GDT: Gold Medal Game - May 20 - Sweden vs Switzerland

[scipio]

In some comments during the game people wondered who the Swiss goalkeeper, Leo Genoni, is. So I thought I could write a short summary, even if it's too late, some might find it interesting.

The story of Leonardo Genoni has to be told with the one of Reto Berra (Calgary, Colorado, Florida, Anaheim). They both spent their youth years at ZSC Lions (up to the year 2007). Berra was at the time considered the next rising goalkeeper from Switzerland and had attracted quite some interest with his performances at international youth tournaments. Unhappy with their situation as backup goalkeepers (Ari "The Wall" Sulander was the starting goal keeper at the time) they both moved in the same season to league rival HC Davos (I'm still upset by that BTW ). In Davos they were rivals for number one goal keeper, and Leonardo Genoni emerged as a clear winner. He played in 105 games, while Reto Berra only played 28 games in the samea time (they spent 2 years together at HC Davos). Eventually Berra left for another NLA club (EHC Biel) and his performances at this club earned him a spot in the NHL. Personally, I think Leo did not make it to the NHL because he is a smaller goaltender, and also for some reason he was, until this world cup, unable to play his best hockey at the international level.

 

[torero]

As a swiss fan, i'm not sad at all.
The sweden was clearly better. It was a super fun game for us. Finally, the gold is just a medal, pride is much more important.
We have to be realistic, lose in OT against this sweden is still a big achievment.

I am sad.

some years ago ... we had the silver ... and lost without discussion to Sweden. I was happy we had the silver medal and never thought we could have the gold. So silver was great.

This time, we could have had the Gold. Whatever people say ... Sweden didn't play that well. And in scoring chances, in regular period, we had the lead. Not speaking about the OT were , appart 3 minutes at the end, we were simply superior and the most dangerous team. In penalty shots ... Swedes had the better technicians and .... and we lost . basta.

So this year i am sad we lost to a team that we could have beaten. But they won ... and it is also fine like that. (and in puck possession, shots , all these proxy measures ... they had the uper hand Except in potential ko landed punches .... and this is what i talk about and why i am sad this year)

And people who say this team is better or this team is worse ... all is on the ice in the game. These are games, not paper comparaisons. Else games wouldn't be played !!! You have to play them and heart has as much value as technique or IQ or whatever. As a proof : Vegas, Switezrland , and many others ... paper is cool. Games are what counts. ... and people who criticize ... even now that Vegas is in finale with 3 games lost and 12 wins ... some still say that they are a bunch of misfits ... !!! It's a pathetic attitude where people who are frustrated , stay in their papers , don't confront the world and claim that according to their papers ... this team was better than this other team. And that in a 17 game serie, this team could never beat this other team ... bla bla bla.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Well,

Proud to be Swiss. Greetings from Ticino.

 

[JimboA]

Klingberg had a great time.

And it looks like he's still enjoying himself, his 15-minute live story (Instagram) from the party is worth watching. Klingberg seems to be such a carefree and positive guy. Probably a great teammate to have.

 

[ijuka]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

 

[LiveeviL]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Which team would have toppled Sweden then? I remind you that Sweden had to face Swiss twice and that the brackets are based on previous (lucky, no doubt) performances.

 

[mattihp]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Sweden was the best team out there. Some luck in the brackets but they would have beaten Russia and annihilated the vacationing canadian team.

 

[rimpirate]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

They had to face a team in the GMG which eliminated both Finland and Canada. In the end, there are no easy brackets *cough* SWE-BLR *cough*.

 

[Tomas W]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Sweden won every game. E V E R Y game.

And stop underestimating Switzerland, they had a great team.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

so if swiss are so bad then why did they beat canada and finland?

and what about latvia who took both canada and usa to ot?

what makes you think that sweden would not beat finland, canada and czech in the playoffs? we had the best team on paper in the whole tournament.

 

[VictorLustig]

Guys, we have a crime scene.

 

[LiveeviL]

Guys, we have a crime scene.

WTF RISPEKK FFS!10ne!1

Seriously kindergarten should stop at kindergarten, let men do what they want.

 

[aphyro]

Guys, we have a crime scene.

where is the crime guy that take of his medal?

 

[Healthy DiPietro]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Yes, because we beat every team in the group stage.

Endless excuses from you guys, anything you can come up with so you won't have to give credit. Switzerland was good enough to out Canada and Finland, not our fault.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Disrespectful to the max to Sweden, Switzerland, etc etc. The only good thing is that it clears up what present one should buy you for Christmas: class, because you got none.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Guys, we have a crime scene.

So, I guess a 2 game suspension, and a big fine to the Swiss federation, which will be announced around october? No?

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

A Finnish fan saying it was lucky to face the 4th best team in the other bracket by winning the group, while it's also lucky to face the same team that eliminated Finland (and Canada). You can't make this stuff up.

Well,

That is awesome to see! I'm very happy for Swiss hockey. I can also understand the joy from the fans. That Swiss team should be very proud with how they handled themselves and how close they were to winning.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Sweden won every game. E V E R Y game.

And stop underestimating Switzerland, they had a great team.

Two silver medals in 5 years, but still zero respect by so many (I am obviously agreeing with you). Unreal.

Here, in the span mentioned above (= from 2013 to now):
1. Sweden... 3 gold, 1 bronze
2. Canada... 2 gold, 1 silver
3. Russia... 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
4. Switzerland and Finland... 2 silver
5. USA... 3 bronze
6. Everyone else (including Czech, Slovakia, etc etc)... 0 medals.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Yes, because we beat every team in the group stage.

Endless excuses from you guys, anything you can come up with so you won't have to give credit. Switzerland was good enough to out Canada and Finland, not our fault.

And good enough to bring Sweden to the last penalty shot.

 

[aphyro]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Do you remeber when Finland won the olympics? Yeah me neither

 

[FinPanda]

1.85 million Finns watched the WHC final where Finland didn't even play. Great for a 5.5 million people country.

So probably 3 million Finns would've watched the final if the Finns had played as Finland-Switzerland watching peak was 2.3 million. WHC is huge in Finland.

E: ok the average was about 1m, still it is huge. In Czech Republic 1.5 million Czechs watched the final. 2,5 million Swedes in Sweden.

 

[Tomas W]

1.85 million Finns watched the WHC final where Finland didn't even play. Great for a 5.5 million people country.

So probably 3 million Finns would've watched the final if the Finns had played as Finland-Switzerland watching peak was 2.3 million. WHC is huge in Finland.

E: ok the average was about 1m, still it is huge. In Czech Republic 1.5 million Czechs watched the final. 2,5 million Swedes in Sweden.

Thats awsome! I lift my hat to the Finns who watched. Probably most of them rooted for Switzerland, but still.

 

[FinPanda]

Thats awsome! I lift my hat to the Finns who watched. Probably most of them rooted for Switzerland, but still.

It was a great game. Worth to stay up until 1am.

 

[Healthy DiPietro]

Can I post this because we are the world champions?

 

[BonAppleTea]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

You don't think we would've gotten the gold if we started in the other group? We would still make it to the playoffs, and we would still have the deepest and most skilled team in the tournament. I can't see how facing any other team in the playoffs would have changed the outcome here. No other team had the depth (especially defensive depth) to be able to knock us out. Switzerland played perfect defensive hockey and kept us on the outside perimeters in the O-zone the entire game which no other team was able to do.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

Sweden gets so lucky with their brackets, it's ridiculous. Latvia, USA and then Switzerland. Only USA could be considered an especially strong team, and I still wouldn't exactly call it a top team.

Both Switzerland and USA beat Canada - the best team that Sweden didn't get to face.