How would a Union Tournament go?

[WingsFan95]

Ever since the NHL experimented with the North America vs. World format, I've always wondered about a Union type tournament.

Team North America
Team Russia
Team Central (Czech, Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany)
Team Scandinavia

In such a scenario, there would be a round-robin format of 6 games for each team. Top 2 would play a Best of 3 series.

On first inspection, Team Russia would look like the weakest because it would be one country, although I'm sure a Belorussian or two would compete for that team. The reasoning here is that no other country would join in union unless it's an All-Europe lineup and because Russia would be more than willing to take on the challenge.

I would think it would be more constructive to have Scandinavia team up with the Central squad but that would turn the tournament into a round-robin affair. You need to have 4 teams.

Personally, as small of a population pool as Scandinavia has, Sweden & Finland combined would be extremely formidable, which speaks to their programs, plus any standouts from Denmark/Norway (Bødker, Zuccarello).

Team Russia or Central would arguably be expected to finish in the 3rd/4th spot but you never know.

I guess it's how you look at Canada combining with America. I just don't think Canada would improve all that much. Looking at it that way, they would face competition from each of the other 3 teams (but probably beat the Russians).

Why there hasn't been a tournament of this nature is somewhat of a mystery to me. North America vs. the World as some 8 game series I think would be lost on many, since combining Russia, Czechoslovakia and the Scandinavian countries wouldn't be all that cohesive.

Here's how the schedule of such a tournament would work in my mind:

Each team hosts 3 round robin games.

In the Final, the lower seed would host the first game while the higher seed would host game two and if necessary, game 3.

Click to read more...

 

[xxxx]

1. North America
2. Scandinavia
3. Russia/Central

 

[Urbanskog]

First of all, what is with North Americans and their horrible visions of international tournaments? Secondly, Finland is not Scandinavian.

 

[GermanNuck]

I actually would like Team Europe against Team North America in a wild "CHL Subway Series"/Ryder Cup mix.

 

[Exarz]

First of all, what is with North Americans and their horrible visions of international tournaments? Secondly, Finland is not Scandinavian.

They're not alone. People in Sweden include Finland in Scandinavia as well

Well, we could just name it Kalmarunionen

 

[xxxx]

Yeah I think that could be interesting, doing it once in a while...say, every 5 years.

 

[Snowsii]

They're not alone. People in Sweden include Finland in Scandinavia as well

Well, we could just name it Kalmarunionen

or Fennoscandia

 

[Jablkon]

It looks like that a lot of people still underestimate national pride of all european countries The biggest issue would be team Russia. With present situation in Ukraine and notoriously known relation between Latvia and Russia, calling this team Russia would cause int. conflict Just remember Arturs Irbe and his "willingness" to represent CCCP......

 

[Jablkon]

Btw. just put us together only with Slovaks and we would win it Good chemistry and big hype with cooperation once again together for one special event...Ok, maybe we would need swiss goalie

 

[GermanNuck]

It looks like that a lot of people still underestimate national pride of all european countries The biggest issue would be team Russia. With present situation in Ukraine and notoriously known relation between Latvia and Russia, calling this team Russia would cause int. conflict Just remember Arturs Irbe and his "willingness" to represent CCCP......

Team European Union would be nice. Would exclude some nations of course, but still enough potential.

And I think you could make sick jerseys out of the EU-Flag

 

[Urbanskog]

They're not alone. People in Sweden include Finland in Scandinavia as well

Yeah well, I feel like most Finns do that as well.

 

[Exarz]

Yeah well, I feel like most Finns do that as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would say they make this mistake because Finnish and Scandinavian culture is about the same.

Apparently "Fennoscandia" is the correct term when including Finland!

 

[Urbanskog]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would say they make this mistake because Finnish and Scandinavian culture is about the same.

Maybe... or because the flags are alike.

 

[WingsFan95]

It looks like that a lot of people still underestimate national pride of all european countries The biggest issue would be team Russia. With present situation in Ukraine and notoriously known relation between Latvia and Russia, calling this team Russia would cause int. conflict Just remember Arturs Irbe and his "willingness" to represent CCCP......

Here's the thing, Ukraine and Latvia often have few players that would be able to make the roster of the Central or Russian teams. Yes it's unfortunate those countries wouldn't participate in such a tournament but they get routinely relegated in the World Championships so it's not like a travesty similar to the 2016 WC set to take place.

Btw. just put us together only with Slovaks and we would win it. Good chemistry and big hype with cooperation once again together for one special event...Ok, maybe we would need swiss goalie.

My issue with this is what the team would be called. Would Czechoslovakia fly? This is why calling the team Central Europe would be more neutral.

Team European Union would be nice. Would exclude some nations of course, but still enough potential.

I think Team EU would win in a walk, to be honest. The amount of times Sweden, Finland or the Czechs have beaten Canada/USA/Russia, combining them as one would be lopsided in my mind.

First of all, what is with North Americans and their horrible visions of international tournaments? Secondly, Finland is not Scandinavian.

I'm actually half German and half Polish. Who can speak Russian and German. My Major in University was both Politics & History. I am fully aware some groupings are not ideal but I'm proposing a purely hypothetical scenario for conversation.

As far as Finland goes, you could just as easily call the squad Team Nordic. However keep in mind a good portion of the world does lump it into Scandinavia, fair or not.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

Here's the thing, Ukraine and Latvia often have few players that would be able to make the roster of the Central or Russian teams. Yes it's unfortunate those countries wouldn't participate in such a tournament but they get routinely relegated in the World Championships so it's not like a travesty similar to the 2016 WC set to take place.



My issue with this is what the team would be called. Would Czechoslovakia fly? This is why calling the team Central Europe would be more neutral.



I think Team EU would win in a walk, to be honest. The amount of times Sweden, Finland or the Czechs have beaten Canada/USA/Russia, combining them as one would be lopsided in my mind.



I'm actually half German and half Polish. Who can speak Russian and German. My Major in University was both Politics & History. I am fully aware some groupings are not ideal but I'm proposing a purely hypothetical scenario for conversation.

As far as Finland goes, you could just as easily call the squad Team Nordic. However keep in mind a good portion of the world does lump it into Scandinavia, fair or not.

Latvia has never been relegated from the WC since they got in in 1997 and they have played in all Olympics since 2002.

The players would be okay with Czechoslovakia, I suppose. But it would not fly with the fans, but neither would Team Central Europe, Team EU or Team Whatever just as Team Rest of the World doesn't fly with them.

The problem with this idea isn't the grouping of these countries, but the idea itself. You'd have to look for those European fans who'd care about this kind of teams with a magnifing glass.

Thinking anything else is misunderstanding the way most Europeans understand national pride when it comes to international sports competition. It might sound ridiculous to many here, but winning the 2002 World Championship was a major event when it comes to building Slovakia's national identity post the Velvet Revolution and Velvet Divorce with the Czechs. The % of Slovaks who answer that they are proud to be Slovak grows several % whenever the Slovak hockey team gets a good result at a tournament. It's the one hockey team that is followed by everyone in the country even though they don't care about hockey otherwise. And this is not truejust for Slovakia, but also for Czech republic or Finland.

 

[Pominville Knows]

The players would be okay with Czechoslovakia, I suppose. But it would not fly with the fans, but neither would Team Central Europe, Team EU or Team Whatever just as Team Rest of the World doesn't fly with them.

The problem with this idea isn't the grouping of these countries, but the idea itself. You'd have to look for those European fans who'd care about this kind of teams with a magnifing glass.

Thinking anything else is misunderstanding the way most Europeans understand national pride when it comes to international sports competition. It might sound ridiculous to many here, but winning the 2002 World Championship was a major event when it comes to building Slovakia's national identity post the Velvet Revolution and Velvet Divorce with the Czechs. The % of Slovaks who answer that they are proud to be Slovak grows several % whenever the Slovak hockey team gets a good result at a tournament. It's the one hockey team that is followed by everyone in the country even though they don't care about hockey otherwise. And this is not truejust for Slovakia, but also for Czech republic or Finland.

Name a couple of things why Czechoslovakia was abandoned plz?

 

[FiLe]

Apparently "Fennoscandia" is the correct term when including Finland!

I wonder how many are ticked off by the fact that despite there being 20 million Scandinavians, those five million Finns get first billing.

By the way, if we are to think things not culturally, but purely geographically, technically Denmark isn't part of Scandinavia either.


Matter of fact, the proper name to a squad that combines the best players from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark would be "Team Nordic".

 

[slovakiasnextone]

Name a couple of things why Czechoslovakia was abandoned plz?

Well, if you want just a couple:

 

[Jablkon]

Here's the thing, Ukraine and Latvia often have few players that would be able to make the roster of the Central or Russian teams. Yes it's unfortunate those countries wouldn't participate in such a tournament but they get routinely relegated in the World Championships so it's not like a travesty similar to the 2016 WC set to take place.



My issue with this is what the team would be called. Would Czechoslovakia fly? This is why calling the team Central Europe would be more neutral.



I think Team EU would win in a walk, to be honest. The amount of times Sweden, Finland or the Czechs have beaten Canada/USA/Russia, combining them as one would be lopsided in my mind.



I'm actually half German and half Polish. Who can speak Russian and German. My Major in University was both Politics & History. I am fully aware some groupings are not ideal but I'm proposing a purely hypothetical scenario for conversation.

As far as Finland goes, you could just as easily call the squad Team Nordic. However keep in mind a good portion of the world does lump it into Scandinavia, fair or not.

Not sure if I got it. I suppose you divided this teams according to teritories from where players would be chosen. So I suppose that Latvia or Ukraine would be included in russian territory even if no player would be chosen from there. Especially in case of Latvia - they definetely deserve to be included as they are probably 6th strongest hockey team in Europe and quite competitive on national scene. I would say they would prefer to be included in team "North" rather than in team "Russia" or you would have to rename it. Anyway it is maybe too much sensitive to continue this discussion...

About Czechoslovakia - from my perspective - if this tournament was a case a and it was somehow approved thath territories will play against each other, Czechoslovakia would definetely fly for me. It wouldnt be possible in 90s. But bearing in mind great relation of these two countries and notifying that negative tensions from spliting Czechoslovakia already disappeared, It would be nice for me to put this team together just for one purpose and one special occasion. I would even say that, maybe except NA team, we would be the most easy going team and that could be our biggest advantage....

 

[YARR123]

Team Scandinavia (or Fennoscandia, lol) = Team Sweden with Finnish goalies.

Also Team Central = Team Czech Republic with around two Slovaks, two Swiss and one German maybe.

Very very boring for everyone.

 

[Jablkon]

Team Scandinavia (or Fennoscandia, lol) = Team Sweden with Finnish goalies.

Also Team Central = Team Czech Republic with around two Slovaks, two Swiss and one German maybe.

Very very boring for everyone.

I would take at least Hossa, Tatar, Gaborik from offence. Then at least Chara, Visnovsky, Sekera and probably Meszaros from D. With notourious czech problems with D both slovaks and swiss additions would be very valuable.

Based just on NHL players, it would look probably like this:

Tatar - Plekanec - Hossa
Hertl - Hudler - Voracek
Palat - Krejci - Gaborik
Michalek - Hanzal - Vrbata

(Draisaitl, Pastrnak)

Josi, Streit, Chara, Sekera, Michalek, Visnovsky

Halak
Mrazek
Hiller

No Jagr, Elias or Zidlicky as it is not held this year

 

[Pominville Knows]

Well, if you want just a couple:

Who the **** are they? But anyways i'm sure there are great brotherly love between two peoples that just feel they are different due to historical and social reasons.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

Who the **** are they? But anyways i'm sure there are great brotherly love between two peoples that just feel they are different due to historical and social reasons.

Vladimir Meciar and Vaclav Klaus:

[/In 1992, the Czech Republic elected Václav Klaus and others who demanded either an even tighter federation ("viable federation") or two independent states. Vladimír Mečiar and other leading Slovak politicians of the day wanted a kind of confederation. The two sides opened frequent and intense negotiations in June. On 17 July, the Slovak parliament adopted the Declaration of independence of the Slovak nation. Six days later, Klaus and Meciar agreed to dissolve Czechoslovakia at a meeting in Bratislava. Czechoslovak president Václav Havel resigned rather than oversee the dissolution which he had opposed; in a September 1992 poll, only 37% of Slovaks and 36% of Czechs favoured dissolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_Czechoslovakia

 

[Pominville Knows]

Vladimir Meciar and Vaclav Klaus:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_Czechoslovakia

I'll be damned, just 36-37% of the people being for a dissolution. I did say a week ago to someone that Slovakia and Czech Republic are probably closer to eachother than the Scandivavian countries, and this sure points to it.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

I'll be damned, just 36-37% of the people being for a dissolution. I did say a week ago to someone that Slovakia and Czech Republic are probably closer to eachother than the Scandivavian countries, and this sure points to it.

Doesn't really matter now. If there a poll now, very few people would be in favour of bringing back Czechoslovakia. Most everyone agrees that we're better off as two separate brotherly nations who only hate each other whenever the puck drops or the ball is thrown in hockey/football games between the two.