Finland's status and reputation in the hockey world (merged)
- Thread starter toewsintangibles
- Start date
Yeah KHL is not the domestic league for Russia. NHL is not the domestic league for USA. AHL is their league (hence the name).
But I have now been educated that Finland is somewhere in top 10 of hockey countries because the almighty Germany and Switzerland leagues sell more hot dogs and beverages to more people.
I entered this thread as someone thinking about results, what games on the ice prove....now my silly idea has been corrected and I have been converted. All hail Switzerland, the top dog in hockey outside north america.
Sabane
Registered User
- Feb 16, 2014
- 161
- 0
Hilarious 
Jokerit and HIFK are the best teams in FEL because they have the biggest arenas and they are from Helsinki so they have the biggest fan base. Karpat, Tappara or SaiPa(!!) are nowhere near them as to be great hockey teams, though they are the leaders of the standings!
Jokerit and HIFK are the best teams in FEL because they have the biggest arenas and they are from Helsinki so they have the biggest fan base. Karpat, Tappara or SaiPa(!!) are nowhere near them as to be great hockey teams, though they are the leaders of the standings!Hilarious
Fixed it for you
Ohashi_Jouzu*
Registered User
That's definitely a symptom of having no argument left, as if that wasn't apparent enough.
Yes, I don't argue with creationists either, I just marvel in their incredible fantasy world of arguments they have conjured up to make themselves feel right.
The criteria you use to rank hockey nations is the equivalent of creationism....you have decided how things are, and you come up with the most fantastic, out of this world excuses for your view that can't be reasoned with or understood by a thinking being.
Amazing fact to think of Finland in Olympic hockey
That they are the country that since pros have been allowed to play Olympic Hockey starting in 1998 they are the country that has won the most medals of anyone:
Finland- 4 (bronze 98, silver 06, bronze 2010, bronze 2014)
Canada- 3 (gold 02, gold 2010, gold/silver 2014)
Sweden- 2 (gold 06, gold/silver 2014)
Russia- 2 (silver 98, bronze 92)
Czech- 2 (gold 98, bronze 06)
U.S- 2 (silver 02, silver 2010)
Now I wouldnt say their 4 non gold medals is better than Canada's 3 medals with atleast 2 gold. However that is still an amazing stat and hard to fathom when most people think of Finland as the underdog country of that entire group.
One funny thing I notice too though is how frequently they seem to finish from 2nd to 4th but so often winning the bronze in major events be it World Juniors, World Championships, World Cup, or the Olympics. I always joke that no matter who they are playing I pick them to win in the bronze game if they are in it everytime. The other countries all move around, even Canada was a horrible 7th at the 2006 Olympics, but Finland always seems to finish a couple places higher than predicted given their roster on paper, even though they very rarely win the big event. I had a feeling before these Games despite that their roster seemed weaker than usual they would be in the semis as usual, and a couple others who were expected to do much better would be out by then.
That they are the country that since pros have been allowed to play Olympic Hockey starting in 1998 they are the country that has won the most medals of anyone:
Finland- 4 (bronze 98, silver 06, bronze 2010, bronze 2014)
Canada- 3 (gold 02, gold 2010, gold/silver 2014)
Sweden- 2 (gold 06, gold/silver 2014)
Russia- 2 (silver 98, bronze 92)
Czech- 2 (gold 98, bronze 06)
U.S- 2 (silver 02, silver 2010)
Now I wouldnt say their 4 non gold medals is better than Canada's 3 medals with atleast 2 gold. However that is still an amazing stat and hard to fathom when most people think of Finland as the underdog country of that entire group.
One funny thing I notice too though is how frequently they seem to finish from 2nd to 4th but so often winning the bronze in major events be it World Juniors, World Championships, World Cup, or the Olympics. I always joke that no matter who they are playing I pick them to win in the bronze game if they are in it everytime. The other countries all move around, even Canada was a horrible 7th at the 2006 Olympics, but Finland always seems to finish a couple places higher than predicted given their roster on paper, even though they very rarely win the big event. I had a feeling before these Games despite that their roster seemed weaker than usual they would be in the semis as usual, and a couple others who were expected to do much better would be out by then.
Stanley Foobrick
Clockwork Blue
Sorry I didnt notice this thread and shouldnt have started a seperate thread. I was just saying though how amazed I am to think Finland has won the most Olympic medals since pros were allowed in the Olympics, and that is a 5 Olympic span now. I knew they held that on their own before these Games, and by medalling they are certain to continue holding it, and every country but Canada is 2 medals (or more) back. It is quite amazing what they are able to do with rosters that dont seem as strong on paper as others, but they are an amazing international hockey play country. Always performing from the juniors on up.
It was good to see them win the World Juniors this year, as it is a rare thing to see them go the next step and actually win the gold at a major event. I really thought they were going to do it at the 2006 Games, I was crushed for them seeing them lose that final after being the best team all tournament.
It was good to see them win the World Juniors this year, as it is a rare thing to see them go the next step and actually win the gold at a major event. I really thought they were going to do it at the 2006 Games, I was crushed for them seeing them lose that final after being the best team all tournament.
Exactly. Finland is a real team. Russians are a group of highly skilled individuals who hate each other and play almost no team defense either.
That is true, but people usually have them finishing 5th, 6th, 7th, so they arent even supposed to be in the semis anyway, but I always expect them to be just because I get used to the pattern eventually.
Che vy Teemuchuk
Registered User
And the only time they didn't medal was when they lost to '02 Canada in the qfinals. Id also add their "silver" in the '04 World Cup to include in this stretch. Second only to Canada overall since '98 IMO.
If I made a format for Olympic medals since the medals tally across all sports are becoming increasingly controversial it would be either like this:
Gold- 5 points
Silver- 3 points
Bronze- 2 points
Gold- 4 points
Silver- 3 points
Bronze- 1 point
Either way the 2006 silver and one of the bronzes would be tradeable for a gold if I were the one in charge of the IOC.
That would also let Finland keep their likely still horde of remaining bronzes on the side as long as the NHL players remain in the Games.
Malkinburgh
Registered User
- Nov 19, 2011
- 472
- 0
Not many gave them a chance this year too after they lost a few important forwards and had a supposedly bad defense. Good for Finland.
bursilym
Registered User
- Jan 9, 2014
- 766
- 3
If I made a format for Olympic medals since the medals tally across all sports are becoming increasingly controversial it would be either like this:
Gold- 5 points
Silver- 3 points
Bronze- 2 points
Gold- 4 points
Silver- 3 points
Bronze- 1 point
Either way the 2006 silver and one of the bronzes would be tradeable for a gold if I were the one in charge of the IOC.
Haha. I think this would be more fair.
Gold - 10 Points
Silver - 5 Points
Bronze - 2 Points
mandiblesofdoom
Registered User
- May 24, 2012
- 2,675
- 1,965
That's right. Seems the Finns are never favored for gold anyway, so it's not so much of a blow when they don't make the final game. And their team concept is solid ... even after a bad defeat they keep trucking - an admirable trait. The other teams seem to lose it when they can't get gold.
Very, very impressive for sure. Talent-wise they're basically never top 4 (generally Canada, Russia, US, Sweden, and further back the Czechs were in the mix), but they consistently play amazingly well together. Finland always look like a seasoned team with outstanding team d, great passing, crazy hustle, and just general instant chemistry, while most other teams look unsure of how to play together.
Stanley Foobrick
Clockwork Blue
Yeah, never been a fan of Canada's, Russia's and even to a degree the USA's gold or nothing mantra.
Hammer Time
Registered User
- May 3, 2011
- 3,957
- 11
Yeah that is probably more realistic, but I would say instead:
Gold- 10 points
Silver- 5 points
Bronze- 3 points
The difference between a bronze and no medal is greater in any sport (not just hockey) between silver and bronze. The bronze medalist (again in most sports, not just hockey) is usually happier than the silver medalist in fact. So using this points scale:
Canada- 25 or 30 points
Sweden- 15 or 20 points
Finland- 17 points
Czech- 13 points
U.S- 10 points
Russia- 8 points
Looks about right to me. Finland who has more NHL eligible Olympic medals than anyone, including Canada, I would say has been the 2nd best NHL Olympic roster country behind only Canada, unless Sweden wins their 2nd Olympic NHL roster gold tommorow.
What amazes me as a Finn from this tournament is our defense. It was supposed to be the weakest of links and horrible. It was great. 5 goals against in games against Russia, Canada, Sweden and USA. Great goaltenging helps too but that's an impressive number.
Quite funny that Norway and Austria scored as many goals against us than those teams
Quite funny that Norway and Austria scored as many goals against us than those teams
