I don't think that will happen but something similar happened to Slovakia when they got their independence. Czechs went to A pool (which is what I think would happen with Russia) and Slovaks got sent to Divsion Z. It was brutal and unfair!
It was a doozy of a team for sure, dominant. I knew something special was up when it came out that Crosby was joining the team and had actually phoned the management team telling them he badly wanted to play this time( I doubt they had even thought of approaching him about involvement, you know how it goes with Canadian stars of his stature for the skodas, and not even of his stature, just good players, they play once, maybe twice if you are lucky at the very start of their career and then they never play in it again.
Think the Helsinki Ice Hall would be the most likely replacement, especially since Russian fans won't be arriving anyway so the capacity difference is not that meaningful.
It's not ideal, but is the arena in Ostrava which has recently hosted a World Championship and which is due to host one yet again in 2024 much better?
That performance was up there with Soviet level domination in the 70's.
What's the news about Jiricek right now? I have to assume he will be playing at this WHC for you guys right? that is......if there is a tournament at all considering the possible ramifications of what is happening right now.
I fear that most North American players will skip it, due to what's going on in Eastern Europe.
He's still out. I think he'll be back soon but hopefully no one rushes him. Hopefully he gets drafted early and goes to AHL next season.
Helsinki is not yet a war zone .
They are scheduled to compete in Division 1 Group B. If Russia and Belarus are replaced instead of just limiting the tournament to 14 teams, the replacement teams would in all likelihood be France and Austria as they are the highest-ranking teams outside the elite division and also the teams which appeared most recently in the elite division.
Huh, why?
