HF Habs: 4 Nations Face-Off: Canada beats Finland 5-3; advances to Finals vs USA

[JianYang]

I don’t think there is much hockey Canada can do.
20+ years ago a family on the lower middle class range could afford their children to play hockey.
Just to give you an idea, my niece that is around 15 years old and playing high level women hockey in the Ottawa region, her cost for the year is $15 000.
When I played 30 years ago it was probably a thousand including summer hockey school.

I can’t imagine how regular families living in the Vancouver or Toronto area can afford hockey.

Also, you need to look at the demographics we added to Canada the last 20 years, especially the last 10, which are more likely to pick cricket, basketball or soccer.

Hockey as we know it in Canada is forever gone, unless we suddenly start creating $150k for everyone and lower the cost of living.

The changes have already happened. Canada has never been more talented than they are right now in football. They have accomplished certain things that were unthinkable just a decade ago.

Likewise, Canada is producing more NBA level talent than ever before. Jamal Murray just put up over 50 points last week and sga is a legitimate superstar, and that's just the tip of it.

While hockey in canada is in decline, we also need to put things in context. Canada is still #2 in registered hockey players (no longer #1). On the hockey stage, Canada has the 3rd largest population among the elite teams behind usa and Russia. All nations feel similar pinches when it comes to average families trying to afford this game right now.

So in a hockey context, Canada should still be a big player for a long time to come. But the expectation should no longer be that Canada is some huge head over heels favourite going into a tournament.

The gap has been closing big time, and the USA in particular has been putting out almost as good rosters since 1996, and now their roster is finally better, and if we are being honest with ourselves, it was only a matter of time.

I fully expect that it'll get booed, but it'd be ridiculous to. The booing has nothing to do with hockey, or the players on the ice, but some sports fans aren't bright enough to get that.

We will see. Montreal booed the American anthem in 2002 playoffs. Boston fans responded with a standing ovation for the Canadian anthem when the series shifted back there.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

Hagel had a great game last night, he wasn't a problem.

Newhook 2.0

He played great guys, he skated fast.

 

[LaP]

Hagel had a great game last night, he wasn't a problem.

Was not a solution either.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

People have good reasons to boo Trump and his anthem. If Americans boo our own, it will only show that they have no clue about what's going on. In fact, they should boo their own anthem with us, if they have common sens.

So if Americans boo the Canadian anthem you’ll be upset?

 

[Paddyjack]

Booing anthems is stupid, especially when the target of the booing is not even on site but in Washington, DC.

Personally I think people should just sit down, and stay completely silent. That would also send a message.

 

[BozoTheClown]

The changes have already happened. Canada has never been more talented than they are right now in football. They have accomplished certain things that were unthinkable just a decade ago.

Likewise, Canada is producing more NBA level talent than ever before. Jamal Murray just put up over 50 points last week and sga is a legitimate superstar, and that's just the tip of it.

While hockey in canada is in decline, we also need to put things in context. Canada is still #2 in registered hockey players (no longer #1). On the hockey stage, Canada has the 3rd largest population among the elite teams behind usa and Russia. All nations feel similar pinches when it comes to average families trying to afford this game right now.

So in a hockey context, Canada should still be a big player for a long time to come. But the expectation should no longer be that Canada is some huge head over heels favourite going into a tournament.

The gap has been closing big time, and the USA in particular has been putting out almost as good rosters since 1996, and now their roster is finally better, and if we are being honest with ourselves, it was only a matter of time.

Absolutely!

Americans are very proud and resilient.
I don’t think Canada is seeing another gold medal as long as the USA are in the tournament.

 

[Paddyjack]

So if Americans boo the Canadian anthem you’ll be upset?

I wouldn't be. It would just show how clueless they are and I would laugh at them.

 

[Habs]

They had to go with the markets in Canada. For sure they were having Marner because he's the Toronto market. Scheifele and Suzuki are from lower markets so they've been snobbed. Marchand when you can have Celebrini, c'mon ! And we needed veteran Daughty because of past history? Country Club !

No kidding, Doughty lol makes it because why? 35 yrs old, pass the torch bud. Still a good dman over 82 games, but in a short sample like this? Nah

 

[JianYang]

Absolutely!

Americans are very proud and resilient.
I don’t think Canada is seeing another gold medal as long as the USA are in the tournament.

I'm not at the point of saying that usa is filling in the Canadian shoes just yet.

What I am saying is that canada is no longer the default favourite on a perennial basis, and those days are not coming back.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I wouldn't be. It would just show how clueless they are and I would laugh at them.

Sounds upset

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

No kidding, Doughty lol makes it because why? 35 yrs old, pass the torch bud. Still a good dman over 82 games, but in a short sample like this? Nah

Are you agree this line up seems to be made by country club old pals? Like if Allen Eagleson and his club of yesmen were still in charge. Like the Olympics of 2006.

 

[canucklover123]

Admittedly dont want any of Pietrangelo, is he still elite? Will be on Canada next year and not be looking like Doughty ( right off of injury so slack given)

 

[expy]

It was written everywhere pre-tournament...

Canada's main concern would be goaltending, and it's been the case.

This country's goaltending situation is abysmal.

 

[ZUKI]

So if Americans boo the Canadian anthem you’ll be upset?

Not at all, i will laugh at them for their clueless reaction;
Canadians boos are for political reasons. Americans boos would be just to copy/pasta the Canadians without realize that the relationship of both our countries have always been good until the Orange Clown tried to show he's peeing farther than the others.

 

[Paddyjack]

Sounds upset

Hmmm, wait, am I upset that a country south of us, that we considered friends to us, is betraying us, laughing at us in fact, while applauding the most incompetent president i have ever seen, a guy who doesn't even know that China is in BRICS, a guy who is bannishing free press out of the WH because of their refusal of being controlled by the president, a man who fired 140 employees only to realize that these people were in charge of the nuclear stock pile and are then trying to rehire them, a man who nominated complete udiots in key positions?

I guess, yes, im upset about that. Them booing the flag? Lol

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Leto]

Admittedly dont want any of Pietrangelo, is he still elite? Will be on Canada next year and not be looking like Doughty ( right off of injury so slack given)

He's still good, but he's from the same draft as Doughty and in the age range where you might fall off the cliff within the blink of an eye. Notwithstanding injuries, nothing is guaranteed for 2026. That in itself is scary given the lack of great 2-way RD in the pipeline. Too much hinges on Makar.​

 

[MarkovsKnee]

2 games again tomorrow (Monday, February 17).

1 PM: Canada vs Finland, if one of the teams wins it in regulation they get into Championship game. If they win in OT, they'll have to wait for US-Sweden game to finish, as Sweden can then get through with a regulation win.

8 PM: Sweden vs USA, a meaningless game for US. A must win in regulation for Sweden.

 

[the valiant effort]

Has anyone told Makar he just needs a couple of Vitamin C pills???

 

[SOLR]

The changes have already happened. Canada has never been more talented than they are right now in football. They have accomplished certain things that were unthinkable just a decade ago.

Likewise, Canada is producing more NBA level talent than ever before. Jamal Murray just put up over 50 points last week and sga is a legitimate superstar, and that's just the tip of it.

While hockey in canada is in decline, we also need to put things in context. Canada is still #2 in registered hockey players (no longer #1). On the hockey stage, Canada has the 3rd largest population among the elite teams behind usa and Russia. All nations feel similar pinches when it comes to average families trying to afford this game right now.

So in a hockey context, Canada should still be a big player for a long time to come. But the expectation should no longer be that Canada is some huge head over heels favourite going into a tournament.

The gap has been closing big time, and the USA in particular has been putting out almost as good rosters since 1996, and now their roster is finally better, and if we are being honest with ourselves, it was only a matter of time.



We will see. Montreal booed the American anthem in 2002 playoffs. Boston fans responded with a standing ovation for the Canadian anthem when the series shifted back there.

I don't think the US roster is better, I still think we'd win a 4 of 7.
But winning international tournament is a skill. Given we haven't practiced this skill in 9 years, I think the US has become better at forming teams/systems to win international tourneys and this is starting to translate up.

If I look at the draft years for the next 5 years, Canada is way ahead. It looks to me like the US is peaking much like Finland. Russia, Sweden had some peaks. They have the best team they will have for this tournament and this olympics, and then in 5 years Canada will be back on top with the Celebrini-Dupont generation. That's what the drafts looks like.

 

[26Mats]

It was written everywhere pre-tournament...

Canada's main concern would be goaltending, and it's been the case.

This country's goaltending situation is abysmal.

Is Logan Thompson that bad?

 

[Habs]

Not at all, i will laugh at them for their clueless reaction;
Canadians boos are for political reasons. Americans boos would be just to copy/pasta the Canadians without realize that the relationship of both our countries have always been good until the Orange Clown tried to show he's peeing farther than the others.

Not really, somebody boos your country, anyone would boo back lol. Also , this is probably the beginning of the end of Anthems, which is a good thing. The league used to be almost 90% usa/canada, the anthem tradition is old and done for.. we started it, the NHL fans in the USA will boo 10x worse and I think we deserve it. What did the dorks in Montreal think was going to happen once the season starts? Sucks for Cole and our American players, a slap in the face.

 

[le_sean]

Booing the US anthem is fine as long as Canadians don’t cry when their anthem gets booed on Thursday

Hopefully Boston sends a message of their own to the orange idiot and cheer our anthem. But it’s Boston so I doubt it lol

 

[Habs]

who is Thomas Harley, and why is he on Team Canada? WTF, why have I never heard of him?

 

[le_sean]

who is Thomas Harley, and why is he on Team Canada? WTF, why have I never heard of him?

Begs the question why they wouldn’t at least invite Bouchard for this very reason. Makar and Theodore are the only good puck movers on the team.