Better format for next World Cup

[Xokkeu]

Team Quebec would be bad enough, cant imagine how terrible the team Quebec 2 would be.

Team Europe would be absolutely loaded

 

[albator71]

In the next World Cup i don't want to see any team NA or Europe please, i want to see actual countries for God sake!!!!

 

[Harry22]

No. And no. Please have only countries playing for it to be a real world cup.

Have the top 6 countries in the world qualify automatically and have the final 2 countries qualify via qualifying a week before.

 

[Marchy63]

All I would do is have Team North America comprised of players from USA & Canada that did not make the main team rosters regardless of age. That way young Canadian & Americans can play with the main club and other players that did not fit the age group for NA that were unable to make main squad could play in the tournament

 

[HuGo Sham]

just go back to a 7 team tourney. the slovak players on team europe were good. if the nhl is not convinced, go to a 6 nations tourney. enough with the gimmicks

 

[randomhockeyfan]

All I would do is have Team North America comprised of players from USA & Canada that did not make the main team rosters regardless of age. That way young Canadian & Americans can play with the main club and other players that did not fit the age group for NA that were unable to make main squad could play in the tournament

Why the hell should there even be a Team North America in the first place?

 

[Canuck21t]

Other than the OG and World Cup, I don't watch international hockey so in theory I guess you might be right. I'm skeptical though. The NHL has the best players in the world and the hockey is played at a higher tempo than anywhere else and it's hard to see how a referee could possibly among the best without having any NHL experience. Especially when we're talking about a tournament that's full of NHL players it's hard to see how anything but NHL referees makes sense. JMHO.

The US in basketball is leaps and bonds better than the rest of the world, yet they don't demand their own referees. Only us arrogant Canadians want our own. Me, me, me, me, me and screw the rest. That's our mentality.

It's less of a gimmick than the "World Hockey Championships" where most of the best players aren't there. And that's an annual event.

That's not gimmick at all, it's just less prestigious, but still legitimate. You don't have to like it, that's why we have best-on-best tournaments to make it more prestigious, but everything is ruined when you add gimmick teams. Compared to this current incarnation of the World Cup, the World Championship is much better if you actually take the time to watch it.

 

[Past Considerations]

It's less of a gimmick than the "World Hockey Championships" where most of the best players aren't there. And that's an annual event.

Completely moot point. Check the dictionary definition of "gimmick".

Or alternatively explain how not having the best players makes the WHCs more attractive business-wise and easier to market.

 

[Hanji]

A non-national team eliminates a national team in an international competition. This tournament is so ridiculous.
Next time, national teams only.

 

[albator71]

The US in basketball is leaps and bonds better than the rest of the world, yet they don't demand their own referees. Only us arrogant Canadians want our own. Me, me, me, me, me and screw the rest. That's our mentality.


That's not gimmick at all, it's just less prestigious, but still legitimate. You don't have to like it, that's why we have best-on-best tournaments to make it more prestigious, but everything is ruined when you add gimmick teams. Compared to this current incarnation of the World Cup, the World Championship is much better if you actually take the time to watch it.

Totally agree with you!!! I watched the World Championship from start to finish every year and its great.

 

[westc2]

They should just keep it the way it is, the NA team was fun to watch.

They should change the name from "World Cup" though, because it's pretty damn far from being a World Cup.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The US in basketball is leaps and bonds better than the rest of the world, yet they don't demand their own referees. Only us arrogant Canadians want our own. Me, me, me, me, me and screw the rest. That's our mentality.

Do tell, what are the equivalent tournaments where Canada demands something the US doesn't? As far as I know, Canada doesn't "demand" anything for the OG, for the WHC, what else have you got? Anything?

Hint - if the NBA organized a tournament on it's own, you can be sure they'd have NBA referees.

 

[jason2020]

just go back to a 7 team tourney. the slovak players on team europe were good. if the nhl is not convinced, go to a 6 nations tourney. enough with the gimmicks

I think they might even look at going with a 4 team tourney.

 

[Crayton]

I'll summarize some of the ideas presented:

A. Invitational (like past World/Canada Cups)
The Big 6 and maybe 2 more national teams are invited

B. Traditional World Championship (FIFA, IIHF, WBC, Olympics, etc...)
Stage a pre-tournament qualification round in Europe
Can+US or Top 4-6 nations get auto-bids to main tournament

C. NHL-first tournament (current format)
Possibly tweek North American team to be a "B" team rather than U24
Maybe even add 2 "gimmick" teams (Europe, World-U24, Canada-B, NA-U24)

Maybe they should not have called it the "World" Cup, but I'm actually fine with Option C, given the NHL is putting it on. I suppose there could be a hybrid of B and C where Canada and US host 1-2 "gimmick" teams AND 4-7 European Teams as determined by a qualifying tournament (WHC?).

 

[Tuoppi]

Tournament played on neutral ground in the Antarctic on natural ice. No referees, jail rules.

 

[Splatter]

1:
Canada
Finland
Russia
Switzerland
Team Europe

2:
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Sweden
Team NA (23 and under, but not including Team NA alumni regardless of age)
USA

 

[1909]

A non-national team eliminates a national team in an international competition. This tournament is so ridiculous.
Next time, national teams only.

The Kids team was great to watch though. But I agree, even if they have just 6 teams in the tournament.

But what they could had done is having 2nd and 3rd place teams play against each other, and than have the winners play vs the top teams of each pool. And then a ONE game Finals.

OR

Each team plays vs the 7 other teams. And then a Finals between the two best.

 

[1909]

I'll summarize some of the ideas presented:

A. Invitational (like past World/Canada Cups)
The Big 6 and maybe 2 more national teams are invited

B. Traditional World Championship (FIFA, IIHF, WBC, Olympics, etc...)
Stage a pre-tournament qualification round in Europe
Can+US or Top 4-6 nations get auto-bids to main tournament

C. NHL-first tournament (current format)
Possibly tweek North American team to be a "B" team rather than U24
Maybe even add 2 "gimmick" teams (Europe, World-U24, Canada-B, NA-U24)

Maybe they should not have called it the "World" Cup, but I'm actually fine with Option C, given the NHL is putting it on. I suppose there could be a hybrid of B and C where Canada and US host 1-2 "gimmick" teams AND 4-7 European Teams as determined by a qualifying tournament (WHC?).

What about three regional teams for Canada ? West (the four western provinces)-Ontario-and East(Quebec and Maritimes), basically the regions represented in the WHL, OHL' and QHL.

 

[Crayton]

What about three regional teams for Canada ? West (the four western provinces)-Ontario-and East(Quebec and Maritimes), basically the regions represented in the WHL, OHL' and QHL.

I suppose that would be Option C: "keep the gimmicks". Canada B is the only way I'd see them splitting a single nation. Maybe A1 and A2 divvied at random, but they are not going to give subregions their own teams.

 

[WingsFan95]

Just no need to have 8 teams. It's not like they're doing a double elimination like someone mentioned.

The 6 teams back in 87 are still the 6 best teams in the world. Think about that. If rankings are different than sure swap the 6th best team.

Have a Round Robin of 5 games each and then you have the following 3 options:

1 game semifinals and 3 game final
3 game semifinals and 3 game final
1 semifinal between #2 & #3 and a 5 game final

The pre-tournament games were a waste. Might as well have more meaningful games.

I personally like my 3rd suggestion. A 5 game series final after the #2 & #3 teams duke it out.

 

[WingsFan95]

Forgot to mention Ryder Cup.

If the tournament is going to have a superteam feel to it then I'd suggest the following:

4 Team Competition Round Robin x2. Which means 6 games each. Best two teams have a 3 game series. Simple enough.

Team Canada
Team USA
Team West Europe
Team East Europe

Although the Swedes & Fins playing together along with the Czechs and Russians is a pipe dream. So there would have to be 1 Team Europe as that would even things out.

The question would then be of a 4th team.

Which is why North America vs. Europe in a 7 game series makes the most sense.

 

[matsqq]

6 teams and all play each other.
3 points for regulation win.
2 points for Over time or penalty win.
1 point for Over time loss.

The best two teams play the final in best of 3....

 

[Canuck21t]

Do tell, what are the equivalent tournaments where Canada demands something the US doesn't? As far as I know, Canada doesn't "demand" anything for the OG, for the WHC, what else have you got? Anything?

Hint - if the NBA organized a tournament on it's own, you can be sure they'd have NBA referees.

Canadian refs have actually officiated at the Olympics when Team Canada is involved. That's unheard of in any other sports. European teams don't get that benefits at any events.

As for your if, it's an IF. Until they actually do it, we're the only one.

The Olympics are the ultimate tournament for most, but I would still be on board for the World Cup if they would simply make it an all national team event without the gimmick teams even with the Canadian refs for Team Canada. In that case, it's better to call it the Canada Cup as it is more representative of the true nature of the tournament.

 

[gwh]

C. NHL-first tournament (current format)
Possibly tweek North American team to be a "B" team rather than U24
Maybe even add 2 "gimmick" teams (Europe, World-U24, Canada-B, NA-U24)

How would we get the players interested in this? I mean the NHL Allstar event is a pancake.

4-6 equal allstar teams playing for the win would be good. NHL can just leave the nationalists at door, Olympics can deal with that.

 

[CpatainCanuck]

Having 3 pre-tournament games and a 3 game Round Robin seems absurd. Team USA had 4 games that meant nothing (3 pre-tournament and the 3rd Round Robin Game) and just 2 that counted.

Surely it would be much better to copy the format of the WJC, which I think most would agree is the best hockey tournament format being used today. 10 teams, 2 Groups in the Round Robin Stage, and 8 teams advancing to the Single-Game Elimination Rounds.