Does Canada causing less parity in international tournaments make international tournaments less fun?

[Mickey Marner]

Who kinda has a point?

Canada will only always win if you don't beat them.

 

[TaLoN]

Not sure if that is an example of arrogance. I've done the same thing myself. I remember when Slovakia was close with Canada in 2010. I was hoping Slovakia would tie it late, and it wasn't close to being the only time.

I'm a Canadian, but I also love underdog stories, and the spectacle of a big upset. I don't think there is any rule saying you have to cheer for your nation every time. They're all people at the end of the day.

I was just showing that you agreed with the OP in particular, which the poster I was quoting was pretty adamant that the OP opinion was rather singular and non-Canadian.

 

[Zerotonine]

I sure hope Russia is aloud to compete on the world cup in 2024. They are one of the top teams and losing them is significant blow to the tournament

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

It's not less fun....for Canadians


Seriously though, especially in the men's tournaments, Canada is anything but a lock. In the past 70 years, Canada only has 3 olympic golds. 1 gold in the last 5 world championships.

They do kick ass in the.....Spengler Cup!

Canada men's national ice hockey team - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the last 7 best on best tournaments/Olympics, Canada has 5 Golds. Using 70 years makes the data set look huge when really there haven't been many best on best.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I sure hope Russia is aloud to compete on the world cup in 2024. They are one of the top teams and losing them is significant blow to the tournament

I imagine they will be allowed to compete under some non-official Russian banner, but who knows. It's a long time away, much can change.

 

[blankall]

In the last 7 best on best tournaments/Olympics, Canada has 5 Golds. Using 70 years makes the data set look huge when really there haven't been many best on best.

That's a pretty small sample size. Canada just happens to be good/lucky right now. Once again, it's far from a given that Canada will win any tournament.

You're also including a lot of Junior's tournaments. And yes, Canada has always been pretty dominant there. Not much you can do about that. Canada just has more kids playing hockey than anywhere else.

 

[Peat]

How am I meant to answer this question when I can barely remember the last best on best international tournament?

 

[jigglysquishy]

In the last 7 best on best tournaments/Olympics, Canada has 5 Golds. Using 70 years makes the data set look huge when really there haven't been many best on best.

We've only won 4.

96 - USA
98 - Czechs
02 - Canada
04 - Canada
06 - Sweden
10 - Canada
14 - Canada

2016 was a farce of a tournament and obviously doesn't count. 1991, the Soviets didn't send their A squad because they were scared of guys fleeing the country.

 

[NyQuil]

The US hasn’t looked this good since the 1990s.

 

[Grifter3511]

I was just showing that you agreed with the OP in particular, which the poster I was quoting was pretty adamant that the OP opinion was rather singular and non-Canadian.

This may sound very weird to any neighbours to the south, but I have never really felt the absolute necessity to pull for local/national teams just because I happened to be born there (especially when the country is as large as Canada). All things being equal I will pull for local/national because it's a simple thing to connect to, but when you have athletes representing nations playing a sport I follow earnestly, I will often find myself pulling for favourite players moreso than home teams.

In 96 I was pulling for Team USA because of Richter. 2014 I was hoping Lundqvist would pull it off with the Swedes.

 

[filinski77]

How am I meant to answer this question when I can barely remember the last best on best international tournament?

For real lol. The world cup of hockey wasn't best on best (fake teams, hard to interpret how hard/serious all players were actually taking it).

Then we have the 2010/2014 Olympics. Canada was good in 2014, and just barely won in 2010. If we are going by 'on paper' rosters, Canada's roster is a lot LESS impressive relative to other countries now than it was in the early 2010's.

 

[Vakarte]

Not sure if that is an example of arrogance. I've done the same thing myself. I remember when Slovakia was close with Canada in 2010. I was hoping Slovakia would tie it late, and it wasn't close to being the only time.

I'm a Canadian, but I also love underdog stories, and the spectacle of a big upset. I don't think there is any rule saying you have to cheer for your nation every time. They're all people at the end of the day.

But in the end who won? the result is all that matters. Once again no matter if the game is close or a blowout, Canada is always on the top when it comes to winning tournaments.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Unless they let Russia play it is a waste of time

 

[jj cale]

I'm already hyped up for the inevitable bronze medal game between USA and Canada

I'd wink back but there is too much truth in your post, these fans who think it's some preordained final between the U,S and Canada, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

 

[jj cale]

The US hasn’t looked this good since the 1990s.

And that's why the games are played and why the thread makes no sense. The U.S had a GREAT team in the mid-late 90's , heck, after the world cup win they went in as faves for a lot of people in 98 nagano, on paper they really were second to none.


They didn't even medal, nor Canada, thankfully we at least won our game against them, they didn't even get that satisfaction.

The US will indeed be loaded in the next WC, but as we all know, that guarantees zilch. Lot's of talent, gotta do it on the ice though, and they are fully capable of dropping the ball.

Because if that 98 U.S team could fail so miserably, this one can.

 

[Sweetpotato]

We lost 2006 pretty badly.

Since then, there's only been 2 best on best.

2010 Olympics, 2014 Olympics and 2016 world cup. Am I missing something was their restrictions on one of those?

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Canada will almost inevitably be favored in a best-on-best. That certainly doesn't mean gold is predetermined for them.

Canada against any of the USA, Sweden, Finland (am I allowed to say Voldemort Russia?) would be must-watch games for every serious hockey fan. If you don't think Canadian fans would be sweating bullets before and during those matchups, with national pride on the line, I really don't know what to tell you.

 

[jigglysquishy]

2010 Olympics, 2014 Olympics and 2016 world cup. Am I missing something was their restrictions on one of those?

2016 doesn't count with their disgusting joke teams. The Yanks lost like half the players because of the dumb team north America.

We will never get to see prime Crosby and McDavid play together because of it.

 

[Rubi]

I'm always a fan of those Russia But Not Russia teams.
Do you think tournaments will let Canada field two teams in these tournaments? You know... your official Canada team and then your Canada but not Canada team. Seems to me that 2nd team would have as much validity as the Russia but not Russia teams.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Team USA is going to be badass by 2024. Don’t be so cocky Canadians.

Center depth Matthews, Eichel, Hughes, Zegras, and Larkin.

They’ll have 2 Hughes brothers Adam Fox, McAvoy, Werenski, and Jones on defense.

The Tkachuk’s, Gaudreau, Debrincat, Miller, Conner, Keller, Caufield, Boeser, on the wings.

You don't think Kane will make the team in a year and a half?

 

[Jerzey Devil]

You don't think Kane will make the team in a year and a half?

Honestly thought I had him on there.

 

[WarriorofTime]

There's a pretty small on paper difference between USA and Canada heading into 2024, although time will tell. Biggest difference is Canada has McDavid. USA has some great forwards, but nobody who is McDavid.

 

[Rosy Cheeks]

International Ice hockey went through and grew during decades of Soviet dominance and the decline of international Ice hockey started long after that. A lot of us europeans looked forward to beating CCCP and we cherish the moments we did.

The Soviets embraced international ice hockey and it was a source of national pride.

Due to the lack of best on best tournaments Canada can not become an international dynasty such as the Soviets were. If they are the kings of ice hockey, they should help make the kingdom fluorish.

Even if Canada win a tournament there is a certain buzz for the Swedes for every game against Finland, Russia and the Czech republic for historic reasons. Every step on the totempole matters.

 

[TomppaKoo]

Laine - Barkov - Rantanen
Turbo - Aho - Lehkonen
Hintz - Granlund - Poolparty
Some guys

Heiskanen - Lindell
Ristolainen - Jokiharju
Hakanpää - Määttä
Some guy

Saros
Husso

Finland is going to give fits to Canada and any other team. And USA, Sweden and Russia are going to increase the parity with their teams, too in 2024.

Finland won the Olympics AND World Championships this year so the question should be

Does Finland causing less parity in international tournaments make international tournaments less fun?​

 

[Fantomas]

It's a problem and not because Canada is all that good. Rather the entire system is now heavily biased towards Canada in terms of where tournaments are played, in terms of facilities, equipment, everything. Canadians teams have home ice advantage in overwhelming amount of tournaments.

And it's boring.