WJC: Increased Parity : Smaller Hockey Nations Improving?
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Rob
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And Denmark will be a lot weaker next year. There is simply not the depth to ice a good team every year, there will always be peaks and valleys.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaa
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- May 16, 2009
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This is not something really new. Every one of the top teams can ice some pretty decent players and some depth. There is still a gap, but it has been closing for a long time now.
torero
Registered User
Can't speak for the others.
But for us, Switzerland, strangely, since we started having more players abroad, we started hitting the plateau.
When most players were in Switzerland, we were winning more games, upseting here and their, but since we have +/- some 25 players (10 NHL, 3 AHL and 12 WHL) in North America and some 5 or so in other championships (Sweden mainly)... we entered a plateau.
This year being the year where we brought the most talented team in the CM M20 and we had one of the worst championships. (3 serious european talent, 3 that are 1.4 point/game in WHL, some 5 playing in WHL with responsibilities) ... 1 NHLer, many others playing in NLA (with adults) And we end up playing ... against the relegation.
To me all this means is that it's been a good year for parity. If this is a trend that continues for the next couple of tournaments, then we can definitely make the argument. I do want to put one caveat out there; The goaltending for the weaker nations has been spectacular this year. Godla, Sorensen, Reich, and Sharipov have all been terrific, keeping their teams in games they had no business being in. They have been the great equalizer and made it seem like those teams were closer to competing than they perhaps really are.
Jussi
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It's junior hockey, outside NA there can be huge differences between age groups.
Denmark is heading towards relegation next year, unless some surprise players break out. They're losing Sorensen, Bjorkstrand, Ehlers and Eller, and I'm not counting the other players who are leaving. Also, Sweden, Russia and Finland have proven that you can never count them out, these quarterfinal swill be fun to watch. 
Canada4Gold
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- Dec 22, 2010
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Can't speak for the others.
But for us, Switzerland, strangely, since we started having more players abroad, we started hitting the plateau.
When most players were in Switzerland, we were winning more games, upseting here and their, but since we have +/- some 25 players (10 NHL, 3 AHL and 12 WHL) in North America and some 5 or so in other championships (Sweden mainly)... we entered a plateau.
This year being the year where we brought the most talented team in the CM M20 and we had one of the worst championships. (3 serious european talent, 3 that are 1.4 point/game in WHL, some 5 playing in WHL with responsibilities) ... 1 NHLer, many others playing in NLA (with adults) And we end up playing ... against the relegation.
The fact that you're on the relegation side has nothing to do with how good your team is. You beat the Czechs, something you wouldn't have done that often in the past. You just got put in a very bottom strong pool. 4 points is enough to advance 9 times out of 10, probably more. You just had no luck whatsoever, this is probably the best team you've ever sent, unfortunately there was no pushover 5th team in the pool beat up on for a free spot in the QF. If you and Slovakia were switched you make the QF, and possibly beat the Czechs in QF.
Beats me as to how Sweden regressed. They look like a very strong team that could win gold.
Rob
Registered User
Can't speak for the others.
But for us, Switzerland, strangely, since we started having more players abroad, we started hitting the plateau.
When most players were in Switzerland, we were winning more games, upseting here and their, but since we have +/- some 25 players (10 NHL, 3 AHL and 12 WHL) in North America and some 5 or so in other championships (Sweden mainly)... we entered a plateau.
This year being the year where we brought the most talented team in the CM M20 and we had one of the worst championships. (3 serious european talent, 3 that are 1.4 point/game in WHL, some 5 playing in WHL with responsibilities) ... 1 NHLer, many others playing in NLA (with adults) And we end up playing ... against the relegation.
Well Switzerland still "punches above its weight" for a small country.
The country that I thought might make a break through and hasn't is Germany. I know the IIHF would love that to happen.
I would agree with most of the other posters and say that yes, the playing field seems to be more even. This seemed to start in 2010, when Canada was denied their 6th straight gold. Yes, you can claim that was a fall from grace, or simply other nations beefing up their on-ice product. Whatever it was, it seems since then that more smaller nations have taken strides. Consider, the Swiss since 2010 have fallen to the relegation round once, which is incredible when you consider the quality of competition. The likes of the U.S, Finland and twice the Czechs and Slovaks, have been placed in the relegation round before.
Kamzik
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- Dec 18, 2008
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Denmark is heading towards relegation next year, unless some surprise players break out. They're losing Sorensen, Bjorkstrand, Ehlers and Eller, and I'm not counting the other players who are leaving. Also, Sweden, Russia and Finland have proven that you can never count them out, these quarterfinal swill be fun to watch.
Belarus next year might be very weak. Not only are they losing their big two scorers, the are losing almost their entire roster save for a couple players. So there might be hope for Denmark yet.
slovakiasnextone
Registered User
Technically this is the 2nd time Switzerland is in relegation round since 2010.
However the Swiss in 2012 as well as the other teams you mention that have been in relegation round in that time, I believe, went there after placing 4th in that group under the old format and would have played QF under the new format.
Switzerland goes there from the 5th place in their group, which is more unexpected that them ending up there under the old format, as the new one actually gives the teams of their level a higher probability of making the QF.
They haven't improved anything.
IIHF made new stupid rules which makes the round robin meanless. I'm pretty sure no powerhouse plays at their potential in round robin. The smaller markets looks better than they are.
IIHF made new stupid rules which makes the round robin meanless. I'm pretty sure no powerhouse plays at their potential in round robin. The smaller markets looks better than they are.
torero
Registered User
i agree with you on Germany, they have the potential to develop into an elite country.
I thought the WC in Germany would wake up the interest. ... but only a little bit. Way less than expected.
++
Switzerland, In terms of inhabitants, we are the same size than Sweden.
We do not have the natural ponds in winter except in the mountains ... but only 5% of the population live their.
Hockey is gaining in popularity. Our league is very attractive ... we have the biggest attendance in Europe. (in Geneva, 10 years ago we had 1 team ... playing in the 3rd league ... today, we have 1 team playing in the 1st league, 3 or 4 teams for kids.
As said it is gaining ground, and today, in Switzerland, a sport career is a career, while years earlier it was not serious, therefore none would even try, it was not supported by the parents.
That we have many more young players and players than earlier is not a surprise and in my view, the trend will continue.
torero
Registered User
In my view, smaller markets are better because their players play abroad.
The case of Danemark is striking ...most play in Sweden or North America ... Ehlers, their most touted player, grew up in Switzerland.
Import drafts for young players allows countries to develop while having a poor league at home.
Periwinkle
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- Apr 3, 2014
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I would think the matches are more even (which is a very positive thing) in part also because for smaller nations the top of age classes have played together for years internationally, hence in a short tournament knowing your line mates and having the playing style ingrained really helps. That is why, like one poster said, it might result in some odd developments in tournaments, like having more players taking important professional steps like leaving for better leagues and arguably becoming better players, yet it is not reflected on the tournament team results positively.
The best of any age group playing together for years internationally has certainly helped e.g. Finland in many tournaments, leading to mature team play against teams where individual talent is much higher.
The best of any age group playing together for years internationally has certainly helped e.g. Finland in many tournaments, leading to mature team play against teams where individual talent is much higher.
The lesser lights, the so-called minnows, have improved Big-Time Sans Doubt!
It wasn't that long ago, our Boyz beat France smthg like 15-0! Think Perry Pearns was the coach. Think Jay-Bo + Cammaleri + Spezza ( maybe? ) were on that team.
It got so bad, that the coaches told our Boyz to complete 3 passes, in a row, before shooting & anybody with a hat-trick already was NOT supposed to take a shot.
Since GF-GA could prove crucial later, t'was hard to resist temptation NOT to run up score...
Somebody probably already mentioned this, But remember when Forsberg et al beat Japan 20-0?!?
It wasn't that long ago, our Boyz beat France smthg like 15-0! Think Perry Pearns was the coach. Think Jay-Bo + Cammaleri + Spezza ( maybe? ) were on that team.
It got so bad, that the coaches told our Boyz to complete 3 passes, in a row, before shooting & anybody with a hat-trick already was NOT supposed to take a shot.
Since GF-GA could prove crucial later, t'was hard to resist temptation NOT to run up score...
Somebody probably already mentioned this, But remember when Forsberg et al beat Japan 20-0?!?
I have Russia winning against the US. They looked really good against Sweden. As for Sweden, still undefeated in the group stage - 32 games and counting.
Off topic...BUT...Our Boyz won smthg like 30-31 round robin games in a row one time...course they also won 5 Gold Medals in a row...TWICE
Think I'll take Uncle Sammy over the Bear in QF's. Should be a good game though...Yanks have a young D-Corps. Young but quite talented.
Switzerland plateau'd? Denmark is a nice story and everything, but look up and down the Swiss roster and you'll see remarkable depth and talent.
Switzerland is arguably as talented as the Czechs, THAT is crazy impressive.
Switzerland is arguably as talented as the Czechs, THAT is crazy impressive.
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