GDT: Group A - May 16 - Canada vs France

[DangeRouss]

French roster is comparable to what..the Canada Z team

 

[letsgocaps]

I guess it's the doom and gloom year for us.

 

[LiveeviL]

French roster is comparable to what..the Canada Z team

Z as in zombies?

 

[Nexon]

geez didnt know our team was looking that bad on paper,did everyone refuse to go i think only Stone makes the real team

Tavares hurt himself in in Košice, otherwise nothing special on paper but they play Hockey definitely entertaining to watch.
Btw. even Chabot is capable to make A team, possible even Marchessault.

 

[DangeRouss]

not so bad period for France

 

[SoundAndFury]

Yeah shots 16-12 and score 0-1 for France so a solid period really. Expected this to go way worse for you guys.

 

[Belizarius]

Very good 2nd for us, and the captain delivers with another blast

 

[tony d]

Bit closer than I'd like but Canada's still up going into the 3rd, hope we can put it away in the 3rd.

 

[Weltschmerz]

oh Canada

 

[IcemanTBI]

Canada struggling against France LOL

 

[SoundAndFury]

This is getting mildly interesting.

 

[SoundAndFury]

This game also kinda cements it in my mind that this Canadian team is going nowhere. Loss to Finns, 5-6 against Slovakia, 3-2 in the 3rd against France.. Yeah nah.

 

[Nexon]

Canada struggling against France LOL

France is not that bad definitely not GB or Italy caliber, slightly better than Austria as well. If they didn’t miss their best players, they could have fought for quarterfinals.

 

[IcemanTBI]

I will say this, France must have invested immensely in their hockey program because it seems like they just keep improving, I remember a time when France and Italy were about the same level and now France is miles ahead of Italy and are very quickly catching up to the big dogs, France is no easy out for anyone anymore and that is good to see.

 

[IcemanTBI]

Turris 4-2

 

[IcemanTBI]

Giving it to Mantha, but 4-2

 

[Nexon]

I don’t agree with you on this because after scored second goal there was visible determination in Canadian faces, haven’t seen such effort even 2-2 game versus Slovakia by Americans.

 

[IcemanTBI]

Now we are going, 5-2

 

[SoundAndFury]

I will say this, France must have invested immensely in their hockey program because it seems like they just keep improving, I remember a time when France and Italy were about the same level and now France is miles ahead of Italy and are very quickly catching up to the big dogs, France is no easy out for anyone anymore and that is good to see.

France isn't moving forwards, it's Italy moving backward. France is roughly where they have always been (in somewhat recent times), producing quality player every 5 years or so and moderately decent European pro-level depth. As their U20 results indicate they aren't catching up to anything though and will likely get overtaken eventually by Belarus and Kazakhstan.

If Rossi becomes legitimate NHL star Austria will as well, likely.

I'd say France and Norway are the biggest "lurkers" in hockey at this point, making no real steps forward while other countries do. It's just a matter of time when it starts biting them at men's level as well.

 

[kyle44]

Tavares hurt himself in in Košice, otherwise nothing special on paper but they play Hockey definitely entertaining to watch.
Btw. even Chabot is capable to make A team, possible even Marchessault.

Yeah.... not a chance.

 

[letsgocaps]

I will say this, France must have invested immensely in their hockey program because it seems like they just keep improving, I remember a time when France and Italy were about the same level and now France is miles ahead of Italy and are very quickly catching up to the big dogs, France is no easy out for anyone anymore and that is good to see.

I wouldn't say immensely, but yeah there are stuff that have been done the right way in the last few years.
Still not good enough though.

 

[letsgocaps]

France isn't moving forwards, it's Italy moving backward. France is roughly where they have always been, producing quality player every 5 years or so and moderately decent European pro-level depth. As their U20 results indicate they aren't catching up to anything though and will likely get overtaken eventually by Belarus and Kazakhstan.

I disagree with you. Some things are definitely improving:
-The league is better structured, more games are being played (44)
-More good standard rinks are being built
-Rules have been implemtented to allow young french players to actually play
-Hockey is moving to the big cities which is mandatory for hockey development (Marseille, Bordeaux,Lyon..)
-etc..
Still not fast enough, but improving.

 

[NinjaKick]

GG France, you guys will only get better

 

[SoundAndFury]

I disagree with you. Some things are definitely improving:
-The league is better structured, more games are being played (44)
-More good standard rinks are being built
-Rules have been implemtented to allow young french players to actually play
-Hockey is moving to the big cities which is mandatory for hockey development (Marseille, Bordeaux,Lyon..)
-etc..
Still not fast enough, but improving.

I think you understand full well those are such baby steps compared to flat out hockey revolutions that underwent in Hungary, Belarus or Kazakhstan. Sure it's better than nothing but.. The impact of those is going to be minor. For example, more league games will allow more stability and lower level depth but will do little to top end talent. Same with the new rules, top end players should and do move abroad anyway.

At junior level, however, since the split into 1A and 1B France has peaked at 13th place (tied for 6 points with 13-15 too) and bottomed at 20th once. It's hard to expect the team which is 13-20 at U20 level to stay at 8-14 at men's level. We can clearly see those numbers are very different and there is no sensible argument on how they wouldn't start getting closer.

 

[IAM]

Nice game Canada. 45 minutes figure skating and 15 minutes playing hockey. You disrespected the tournament by doing so.