GDT: Czechia vs. Sweden, Group B, Dec 31 2024; 17:00 EST

[Dingo]

30 times in the final four.

2 Golds.

C'mon, man.

Swedes know how to come up short.

I fell in love with Swedish hockey in 1996 - the passing game and overall talent coming from such a small country. I am going for them in this tournament currently, and I probably always will (much to my frustration).

Growing up listening to Don Cherry lie about Swedes (and Russians), and having guys like Gradin and Sundstrom in my childhood Canuck days probaby all played a part.

Sweden plays great hockey. They are team first, to a fault, they listen to their coaches, every NHL coach will say so, they are disciplined, yet don't cower under aggression.

And they come up short, again, and again, and again.

Just barely, heartbreakingly, over and over and over. They nearly did today.

Canada lost to Latvia, they lose a lot in round robin. They take stupid penalties, often field selfish players, experience in fighting sometimes.... but they will probably win again. If not this year, the next - and it will involve some uncalled goon play, intimidation, and then we will tell ourselves we just want it more,

Hockey, even IIHF, requires some dirty, selfish, intimidating, me first, ref-yelling, taunting, nasty ugly shit.
I don't like it, but its always been the case. even if it is better now than ever.

Here is hoping that I am wrong this year.

 

[Eye of Ra]

30 times in the final four.

2 Golds.

C'mon, man.

Swedes know how to come up short.

I fell in love with Swedish hockey in 1996 - the passing game and overall talent coming from such a small country. I am going for them in this tournament currently, and I probably always will (much to my frustration).

Growing up listening to Don Cherry lie about Swedes (and Russians), and having guys like Gradin and Sundstrom in my childhood Canuck days probaby all played a part.

Sweden plays great hockey. They are team first, to a fault, they listen to their coaches, every NHL coach will say so, they are disciplined, yet don't cower under aggression.

And they come up short, again, and again, and again.

Just barely, heartbreakingly, over and over and over. They nearly did today.

Canada lost to Latvia, they lose a lot in round robin. They take stupid penalties, often field selfish players, experience in fighting sometimes.... but they will probably win again. If not this year, the next - and it will involve some uncalled goon play, intimidation, and then we will tell ourselves we just want it more,

Hockey, even IIHF, requires some dirty, selfish, intimidating, me first, ref-yelling, taunting, nasty ugly shit.
I don't like it, but its always been the case. even if it is better now than ever.

Here is hoping that I am wrong this year.

I know Sweden often loses to Canada, Finland, Usa and Russia in wjc playoffs, but its rare we lose to the likes of Latvia. That was my point.

 

[Dingo]

I know Sweden often loses to Canada, Finland, Usa and Russia in wjc playoffs, but its rare we lose to the likes of Latvia. That was my point.

well, ok. They were definitely the favourite over Latvia. I could barely watch, because the sense of dread came in like it always does.

 

[Eye of Ra]

well, ok. They were definitely the favourite over Latvia. I could barely watch, because the sense of dread came in like it always does.

True, but still went through in the end. Final last year and semifinal now. Not that bad. Meanwhile Canada has been kicked out in qf 2 years in row by the Czechs. Man up and stop living in the past.