How to improve the tourney

[Big Bobby]

Even without the off ice stuff that's been in the news, does anyone else find that this tourney has gotten a little stale? I miss the days when it was smaller, before the big corporate sponsors and TSN ramming content down our throats non-stop. Not to mention batshit crazy ticket prices that most normal folks can barely afford. A few things I'd like to see in the coming years:

- Bring back Russia. They're too great of a hockey nation to be sidelined due to politics. There is no need for them to be needlessly barred from competition for a period of years.

- Return to smaller, more intimate venues. The World Juniors should be played out in places like Saskatchewan and North Dakota, not NHL arenas in major cities. Let's get that grassroots, small host city vibe going again. So tired of seeing the same big North American cities host these events. Spread it around a bit.

- I wouldn't mind seeing a switch to a best of three playoff format instead of single game elimination.

Any thoughts?

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[MXD]

- Bring back Russia. They're too great of a hockey nation to be sidelined due to politics. There is no need for them to be needlessly barred from competition for a period of years.

- Return to smaller, more intimate venues. The World Juniors should be played out in places like Saskatchewan and North Dakota, not NHL arenas in major cities. Let's get that grassroots, small host city vibe going again. So tired of seeing the same big North American cities host these events. Spread it around a bit.

It's on them, and no reason why they shouldn't start at lower levels (one demotion per year, basically).

 

[JackSlater]

This is probably the worst edition of the tournament in 40 years or more, for a variety of reasons. Tournament should go to Europe more often, and that's the main change I can see happening and being beneficial.

 

[Mikeshane]

I'd like to see teams be able to bring overage players after a certain length of time not winning a medal just so that the games are more competitive. Something like any country that hasn't won a medal in 5 years can bring three 20 year olds.

 

[Sens With Benefits]

This is probably the worst edition of the tournament in 40 years or more, for a variety of reasons. Tournament should go to Europe more often, and that's the main change I can see happening and being beneficial.

Besides the time difference I love seeing a new setting every year and seeing different hockey cultures.

 

[Three On Zero]

Bring back Russia? Yes, don’t punish these young kids for something they have no control over

Return to smaller venues? No

How can they improve? Don’t try to run a money grab half assed tournament in the middle of summer in Edmonton of all places…

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Agree with all cept maybe the three game series. I prefer the knockout rounds.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Not my idea but I like it: pool A is the big 5. Pool b is everyone else. All of pool a makes the quarters. Top 3 in pool b make the quarters. more competitive games in preliminary round.

 

[Boonk]

This is probably the worst edition of the tournament in 40 years or more, for a variety of reasons. Tournament should go to Europe more often, and that's the main change I can see happening and being beneficial.

The last Euro World Juniors in Czechia was incredible. Even the tournaments in Sweden 2014 and Finland 2016, despite us doing (politely) dogshit in that time, we're incredible tournaments. There hasn't been a single captivating World Juniors tournament held in Canada since 2012 really.

 

[ORRFForever]

The last Euro World Juniors in Czechia was incredible. Even the tournaments in Sweden 2014 and Finland 2016, despite us doing (politely) dogshit in that time, we're incredible tournaments. There hasn't been a single captivating World Juniors tournament held in Canada since 2012 really.

********************

The tournament is fine.

I would prefer more strong teams but that's not going to happen anytime soon. I'd bring back Russia. I like the idea of a Best of 3.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

The last Euro World Juniors in Czechia was incredible. Even the tournaments in Sweden 2014 and Finland 2016, despite us doing (politely) dogshit in that time, we're incredible tournaments. There hasn't been a single captivating World Juniors tournament held in Canada since 2012 really.

If you don't find a 4-4 game that goes to a shootout captivating...

 

[ijuka]

Have lower ticket prices. Who wants to watch an empty arena? Is it ideal for the hosts to sell no tickets?

- Bring back Russia. They're too great of a hockey nation to be sidelined due to politics. There is no need for them to be needlessly barred from competition for a period of years.

At least Finland would boycott if there's Russia, so that's at least one great hockey nation that'd be sidelined due to politics either way.

 

[William H Bonney]

Stop hosting the tournament in Canada so often.

Host the tournament in better, more intimate venues.

Change the structure of the tournament. Top 6 teams in one division. All play each other for QF seeding. Bottom 4 in another division, all play each other, top 2 advance to QFs. This would ensure better hockey as we'd get more games with the best teams playing each other more frequently, and the lower tier teams would still have a chance to get better and play the top tier teams, but only when they deserve it.

 

[peconcan]

I agree with bringing back Russia. The girl Bianca just beat in tennis wednesday night was Russian and she was allowed to play they just didn’t show her flag on the scoreboard. The tournament is already watered down this year and not having Russia makes it even worse.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Bring back Russia? Yes, don’t punish these young kids for something they have no control over

Return to smaller venues? No

How can they improve? Don’t try to run a money grab half assed tournament in the middle of summer in Edmonton of all places…

This is the second time you’ve mentioned “Edmonton in the summer” what wrong with that?
They were willing to come to Edmonton in December and January ffs

 

[Three On Zero]

The local population and surrounding area usually travels, goes on vacations and or goes camping during the summer months? People take advantage of the few months of nice weather. If you picked a European destination you’d likely pull in more people for a gimmicky summer make up

 

[llwyd]

"Bring back poor, long-suffering Russia" - out would go Finland and Sweden at the very least, probably several other nations. There just isn't any playing that country at the moment. That's the reality. I can't even begin to describe emotions in Finland at this time.

 

[Vakarte]

Wait, people want Russia back?

Cause from past forums, people were glad Russia was banned from the tournament?

 

[Bounces R Way]

Clearly not having enough gambling promotion is the issue.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Have lower ticket prices. Who wants to watch an empty arena? Is it ideal for the hosts to sell no tickets?

At least Finland would boycott if there's Russia, so that's at least one great hockey nation that'd be sidelined due to politics either way.

Ban wokeness.

 

[Hisch13r]

I agree with bringing back Russia. The girl Bianca just beat in tennis wednesday night was Russian and she was allowed to play they just didn’t show her flag on the scoreboard. The tournament is already watered down this year and not having Russia makes it even worse.

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Literally not the same thing at all. She is an individual representing herself. Russia in the tournament as a team is representing Russia.

 

[Wanderson]

Even without the off ice stuff that's been in the news, does anyone else find that this tourney has gotten a little stale? I miss the days when it was smaller, before the big corporate sponsors and TSN ramming content down our throats non-stop. Not to mention batshit crazy ticket prices that most normal folks can barely afford. A few things I'd like to see in the coming years:

- Bring back Russia. They're too great of a hockey nation to be sidelined due to politics. There is no need for them to be needlessly barred from competition for a period of years.

- Return to smaller, more intimate venues. The World Juniors should be played out in places like Saskatchewan and North Dakota, not NHL arenas in major cities. Let's get that grassroots, small host city vibe going again. So tired of seeing the same big North American cities host these events. Spread it around a bit.

- I wouldn't mind seeing a switch to a best of three playoff format instead of single game elimination.

Any thoughts?

You are very ignorant and you should educate yourself about what is going on in Ukraine AND Russia. It’s not like the Russian population in general is against the killings of innocent Ukrainians.

The Russian propaganda game is strong and they should not be welcomed back into any international tournament before major changes happens in that country, IMO.

 

[Gold Standard]

Ban Russia for the next decade.

Hold the tournament in Europe more often.

And if the USA are hosting any tournaments, it can't be anywhere within 200 miles of the Canadian border.

Hockey Canada needs to cap ticket prices at $25 max for any Team Canada game.

 

[Statsy]

We’re spending waaay to much time talking about Russia. That war will end and Russia will be back. If you want to talk about ways to improve the tournament, then focus on issues that are consistent problems from year to year.

In my opinion, they do need to get it back in Europe more, but also don’t forget that some of the recent events were abandoned by the original hosts or stripped from them, in Russia’s case. Canada stepped up to host when a host was needed, further skewing the number of times the WJC has been in Canada.

Oh… and for the love of God, lower the damn ticket prices!

 

[alko]

All teams should play in one group. Best one wins gold. No playoffs.