I am 70 and remember when Tommy Williams was the only US player in the O6.
Did USA overtake Canada as 'The Best Hockey Nation'?
- Thread starter User9992
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
- Status
BTP
Registered User
- Apr 28, 2013
- 4,611
- 6,131
USA hasn't won a tournament since f***ing 1996.
ONE non-championship game doesn't change that.
Like, AT LEAST wait until Thursday.
Canada hasn't lost a single best on best game in 15 years.
They have a guy that went 26-0.
In order for Canada to be replaced as the greatest hockey nation, USA would have to beat that streak.
This is like if Canada beat USA in Basketball in one tournament, we wouldn't suddenly be the best Ball nation.
ONE non-championship game doesn't change that.
Like, AT LEAST wait until Thursday.
Canada hasn't lost a single best on best game in 15 years.
They have a guy that went 26-0.
In order for Canada to be replaced as the greatest hockey nation, USA would have to beat that streak.
This is like if Canada beat USA in Basketball in one tournament, we wouldn't suddenly be the best Ball nation.
Last edited:
I cannot fathom how anyone can have the opinion that the US has passed us, LMAO
I'm an American fan... while I feel like the gap is closing, and we might even be favorites this year, you should never count out Canada, and besides, Canada has all the history and prestige on their side, whereas we have a history of failing to deliver in major tournaments on our side regardless of "on paper" strength going into the tournament. I'm hoping that changes on Thursday, but the jury's still out on that one.
Sure, it's close. No team is a for sure win anymore, Anyone thing otherwise is fooling themselves.
But in no world is the US passing Canada overall.
Let's talk in 10 years.
Voight
#winning
Agreed. I am of the opinion that we're catching up, which means Canada is still ahead.
BB79
Registered User
- Apr 30, 2011
- 7,409
- 9,133
I must have missed the part when I said it was over. Can you point it out for me?
For the record, none of this tournament means anything, period. It's a meaningless tournament. Just having some fun with it, no need to be a salty peanut over it.
This thread probably should have been posted elsewhere rather than just in the Four Nations sub-forum, as it seems to be asking about international play and player production versus just the Four Nations tournament. Probably a better place for it somewhere.
Last edited:
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Believe me, I wish he was top of 3. Not on the evidence of this season, but maybe when all is said and done.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Goaltending sucks. Start there. USA had the two best at that tournament. That blue line is not that impressive. USA’s blue line is easily better than that. While I do think Canada’s forwards are generally better at the top end, USA had like 8-9 first round picks born on 2004 and the BC trio in 2005. Already four of those players already play in the NHL.
And USA has a chemistry advantage. This is like 2001 age group. Canadians told us how good their roster would be and they got their asses kicked by the USA at the U18 and U20 Worlds.
yes, they have. Canada still has the edge with the high end superstars but I imagine US will pass that in the next 10-15 years. Then we need to focus on snowshoeing
Heard the same question in 96 when USA won the World Cup.Did USA overtake Canada as 'The Best Hockey Nation', or 'The Best National Ice Hockey Team'?
I am not saying just because USA just beat Canada 3-1 infront of their own fans, but did USA just caugh Canada in terms of pruducing hockey talents?
Yes, USA has the population of 300+millions (almost 10 times more than Canada), but popularity of hockey in both countries are not comparable:
- In Canada random folks know something about hockey, hockey stars in general
- But in USA most of the folks don't care & know anything about hockey... if you catch random dude in NY, LA, Miami, Atlanta etc. and ask them about the legendary hockey players & current hockey stars they will say 'they have no idea about who they are' & won't even recognise even the most famous hockey players.
But at this time in 2025... Team USA looks better than Team Canada. What a time we live in!
---
Sorry, if it's hard to understand... English isn't my first language.
Answer same now as it was then. Nope. Just another one of the multiple top contenders. Like Canada , Russia and sometimes Sweden.
Just simply because of infrastructure. Every little town in Canada has a rink. The US is undergoing a real increase in rink and hockey infrastructure. It's just a matter of time.
BruinsFan37
Registered User
- Jun 26, 2015
- 1,700
- 1,952
Maybe? With >10x the population it's probably inevitable, there's nothing in the water, nothing genetic that makes Canadians' better hockey players.
But I wouldn't crown them after just one round-robin game, that wasn't even a "championship". And I wouldn't crown them even if they win the finals later this week. Would need multiple convincing finals wins to do that.
That it's looking like it "might" be happening right now is unfortunate since it adds a lot of unnecessary drama to the mix. (mods feel free to delete this last comment if even this is too political)
But I wouldn't crown them after just one round-robin game, that wasn't even a "championship". And I wouldn't crown them even if they win the finals later this week. Would need multiple convincing finals wins to do that.
That it's looking like it "might" be happening right now is unfortunate since it adds a lot of unnecessary drama to the mix. (mods feel free to delete this last comment if even this is too political)
???? Both those goalies had very good WJCs.
You could debate those guys are NHL ready, I’d say they aren’t. Even if they are, they still played. My point is Canada had guys good enough for the NHL that didn’t play for them.
Bedard had 23 points in 7 WJC 2 years ago… Imahine what he would’ve done in the same tournament 1 month ago now that he is basically a PPG NHLer playing with no one? Celebrini also a PPG NHLer very good both ways and Benson is a 2 year NHLER. If you put those 3 on the same line 1 month ago they put up 30 points + each and make a joke out of the tournament… They would not have had one close game.
Same with 2024. USA had a bit better of a team than Canada… Canada was missing their best 5 players… 4 guys who were huge parts of the team that won the year before 1 who was their first line C and 1 who was their best player and made a joke of the tournament.
Canada would’ve walked to gold in both those tournaments if it was actually u20
Lmao. I heard this shit over 20 years ago.
2023 Bedard 1st overall
2024 Celebrini 1st overall
2025 Schaefer 1st overall
2026 McKenna 1st overall
2027 DuPont 1st overall
Canada ain't going anywhere son.
Unless Canadian demographics radically change (there is change now), US is unlikely to pass Canada. Its Canada's national sport, not ours. Hockey in states like the 3 M's is the 5th most popular sport. In states down south its basically non existent in comparison to Canada. That's way to many athletes lost. Even with the growth in the sport, Minnesota, Michigan & Massachusetts had 11 of the 19 players last night and 12 out of the 23 players in total.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Mathis Rousseau isn't on the same planet as Trey Augustine and Jacob Fowler. I hope we can agree on that. And if we're talking about hypothetical rosters, I don't really care how he performed. He's not a top caliber NHL prospect.
We agree Canada had some big forwards missing, but as I mentioned the USA also would have a very impressive group of forwards. Cooley, Gauthier, Nazar, Snuggerud, Howard, McGroarty, Smith, Leonard, Perreault, Stramel, Moore, etc.
And as I mentioned, Canada's blue line you mentioned there is really not that impressive. USA has the best player on the two blue lines with Lane Hutson. They also have players such as Zeev Buium, Seamus Casey, Ryan Chesley, Sam Rinzel. I think USA would've probably had the better blue line.
Thus, I'll take the USA roster with much better goaltending, likely better defensemen, and not as good forwards but pretty close. Sounds a little like the game we saw last night, no?
I'm Canadian and want Canada to be the best. You can't argue with the sheer population advantage.
Son.
CBJWerenski8
Rest in Peace Johnny
- Jun 13, 2009
- 44,752
- 28,298
The answer is no.
Now if the US beats Canada again in the final, and wins gold over Canada in the next olympics? Then there's maybe a discussion to be had.
One game means nothing. World Juniors performances indicate its neck and neck but those don't mean a lot either at the end of the day.
Now if the US beats Canada again in the final, and wins gold over Canada in the next olympics? Then there's maybe a discussion to be had.
One game means nothing. World Juniors performances indicate its neck and neck but those don't mean a lot either at the end of the day.
The issue for the Americans and I am sure it may happen in Canada but to a much lesser extent.
The best athletes are usually good at various sports. Money wise, hockey is probably the last sport these kids would be pushed into. On top of the physical tool on their bodies.
One thing that would be a complete guess. I would assume hockey is sort of in the same boat as wrestling. In the sense that it is an all year round thing where the best youth talent in the USA and Canada are playing hockey and nothing else (especially in Canada and it being their national sport).
But any kid in the US that has that natural ability and the ability to make it pro in multiple leagues, more than likely isn’t playing hockey past youth league.
That’s why I don’t think the USA will pass Canada any time soon in hockey. You are talking about a still niche sport in this country compared to the #1 sport in another. Kids in Canada are born and grown into the world of hockey. The kids in the USA simply aren’t currently. Although the sport is growing and infrastructure is coming along.
But as I said, end of day (and assuming these kids having multiple avenues to potentially go pro), hockey is going to be near the last sport. (Because of money unfortunately)
As you mentioned, your forwards are not on the same planet as Bedard and Celebrini. Benson is debatable and more comparable to the best USA guys you mentioned. I hope we can agree on that.
- Status
