2015 WJHC is going to be an absolutely amazing. Can't wait. There is no better cities (arenas) for such a tourney on the world...
2015 WJHC is going to be an absolutely amazing. Can't wait. There is no better cities (arenas) for such a tourney on the world...
End on a Hinote
Registered Abuser
DING! DING! DING!
Look at the WJC, funny how so many non-Canadians like to bring up how it's just a silly, irrelevant tournament played by teenagers whenever Canada wins it. But then acts like it's the biggest stage in hockey when other nations do (Yes, I'm looking at you USA).
Wait until the US or Sweden wins the Ivan Hlinka, we will never hear the end of it.
Pick your poison, Canada.
DING! DING! DING!
Look at the WJC, funny how so many non-Canadians like to bring up how it's just a silly, irrelevant tournament played by teenagers whenever Canada wins it. But then acts like it's the biggest stage in hockey when other nations do (Yes, I'm looking at you USA).
Wait until the US or Sweden wins the Ivan Hlinka, we will never hear the end of it.
Pick your poison, Canada.
Yes because we wax on and on about our u18 titles.
End on a Hinote
Registered Abuser
No, but other countries sure like to remind us when a tournament is irrelevant when we win one.
How many American, Russian or Swedish hockey fans even know of the existence of the Ivan Hlinka tournament? My guess is very, very few. So how would they even know if their country won it?
End on a Hinote
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Not the Hlinka necessarily, really it's almost any tournament other than the Olympics.
The best example is the World Juniors. As I stated earlier, when we win it, other nations mock it as a minor tournament played by kids and that it doesn't mean as much as we think it does (and boy, they sure like to remind us of Canada's political irrelevancy to the world, too!).
But their opinion sure changes when the US, Sweden or Russia wins it. Many American hockey writers are still going off on how great America has become due to their 2 WJHC titles in the last 5 years, despite placing 5th last year. Not too mention how they seem incapable of discussing those two titles without rubbing it in Canada's face.
When the US won gold in 2010, numerous magazines and shows such as PTI and even Maxim magazine mentioned the victory (While mocking Canada in the process, or course). But no where is the tournament mentioned when they don't win it.
I don't mean to pick on the US specifically, it's only because it is their media I have the most access too.
Can confirm this.
Seriously though, from what I have learned in the recent past, Ivan Hlinka's mean nothing, really. Just a time for Canada's U18 to actually play together (unlike the sanctioned U18, as I BELIEVE Canada is split into three teams).
And yeah, no, what above users are saying is completely hypocritical of Canadian users..
UsernameWasTaken
Let's Go Hawks!
Canadians do the same thing - only the opposite. Whenever they win a tournament it's proof of their talent and strength of Canadian hockey. Whenever they don't win, there's always a pile of excuses (none of which give the winning team any credit).
Can confirm this.
Seriously though, from what I have learned in the recent past, Ivan Hlinka's mean nothing, really. Just a time for Canada's U18 to actually play together (unlike the sanctioned U18, as I BELIEVE Canada is split into three teams).
And yeah, no, what above users are saying is completely hypocritical of Canadian users..
No Canada has one team at the u18s. It's just that the CHL playoffs are going on so they can't take those players, which leads to a very watered down squad.
Very true! Go back and read the threads on the World Hockey Championship. To hear the Canadian posters discuss it, you would think that the IIHF organizers should be hunted down and prosecuted for having the temerity to put such an inferior tournament on! They would immediately re-focus everyone's attention on the Olympics, which they described as the one and only indicator of true World hockey supremacy! For example, there was a thread asking posters to rank European national teams, but every time that someone posted a ranking that failed to conform to the final order of finish of the Sochi Olympics, the Canadian posters would blow the whistle and scream foul! So as far as I can tell, Canadian posters are just as guilty, and maybe even a little bit more guilty, of only giving credit to results that flatter Canada, and putting everything else down.
To be fair though, the World Championships aren't much of a best on best to begin with, I can understand why Canadians wouldn't put much stock into it. Even if Canada wins the WHC, we don't put much stock into it (or I would hope not).
However, when this happens in the WJC or Olympics, then you're talking.
U20s not only aren't best on best they aren't even best u 20s on best u20s
Well, it's the best, best on best U20's you can get to, in all honesty. Unlike the WHC's, there's the Olympics, which is as true of a best on best you can get. Unlike the WJC's there's.. nothing else. Hence why I take more stock into the Olympics/WJC's.
UsernameWasTaken
Let's Go Hawks!
Yeah, I'd agree with that. Outside of the Olympics, U20 is the closest you'll get to best on best of the tournaments. After U20, I'd say IIHF U18, then WC (I'm just talking about evenness of the teams...I'm not ranking the tournaments in terms of 'prestige').
The worlds is the best you can get. It's not everyone else's fault that Canadians and Americans players whimp out.
UsernameWasTaken
Let's Go Hawks!
It's not about whether it's anyone's fault. However, the US and Canada are countries with very strong pools of players and when they both send diminished teams, esp. the US, that does impact the degree to which you can call it 'best on best'.
I don't call it best on best, but I'd still rather win the worlds than the u20s.
UsernameWasTaken
Let's Go Hawks!
yes, you're right, you didn't. sorry about that - and i obv didn't mean to misrepresent you or anything.
re WC vs U20 - like i said in my previous post...my comment re best on best tournies wasn't about which one was most prestigious to win - i was simply commenting on the strength of the teams presented.
imo, most Canadians would receive a U20 win as more exciting as a WC win...but that's b/c U20 is more hyped in Canada.
1Gold Standard
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- Jun 13, 2012
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Can confirm this.
Seriously though, from what I have learned in the recent past, Ivan Hlinka's mean nothing, really. Just a time for Canada's U18 to actually play together (unlike the sanctioned U18, as I BELIEVE Canada is split into three teams).
And yeah, no, what above users are saying is completely hypocritical of Canadian users..
What?????????????
U17 (a Hockey Canada event not IIHF) and was split into 5 regional teams. This year in November there will be 3 teams not based on regions, but simply 3 teams selected from over 100 players who recently attended the U17 camp in Calgary.
Hlinka means nothing... I'd rather the CHL work out a better schedule so that the season begins and concludes sooner so that a more representative team can be sent to the U18 championships. And I'd like to see it hosted on occasion in N. America. Once every 5 years seems fair.
This answer surprised me.
Why should the CHL move their schedule? Wouldn't it be easier for the IIHF to move their tournament?
1Gold Standard
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2012
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- 317
Ya, the IIHF already has its hands full with one N. American team owning the tournament as it is.... do you really believe they'd be open to accommodating us, easy or not? It's hard enough already selling junior tournaments to the European hockey fan...
I've never been a fan of the the NHL type schedule the CHL plays...and would like to see that changed. Start the season sooner, play a few less games, more practice time, skills development and more international play. The CHL doesn't have to radically overhaul their sched...just start the season Labour Day Weekend, have it over by March 1... and then 6 weeks later by mid-April we should have most of the team freed up for a u18 tournament (minus a few players getting set for the Mem. Cup.)
And hold the tournament in Canada on occasion. The HC facility in Calgary would be perfect location.
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