America WJC

[stockwizard*]

No, they have been saying their best athletes play other sports, and I still disagree.

No doubt Blacks are great at running and jumping, but this doesn't necessarily equate to being faster skaters. Same way it doesn't equate to being better swimmers.

 

[Missionhockey]

No, they have been saying their best athletes play other sports, and I still disagree.
I wouldn't say that our BEST athletes play in other sports, but if the USA was as dedicated to hockey as it was to baseball or basketball or football, thats a lot of talent coming from the US that we didn't have before.

No doubt Blacks are great at running and jumping, but this doesn't necessarily equate to being faster skaters. Same way it doesn't equate to being better swimmers.

This is a racist comment, and you completely missed the point.

 

[stockwizard*]

This is a racist comment, and you completely missed the point.

What is racist about it?
I am racist because I say Blacks are better at running and jumping?

Nice Label.

Skating and running are totally different. Just because someone is a good runner, does not necessarily mean they will be a great skater.

 

[stockwizard*]

I will agree with that part you put in bold.

Could you arrange your quotes differently. The way you do it makes it look like it is something I said.

 

[Steve Latin*]

No, they have been saying their best athletes play other sports, and I still disagree.

No doubt Blacks are great at running and jumping, but this doesn't necessarily equate to being faster skaters. Same way it doesn't equate to being better swimmers.

Thanks stockwizard! We are very lucky to enjoy your expert analysis here at hfboards!


Slowly but surely you're helping us all come around to see the light!

S L

 

[Gee Wally]

okay kiddies...


knock it off with the allegations, counter allegations, and putting words in each other's mouths.

next time me or a Mod have to step in , there will be thread closure , warnings , and bans...

 

[NYIschremp44]

Why Is A World Junior Related Topic Moved To The World Cup Of Hockey Board???????? Its About Prospects!

 

[Bure9*]

Basketball yes.

In football, it's over-analyzed like it is in hockey.

Listen, he's not saying that Mike Modano, or Brian Leetch aren't amazing atheletes. What he's saying that is the majority of kids growing up with any athletic ability don't even come close to attempting to play hockey. USA hockey gets a select few, in the hockey hotbeds, but it's not even remotely close to the amount of kids blessed with athletic ability that are playing football, or baseball, or basketball, and so on.

Only black people play basketball and football, so how would that translate into better hockey players? Unless you believe that black people are superior to whites in athletics. You may like to put yourself and your race down but don't spread your ignorance on a hockey message board, bud.

 

[stockwizard*]

Only black people play basketball and football, so how would that translate into better hockey players? Unless you believe that black people are superior to whites in athletics. You may like to put yourself and your race down but don't spread your ignorance on a hockey message board, bud.

I agree with you. That is what they were trying to imply. What a joke!

 

[jcpenny]

All right first of all let me tell you guys that i am a Canadian Black man. Yes i can skate and damn well if you ask me. Its just a question of choices. Not a lot of black people choose to play hockey, thy prefer to play Football or Basketball cuz they say that " thats what we do". It pains me to hear this cuz we could make some fine hockey players.

Secondly i want to talk about the debate about the U.S. ending up being better at Hockey than Canadians. It could happen. The U.S. can be as good as anyone in any sport cuz they have the money. They have the money to buy better facilities and better coaches. And that's one of the greatest thing about this country. If you have the talent they'll help you take it to the next level no matter the cost. The olympics is the best exemple. But the U.S. being better than in Hockey is not likely to happen soon like seing the U.S. beat Brazil in soccer. It could happen, but not anytime soon. Hockey is Canada's sport. Imagine, in Montreal where i live, we beat Boston there was a huge party downtown like we had won the Stanley cup and it was just the first round. I dont think you ill ever see that in the U.S. That is how passionate we are about our game. Its like during the EURO 2004 in Portugal when the host country lost, a friend of mine who was there told me that she saw 4 year olds cry and it was like a major disaster had occured. Now thats passion.

U.S. can beat us once in a while like they did last year in the WJC and like Greece won the Euro but it wont happen every year. But whats incredible is how they get btter every year, and like i said they have the money to get there.

 

[oil slick]

There are way more Americans playing hockey than you think. To say they would crush us is rediculous. Already they have the second most amount of rinks in the world.

Sure - and if they decided to play hockey as much as they played baseball or football, they'd have 5 or 10 times the number of rinks that we have that produce that many more players than us. The US produces some great athletes... and they have literally millions of athletic kids that are presently playing the other three sports. If you turned those kids over too hockey, without a doubt, I think that you'd have the dominant team in the world.

 

[stockwizard*]

Sure - and if they decided to play hockey as much as they played baseball or football, they'd have 5 or 10 times the number of rinks that we have that produce that many more players than us. The US produces some great athletes... and they have literally millions of athletic kids that are presently playing the other three sports. If you turned those kids over too hockey, without a doubt, I think that you'd have the dominant team in the world.

Obviously the States is 10 times larger than Canada therefore if they worshipped hockey they would be a powerful hockey country. Perhaps the top in the world.

With Canadian passion for the game however, it would be impossible to "crush" Canada at hockey no matter what.

 

[oil slick]

Obviously the States is 10 times larger than Canada therefore if they worshipped hockey they would be a powerful hockey country. Perhaps the top in the world.

With Canadian passion for the game however, it would be impossible to "crush" Canada at hockey no matter what.

All right... I'll make two points, and then call it a day.

1)When Americans play sports they are generally pationate about them. Look at the members of team USA this year, and tell me that they're not warriors too. JR and Hatcher and Chelios and Tkachuk and Amonte are just as passionate about hockey as any Canadian players. And when I look at the average QB or running back, or whatever in the NFL... those guys are warriors too.

2)I know Canadians are pationate... but size is just too much. Newfoundland is very pationate about hockey, and there are half a million people in the province. This is close to the team that they field if they ever made a provincial team

Dan Cleary - Jason King - Michael Ryder
Darren Langdon - Harold Druken - Terry Ryan
Tony White - Andy Sullivan - Alex Faulkner
Chad Penney - Dwayne Norris - Jason Morgan

John Slaney - Keith Brown
Brad Brown - Dave Pichette
Bob Gladney - Joe Lundrigan

Doug Grant - Mark Fitzpatrick

It's fine, but look at the team with about six times NFLD's size in BC.

Kariya-Sakic-Recchi
Ronning-Yzerman-McCarty
Deadmarsh-Morrison-Niedermayer
Horcoff-Scatchard-Stevenson

Brewer-Niedermayer
Hannan-Jackman
Hamhuis-Montador

Osgood

Now tell me that the newfies wouldn't get crushed... it's not because they lack passion or anything... they just don't have the numbers.

 

[stockwizard*]

All right... I'll make two points, and then call it a day.

1)When Americans play sports they are generally pationate about them. Look at the members of team USA this year, and tell me that they're not warriors too. JR and Hatcher and Chelios and Tkachuk and Amonte are just as passionate about hockey as any Canadian players. And when I look at the average QB or running back, or whatever in the NFL... those guys are warriors too.

2)I know Canadians are pationate... but size is just too much. Newfoundland is very pationate about hockey, and there are half a million people in the province. This is close to the team that they field if they ever made a provincial team

Dan Cleary - Jason King - Michael Ryder
Darren Langdon - Harold Druken - Terry Ryan
Tony White - Andy Sullivan - Alex Faulkner
Chad Penney - Dwayne Norris - Jason Morgan

John Slaney - Keith Brown
Brad Brown - Dave Pichette
Bob Gladney - Joe Lundrigan

Doug Grant - Mark Fitzpatrick

It's fine, but look at the team with about six times NFLD's size in BC.

Kariya-Sakic-Recchi
Ronning-Yzerman-McCarty
Deadmarsh-Morrison-Niedermayer
Horcoff-Scatchard-Stevenson

Brewer-Niedermayer
Hannan-Jackman
Hamhuis-Montador

Osgood

Now tell me that the newfies wouldn't get crushed... it's not because they lack passion or anything... they just don't have the numbers.

Well laid out argument.

Canada does have 30 million people to draw from though. Look at Russia, they have 150 million and a love for the game. We still routinely beat them. I understand they don't have the resources as the U.S., but still.

Just because you're population is 10 times larger, doesn't mean you will produce 10 times as many hockey players.

I agree Americans are passionate about sports, and yes if they devoted all of there resources to hockey they probably would be the best in the world.

I still say however, no matter what, no country could ever "crush" team Canada at hockey.

 

[oil slick]

I still say however, no matter what, no country could ever "crush" team Canada at hockey.

Heh - that's OK, we'll agree to disagree.

The Russia example is a good one, although I wonder what percentage of Russian youths play hockey as opposed to soccer, tennis, chess, or vodka-ing...

 

[Bure9*]

What are we talking about anyway? Americans already have good athletes playing hockey, we just don't have the depth that some other countries do. I would like to see these 'other athletes' play better than Modano, Leetch, Amonte, Roenick, etc. Team USA's talent is up there with the best in the world, depth-wise we are lacking.

 

[stockwizard*]

What are we talking about anyway? Americans already have good athletes playing hockey, we just don't have the depth that some other countries do. I would like to see these 'other athletes' play better than Modano, Leetch, Amonte, Roenick, etc. Team USA's talent is up there with the best in the world, depth-wise we are lacking.

This is true. If you look at say the top 4 or 5 hockey Counties which include the U.S., they all have really good top end talent.

It is just really depth where Canada is superior.

 

[stockwizard*]

Also, look at Czech Republic. They can sometimes beat team Canada, and they have how many people?

If the States put Hockey first, they would mostly improve their depth, but Canada would still have the top end talent to stay competitive with them.

 

[William H Bonney]

What are we talking about anyway? Americans already have good athletes playing hockey, we just don't have the depth that some other countries do. I would like to see these 'other athletes' play better than Modano, Leetch, Amonte, Roenick, etc. Team USA's talent is up there with the best in the world, depth-wise we are lacking.

You're missing the point. No one is saying that the likes of Modano, Leetch, Amonte, Roenick, etc aren't world class athletes. They're just saying the majority of Americans that are top notch athletes aren't even playing hockey, which can't be said for Canada.

 

[AK Benny]

Team USA will not win a 2nd Gold Medal in a row with the team you listed. For starters, Fritsche, Stafford and Suter could all be in the NHL next season with any luck. If there is an NHL season, it's almost for sure Fritsche will be with Columbus and more than likely will not be released for Team USA. Stafford is doubtful to make the show, but hey, you never know? Suter could surprise and make the NHL?

If any or all of those guys aren't there, Team USA becomes extremely vulnerable. They have holes everywhere, other than in goal, but I would hope Montoya to really be on his game next year, cuz then we'll all see what he's really made of. The Americans were lucky to win the Gold medal game last year and will get destroyed by Canada this time around with that lineup.

"The Americans were lucky to win the Gold medal game last year...."

Jesus, get over it. You sound like the Dems in the US who keep whining about how Bush stole the election. Didn't Canada have a two goal lead going into the third? Were the Flames lucky to beat the Oilers in '86 just because of the fluke goal? I do agree however that Canada has a much stronger roster this year compared to the Americans.

 

[ktownhockey]

I'm wondering how you came to the conclusion that the players on this year's U.S. WJC team could be "getting too old'?

WORLD CUP TEAM

 

[Rabid Ranger]

What are we talking about anyway? Americans already have good athletes playing hockey, we just don't have the depth that some other countries do. I would like to see these 'other athletes' play better than Modano, Leetch, Amonte, Roenick, etc. Team USA's talent is up there with the best in the world, depth-wise we are lacking.

Compared to who-Canada? The U.S. has the second most NHL players, registered hockey players, and rinks. Our depth is just fine. The top-end talent is lagging a bit right now, but that's getting ready to change.

 

[degroat*]

Re: US catching up with Canada
The main reason why the US will probably never catch up with Canada as far as production of hockey talent is because of the developmental system in the United States. That is not to say that what is in place isn't working fine for the current players. The problem is that unless you live in a couple states, you're going to have to leave home at a young age to play against better competition.

Even in a city like St Louis where high school hockey is pretty big the talent level just isn't good enough to develop a player into a solid NHL prospect. So, while some of the most talented young St Louis atheletes may choose to play hockey, they don't have much of a chance at all of making it to the NHL.

There are dozens of big cities in the US just like St Louis.... cities whose talent pool remains completely untapped.

Until either a) high school hockey considerably improves or b) the US truly has something comparable to the CHL, the majority of great athletes will be going to other sports.

Re: Blacks playing hockey
I think jcpenny is somewhat right about blacks playing basketball and football because "thats what [they] do", but the unfortunate reality of it is that the cost of playing hockey is probably the main issue keeping hockey out of black communities. To play football, you need a ball. To play basketball, you need a ball and a court which can be found just about anywhere. To play hockey with a group, people have to have equipment, a place to play which at times can be difficult to find, and of course a puck. Hell, that's hard to pull off in any neighborhood.

That said, I agree that black athletes could make some damn fine hockey players. Shawn Belle really is the perfect example [as far as athleticism] of what there could be a lot more of.

USA WC Team "Too Old"
Only on this prospect oriented board where people greatly overrate young players is this an issue. This is a 16 day tournament we're talking about. Age will not be an issue here at all.

 

[stockwizard*]

Of course blacks would be fine Hockey players.

I was just saying that an ability to run fast will not translate to the ice. Skating is totally different, therefore that advantage is nullified.

Ray Lewis was used as an example. No, he would probably not be a good hockey player. If it was so useful to be bulked up like that, then every hockey player would look like a linebacker. You would loose flexibility with your shot, and would be too slow with little endurance.

It probably is more of an Economic reason why more blacks don't play hockey. It can be very expensive on parents.

 

[degroat*]

I was just saying that an ability to run fast will not translate to the ice. Skating is totally different, therefore that advantage is nullified.

You can't say that the advantage is nullified unless you have some proof that blacks wouldn't be able to skate faster.

Just because skating is not running that doesn't mean they wouldn't have the same advantage.