: the list of absentee talent used to be like 4-5 guys, but now NHL teams are more willing to keep 18 and 19 year olds because of the cap. Now it's like 12 or so.
Montreal and Toronto are awful hosts. It's like holding a college football game in New York City. Really wish they'd go back to hosting it in places like Saskatoon or Kelowna.
That said I think the biggest reason people are bugging out about this tournament is Canada's lack of success the past few years. People often ask for parity, but actually having a goliath team is more exciting. When Canada was on their 5 gold winning streak it was fantastic to watch every game, with people trying to knock off the champ. That's what made those USA-Canada games classic. The final in Saskatoon a classic and the final in Buffalo a classic. After that Canada sank into relative (by their standards) mediocrity. One gold in seven tournaments. Few are likely to admit it but I think this is a huge factor.
That said I've watched more of this tournament than the last three so I'm enjoying it.
Montreal and Toronto are awful hosts. It's like holding a college football game in New York City. Really wish they'd go back to hosting it in places like Saskatoon or Kelowna.
That said I think the biggest reason people are bugging out about this tournament is Canada's lack of success the past few years. People often ask for parity, but actually having a goliath team is more exciting. When Canada was on their 5 gold winning streak it was fantastic to watch every game, with people trying to knock off the champ. That's what made those USA-Canada games classic. The final in Saskatoon a classic and the final in Buffalo a classic. After that Canada sank into relative (by their standards) mediocrity. One gold in seven tournaments. Few are likely to admit it but I think this is a huge factor.
That said I've watched more of this tournament than the last three so I'm enjoying it.
As someone who went to a handful of games in Toronto, I can tell you that yes, it's a bit lackluster compared to previous years. There was absolutely no buzz in the City outside of the ACC (then again, the Centennial Classic didn't muster anything either), and the talent pool at this year's tournament is noticeably weaker all-round and completely star-less. This is something that was bound to happen at some point at a tournament whose format is based on utilizing just one or two years worth of the hockey talent pool. Off years are going to happen, this was just a particularly bad one.
Hockey Canada has to come to the realization that their cash cow is over, and that Canadians, especially in markets with major league teams, aren't going to pay NHL prices to watch kids hockey. The tickets should be priced at what they're demanding at resale: $10-$60 CAD, not $60-190+.
Hockey Canada has to come to the realization that their cash cow is over, and that Canadians, especially in markets with major league teams, aren't going to pay NHL prices to watch kids hockey. The tickets should be priced at what they're demanding at resale: $10-$60 CAD, not $60-190+.
Rocko604
Sports will break your heart.
Hey, if the Pinstripe Bowl gets two big schools, it actually does pretty well.
I get what you're saying about the goliath, and it's true, but it's even more exciting when those goliath teams were truly tested, like in 2007 vs the USA, 2008 vs Sweden and 2009 vs both the USA and Russia. I think that's what makes the Olympics such a great tournament, in addition to being best on best, of course, was that Canada never won the gold easily.
Uncle Rotter
Registered User
Hey, if the Pinstripe Bowl gets two big schools, it actually does pretty well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotham_Bowl
Rob
Registered User
Good point. This could prove costly for Buffalo if Canadian fans don't show up in droves like they did in 2011. USA Hockey put the tournament in Buffalo solely for that purpose.
penaltykiller
Registered User
I feel that there are no "storylines" this year. Last year had Matthews vs Laine and Puljujarvi. Two years ago it was all about McDavid and Eichel. This year? I don't know. I saw every team in Montreal at least once. The players I was hoping to see were Rasmus Dahlin (who barely played and will only be eligible in 2018) and Nico Hischier. Those names are unknown to casual fans right now.
The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
- 49,229
- 30,240
I mean, I'm sure a significant factor is the favorite to go #1 isn't playing in it, and next years draft isn't viewed as having a ton of top-end talent.
PRZ45MD
Registered User
- Aug 11, 2016
- 1,061
- 837
Hmmm... someone told me these games weren't as good this year. Then what the hell did I just watch in that USA/Russia semi?
You got to see some incredible hockey. I'd watch that kind of game any day of the week. Just so well paced, so much skill. What a wicked game.
XokkeyGuy
Registered User
- Apr 30, 2013
- 375
- 17
Hmmm... someone told me these games weren't as good this year. Then what the hell did I just watch in that USA/Russia semi?
A decent game with horrible and ****ttyy performance by the refs and IIHF
ChiefWiggum
Registered User
Finally, this tournament has a take away moment. One of the better games I have ever seen! Russia vs USA. Congrats to the US. Who knows. Maybe all of the final four games will be thrillers.
One thing I can say is, that US/Russia game was better than any game in the Sochi Olympics and better than any non-Team North American game at the World Cup.
One thing I can say is, that US/Russia game was better than any game in the Sochi Olympics and better than any non-Team North American game at the World Cup.
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