How big is Olympic ice hockey in Europe?

[Iran]

How big was it in the Czech Republic when they won the olympic gold medal for hockey in 1998? How big was it in Sweden in 1994? 2006? Did it receive any where near as much attention as Sweden making the semifinals at the World Cup?

Here in Canada the Olympic hockey matches are huge! My school even stopped classes so we could watch the games in the auditorium. I am wondering how big it is in Europe?

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[Gemini]

It's obviously huge in hockey-playing European countries. In Finland the 2006 loss to Sweden was unbearable. I think many would have preferred to let Russia annex 10% of the country rather than watch the Swedes win.

 

[Merya]

Canada Cup and World Cup have mostly been considered tertiary tournaments, even before the pros were allowed in the Olympics. Most people just aren't interested in Hockey in August. Canada Cup has also always been viewed as a tournament unfairly favouring the NA teams by the general public. Even when Finland got into the Finals last time, the reason people knew it was happening was drama inside the team.
In Finland I feel Olympics were kinda secondary to the World Championship up until 95 when Finland won their first.

 

[Theokritos]

Did it receive any where near as much attention as Sweden making the semifinals at the World Cup?

Not sure if you're serious. Olympics >>> World Cup when it comes to receiving attention in Europe.

 

[Elvs]

How big was it in the Czech Republic when they won the olympic gold medal for hockey in 1998? How big was it in Sweden in 1994? 2006? Did it receive any where near as much attention as Sweden making the semifinals at the World Cup?

Here in Canada the Olympic hockey matches are huge! My school even stopped classes so we could watch the games in the auditorium. I am wondering how big it is in Europe?

Olympics can't be compared to the World Cup. Everyone knows when the Olympics are going on. Even people who never watch sports otherwise can watch and appreciate the Olympics. I know people who are casual hockey fans, who watches the SHL and World Championchips, but barely know what the World Cup is.

The NHL aren't very good at showcasing it's players to the audience in Europe. Therefor casual fans are not very interested in the World Cup. At this moment, you can find comments on articles where people think there's too many NHL'ers on the Swedish team for the upcoming World Championship.

 

[Jumptheshark]

How big was it in the Czech Republic when they won the olympic gold medal for hockey in 1998? How big was it in Sweden in 1994? 2006? Did it receive any where near as much attention as Sweden making the semifinals at the World Cup?

Here in Canada the Olympic hockey matches are huge! My school even stopped classes so we could watch the games in the auditorium. I am wondering how big it is in Europe?

Canadians must remember--It places like Sweden, Czech, Finland, Russia and other places--hockey is just as big as it is in Canada--it is just treated differently

 

[Urbanskog]

In terms of importance, the Olympic tournament obviously ranks the first, followed by the World Championship. The NHL''s gimmicky all-star tournament is far behind.

 

[TheTwelfth]

World Cup holds no importance at all to the general public. WHC gains a bigger following the further the team progresses in the tournament. Olympic hockey tournament is always one of the most followed sport events (in Sweden).

 

[Mikkel]

Not sure if you're serious. Olympics >>> World Cup when it comes to receiving attention in Europe.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I thought he was comparing the 1994 Olympic win with the Swedish 1994 bronze medal at the football world cup.

As a Dane I'd actually like to know the answer to that question, because I'd think it would be rather close in retrospect. Or?

 

[Pominville Knows]

Maybe I read it wrong, but I thought he was comparing the 1994 Olympic win with the Swedish 1994 bronze medal at the football world cup.

As a Dane I'd actually like to know the answer to that question, because I'd think it would be rather close in retrospect. Or?

It is close. Some people like to say that soccer is bigger in Sweden than hockey is, but i think its about equal and it just depends on which fanbase you're asking as they are not very much the same.
Soccer have the advantage that its international tournaments are played during the summer so that a great outdoor atmosphere can be arranged and random party people can be drawn into it. That said, i believe i remember that the registered viewers were somewhat higher for soccer in the 2006(2010?) world cup than in the olympics, besides the Olympic final that drew the largest crowd of all Swedens games in the two.

 

[Theokritos]

Maybe I read it wrong, but I thought he was comparing the 1994 Olympic win with the Swedish 1994 bronze medal at the football world cup.

Ah, now that makes sense.

 

[Jablkon]

How big was it in the Czech Republic when they won the olympic gold medal for hockey in 1998? How big was it in Sweden in 1994? 2006? Did it receive any where near as much attention as Sweden making the semifinals at the World Cup?

Here in Canada the Olympic hockey matches are huge! My school even stopped classes so we could watch the games in the auditorium. I am wondering how big it is in Europe?

7 days ago I found newspapers from 1996 Czech R. win in Viena WHC and 1998 Nagano. I was 16 in 1998. I do not know how it is now, but in 1998 teachers let us watch games. Players arrived completely drunk and they were welcomed by big crowd at the airport. Big wins are ussually celebrated in Old town sqare in Prague. So there were thousands people along all the way from the aiport to the sqaure welcomming players. The sqaure was completely full - around 130 000 people. Players were completely drunk at the press conference and coach could barely speak.Noone really cared. It was such big hype that in 1999 (maybe somebody correct me) Dominik Hasek had a new year speach in some TV (only president traditionaly does it).

Normally if we go to semis in WHC or OG, matches are ussually watched on big screens in old town sqare in Prague and i think also in Brno (second biggest city). There are ussually several thousands people (not more than 30000). World cup is hard to evaluate as we were never succesfull in that tourney and it is broadcasted at night.....

 

[Jablkon]

Canadians must remember--It places like Sweden, Czech, Finland, Russia and other places--hockey is just as big as it is in Canada--it is just treated differently

Having lived one year in Canada I have to say that hockey is much bigger in Canada than in Czech Republic. In CZ hockey is a sport which put people together. Even those who do not have big knowledge of the game or players follow WHC or OG matches. However is still hard to say whether soccer or hockey is number one sport here. On the other hand hockey is clearly number one sport in Canada and general knowledge (at least about NHL) and interest is definetely higher.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

Canadians must remember--It places like Sweden, Czech, Finland, Russia and other places--hockey is just as big as it is in Canada--it is just treated differently

That is not even close to being true.

 

[TheTwelfth]

Canadians must remember--It places like Sweden, Czech, Finland, Russia and other places--hockey is just as big as it is in Canada--it is just treated differently

Nah. It is big, but other than maybe Finland, I'd say soccer is bigger. Finland has their share of problems in getting games broadcasted though as I understand it.

 

[Urbanskog]

Nah. It is big, but other than maybe Finland, I'd say soccer is bigger. Finland has their share of problems in getting games broadcasted though as I understand it.

What do you mean?

 

[m4tt145]

That is not even close to being true.

It is. Though other sports are getting much publicity aswell, Canada are not good in any other real sport than hockey so it is natural that hockey gets all the attention and that it may seem bigger in Canada, but it isn't.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

It is. Though other sports are getting much publicity aswell, Canada are not good in any other real sport than hockey so it is natural that hockey gets all the attention and that it may seem bigger in Canada, but it isn't.

2010

2014

Good job buddy! You definitely watch other REAL sports!

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

It is. Though other sports are getting much publicity aswell, Canada are not good in any other real sport than hockey so it is natural that hockey gets all the attention and that it may seem bigger in Canada, but it isn't.

I suggest you look at the number of kids playing hockey and the number of indoor arenas in Canada as compared to Europe. Canada is much bigger both in raw numbers and in terms of per capita than anywhere in Europe. You can laugh all you want but Herr Kanadensisk knows the truth.

edit:
-per-capita Canada has twice as many kids playing organized hockey as the next most popular country (Finland)
-Canada has more kids playing organized hockey and more indoor arenas than all of Europe put together

 

[m4tt145]

[Good job buddy! You definitely watch other REAL sports!

Freestyle skiing, Bobsleigh, Snowboarding, Skeleton, Short track, Curling, yeah, you must be SO PROUD of having gold medals in all these magnificent sports! Congratulations to you

My point is, hockey is huge in Canada, and it is just as huge in Europe. But, there are lots of other huge sports in Europe.

In Canada, hockey is the only thing that matters, but that does not mean it isn't a huge thing in other countries.

 

[Namejs]

The Winters Olympics are huge in Latvia and they dominate everyday news coverage during the Olympics, and hockey obviously is the main event of the Winter Olympics.

As for the World Cup, I honestly didn't know it even existed until a couple of years ago. I'd put European Hockey Tour or the Spengler Cup on par with the World Cup.

 

[Jablkon]

Freestyle skiing, Bobsleigh, Snowboarding, Skeleton, Short track, Curling, yeah, you must be SO PROUD of having gold medals in all these magnificent sports! Congratulations to you

My point is, hockey is huge in Canada, and it is just as huge in Europe. But, there are lots of other huge sports in Europe.

In Canada, hockey is the only thing that matters, but that does not mean it isn't a huge thing in other countries.

You dont know what you talking about....

 

[FiLe]

We could say it's a matter of perspective. A sport sure seems "bigger" if your country is any good at it.

The fact is, pretty much any sport requires extremely rigorous training if you wish to be world class in it. So you can't exactly dis anyone who grabs a gold medal at the Olympics.

 

[Iran]

Oh sorry, I meant the 1994 FIFA World Cup when I was talking about the semifinals, clearly my mistake. Sweden won the gold medal for hockey, and I was wondering if it gotten attention similar to that.

 

[Iran]

Olympics can't be compared to the World Cup. Everyone knows when the Olympics are going on. Even people who never watch sports otherwise can watch and appreciate the Olympics. I know people who are casual hockey fans, who watches the SHL and World Championchips, but barely know what the World Cup is.

The NHL aren't very good at showcasing it's players to the audience in Europe. Therefor casual fans are not very interested in the World Cup. At this moment, you can find comments on articles where people think there's too many NHL'ers on the Swedish team for the upcoming World Championship.

Sorry I meant to ask was how much attention the Olympic ice hockey tournaments get compared to the FIFA World Cup in Sweden.