International year in review!

[Czechboy]

To me it comes down to a few tourneys and the season is over

Hlinka
U17 (World Hockey Challenge)
U20
U18
World Hockey Championships



Hlinka

World Hockey Challenge

U20

U18

World Hockey Championships

For fun, I'll add the Youth Olympic games

Next one is the Hlinka's!

Been a hell of a year internationally!

Click to read more...

 

[Eye of Ra]

No medals for finns

 

[FinPanda]

No medals for finns

We had a chance at WJC's but we blew our lead

 

[Albatros]

No medals for finns

 

[FinPanda]

True, we won bronze at the women's worlds

 

[FinPanda]

That jersey they were holding is for Sanni Hakala btw. She got paralyzed on a hockey game in Sweden. Used to play for our national team.

 

[ViD]

Been a hell of a year internationally!

No, it hasn’t been. Another garbage year for international hockey without Russia

 

[Albatros]

No, it hasn’t been. Another garbage year for international hockey without Russia

 

[EK47]

No, it hasn’t been. Another garbage year for international hockey without Russia

Okay, Mr. Fasel.

 

[Czechboy]

No, it hasn’t been. Another garbage year for international hockey without Russia

Sorry, this is a thread about the tournaments in 2024 (techncically starting in 2023 at Hlinka and first week of U20). Shame you didn't enjoy it. Lots of amazing stories. Canada winning two tourneys that seem to be US dominated and 3 overall is kinda cool. Or Swedes medaling in all 3 IIHF events is cool. No medals for Finn's is surprising to me. Czechs with a U20 Bronze, Hlinka silver and World's is downright shocking. US have the U20 and U16 locked up and it's heading back to Canada. Swiss with their third silver in roughly a decade is amazing. Attendance records for the World's that ended an hour ago.

So yes, it has been a tremendous international season. Try and stay on topic and discuss what happened in the most recent international year please.

 

[Urbanskog]

No, it hasn’t been. Another garbage year for international hockey without Russia

Most people still talking about the absence of Russia are Russians, just as you. The rest of us don't really think about it.

 

[ViD]

Most people still talking about the absence of Russia are Russians, just as you. The rest of us don't really think about it.

Every tournament without Russia has very little credibility and every winner must have an asterisk to its name

 

[Old Man Jags]

Every tournament without Russia has very little credibility and every winner must have an asterisk to its name

As if Russia is the only team that matters. Russia last won the world championships when? Oh, that's right, 10 years ago. The posters who constantly go on about Russia's absence invalidating all tournaments seem to think the Russians were somehow dominant like the Soviet Union was in the 1960s to 1980. They were not. At all. And I for one do not miss their arrogant, entitled teams at all.

If Russia not participating in international tournaments is the one thing that matters to you in international hockey, maybe you should find a different hobby or just stick to club hockey.

EDIT: Last time Russia participated in 2021. They finished fifth. Not exactly the unbeatable red machine without whom this tournament just has no value.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

String of 12 consecutive IIHF championships (men and women) won by North American teams ended

 

[Old Man Jags]

String of 12 consecutive IIHF championships (men and women) won by North American teams ended

I'd keep the male and female stats completely apart. Male ice hockey is competitive and has been for many decades. Female hockey essentially only knows Canadian and US golds, more or less. Some female teams are evolving fast (15 years ago I barely knew we (Czechs) had a hockey team, now they have had a few bronze medals at world championships, etc. But by and large, it still is Canada and the US, then nothing, then a cluster of Czechs, Finns, Swedes occasionally, etc. But it is a completely different sport, and in most countries very few women actually play, so the difference in level is not like between, say, male and female tennis players, but much, more more profound. Just a very different sport.

 

[BMacLeafs]

8 years without a best-on-best tournament. Nothing else matters

 

[Albatros]

Even most of the lower divisions of this year's World Championships were better tournaments than the 2016 WCoH.

 

[albator71]

8 years without a best-on-best tournament. Nothing else matters

Is best on best without Russian players really best on best??? I think next Olympic should have an asterisk

 

[Old Man Jags]

Is best on best without Russian players really best on best??? I think next Olympic should have an asterisk

Yeah, the Russians are obsessed with this. Even though countries other than Russia exist, they keep reminding us that without Russia it all just means absolutely nothing. Like the commentaries today in the Russian sports press about the Czech victory, which were particularly laughable in the context of world championships (rather than best on best Olympics or World Cup) as Russia last won those 10 years ago, and finished 5th in Riga in 2021, the last time they participated. In 2010, the Czechs beat a completely NHL-stacked Russian team in the final of the world championships.

As for best on best, I remember very fondly the first best-on-best Olympics in Nagano, when the Czechs beat Russia in the final.

Remind me again, when did Russia last win best-on-best Olympics?

Sure, one of the best teams is not playing, that is of course undeniable. But this constant pretense that if Russia was there, they would likely win everything is ludicrous. Now if Canada was skipping a best on best tournament, we’d need a big asterisk. Russia? Not so much. Maybe a small one. In any event, it’s up to Russia when it returns. It knows what it needs to do for that to happen.

 

[swissdude]

when it comes to asteriks in result lists and Russia my first thought is definitely not best on best hockey....

 

[Zine]

As if Russia is the only team that matters. Russia last won the world championships when? Oh, that's right, 10 years ago. The posters who constantly go on about Russia's absence invalidating all tournaments seem to think the Russians were somehow dominant like the Soviet Union was in the 1960s to 1980. They were not. At all. And I for one do not miss their arrogant, entitled teams at all.

If Russia not participating in international tournaments is the one thing that matters to you in international hockey, maybe you should find a different hobby or just stick to club hockey.

EDIT: Last time Russia participated in 2021. They finished fifth. Not exactly the unbeatable red machine without whom this tournament just has no value.

If you don't miss Russia, cool. I get it. But at least be honest why. Don't let your political hatred skew your hockey opinions.

Any tournament without Canada, Czechia, Finland, Sweden, Russia or USA comes with a significant downgrade in talent and overall competitiveness. Hockey is a very small world at the elite level.
Is this asterisks worthy? Who knows, people can figure that out for themselves.

But to claim Russia isn't missed from a hockey perspective is ludicrous. The country has medaled 5 out of the last 7 WC it participated in...tied with Canada for the most.
And even if Russia doesn't win gold, the country's mere inclusion can significantly alter who wins and loses given the set up of the tournament.


Nonetheless, the 2024 WC was fantastic. Immensely entertaining and well hosted. Well done and congrats Czechia.!!

 

[albator71]

Yeah, the Russians are obsessed with this. Even though countries other than Russia exist, they keep reminding us that without Russia it all just means absolutely nothing. Like the commentaries today in the Russian sports press about the Czech victory, which were particularly laughable in the context of world championships (rather than best on best Olympics or World Cup) as Russia last won those 10 years ago, and finished 5th in Riga in 2021, the last time they participated. In 2010, the Czechs beat a completely NHL-stacked Russian team in the final of the world championships.

As for best on best, I remember very fondly the first best-on-best Olympics in Nagano, when the Czechs beat Russia in the final.

Remind me again, when did Russia last win best-on-best Olympics?

Sure, one of the best teams is not playing, that is of course undeniable. But this constant pretense that if Russia was there, they would likely win everything is ludicrous. Now if Canada was skipping a best on best tournament, we’d need a big asterisk. Russia? Not so much. Maybe a small one. In any event, it’s up to Russia when it returns. It knows what it needs to do for that to happen.

You missing my point, the point is how can it be best on best when one of the best team in the world is not there?? Let's say that instead of Russia being banned it would be Canada not playing what would you say then?? Would it still be best on best if Canada was not participating??? To say oh if it was Canada then it would different story but because its Russia it's okay because we don't like them?? Take a look at the NHL stats and you will see Russian players being at the top of the list as NHL's best players. Kucherov, Panarin, Kaprizov, Shesterkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevsky ect... So when was the last time USA won best-on-best Olympics? When was last time Finland won best-on-best Olympics? So let's just have an Olympic tournament with countries that have won best-on-best Czechia, Canada and Sweden all the other countries not important?? Do i think Russia deserves to be there no they don't but we there's need to be an asterisk quoting that Russia one of the top hockey nation in the world was banned.

 

[Albatros]

You missing my point, the point is how can it be best on best when one of the best team in the world is not there?? Let's say that instead of Russia being banned it would be Canada not playing what would you say then?? Would it still be best on best if Canada was not participating??? To say oh if it was Canada then it would different story but because its Russia it's okay because we don't like them?? Take a look at the NHL stats and you will see Russian players being at the top of the list as NHL's best players. Kucherov, Panarin, Kaprizov, Shesterkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevsky ect... So when was the last time USA won best-on-best Olympics? When was last time Finland won best-on-best Olympics? So let's just have an Olympic tournament with countries that have won best-on-best Czechia, Canada and Sweden all the other countries not important?? Do i think Russia deserves to be there no they don't but we there's need to be an asterisk quoting that Russia one of the top hockey nation in the world was banned.

So-called "best-on-best" tournaments in the 2000s:

2002 Olympics: Canada 1st, Russia 3rd
2004 World Cup: Canada 1st, Russia 6th
2006 Olympics: Canada 7th, Russia 4th
2010 Olympics: Canada 1st, Russia 6th
2014 Olympics: Canada 1st, Russia 5th
2016 World Cup: Canada 1st, Russia 4th

One is not like the other.

 

[Old Man Jags]

You missing my point, the point is how can it be best on best when one of the best team in the world is not there?? Let's say that instead of Russia being banned it would be Canada not playing what would you say then?? Would it still be best on best if Canada was not participating??? To say oh if it was Canada then it would different story but because its Russia it's okay because we don't like them?? Take a look at the NHL stats and you will see Russian players being at the top of the list as NHL's best players. Kucherov, Panarin, Kaprizov, Shesterkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevsky ect... So when was the last time USA won best-on-best Olympics? When was last time Finland won best-on-best Olympics? So let's just have an Olympic tournament with countries that have won best-on-best Czechia, Canada and Sweden all the other countries not important?? Do i think Russia deserves to be there no they don't but we there's need to be an asterisk quoting that Russia one of the top hockey nation in the world was banned.

Please see the post by Albatros re: best on best Olympics and Canada’s and Russia’s placements there. Even at the home Olympics in Sochi Russia only managed fifth. I do take your point that Russia is of course one of the world’s best teams and they are not playing. But the asterisk next to Canada would be monumental and the one next to Russia no bigger that next to many of the other top teams.

I also take your point about Russia fielding some of the very best individual NHL players. But a collection of individuals often does not make a team. And in Russia’s case, that has been particularly often so. They very often underperform with superior players and there is no reason to assume that somehow now that would suddenly change.

Look at the world championship final of 2010. Russia had a very, very stacked team of NHL stars. The Czechs fielded an incredibly weak team. 22 Czech players for various reasons refused the national team. We lost against Norway (or a team of that caliber, I am not 100% sure it was Norway but think so). But we beat Russia in the final. There are some teams which overperform with weaker rosters (on paper) - especially Finland, but also the Czechs. They accept that they have to completely submit themselves for the team and the system the coach wants to play. Then there is Russia with insanely good players, but they underperform as a team.

The short conclusion to this overlong post is that there is no reason to expect Russia to perform better n best on best than it has done since the turn of the century. Yes, they are a top team. But are they missed more than Sweden or Finland would be? No.

My issue is not with acknowledging that a top team is not there. Obviously that is the case. My issue is that many Russian posters and journalists have a vastly inflated view of Russia’s significance. Many say that any hockey tournament is worthless without Russian participation, just no point to it. That is patently delusional.

The Czechs beat a stacked Swedish team 7-3 in the semifinals. Apparently that is completely worthless because Russia is not playing. Seriously…

 

[Old Man Jags]

If you don't miss Russia, cool. I get it. But at least be honest why. Don't let your political hatred skew your hockey opinions.

Any tournament without Canada, Czechia, Finland, Sweden, Russia or USA comes with a significant downgrade in talent and overall competitiveness. Hockey is a very small world at the elite level.
Is this asterisks worthy? Who knows, people can figure that out for themselves.

But to claim Russia isn't missed from a hockey perspective is ludicrous. The country has medaled 5 out of the last 7 WC it participated in...tied with Canada for the most.
And even if Russia doesn't win gold, the country's mere inclusion can significantly alter who wins and loses given the set up of the tournament.


Nonetheless, the 2024 WC was fantastic. Immensely entertaining and well hosted. Well done and congrats Czechia.!!

Honestly I don’t think the asterisk to a tournament missing the Czech team would be that huge. Yes, a top team would be missing and it would greatly upset me and other Czech fans. But it simply would not invalidate a tournament. It would be below full possible strength but it would hardly invalidate all the amazing wins by the top teams and other teams.

Canada on the other hand would have a huge asterisk next to it. See the gold medalists since 2002 in best on best hockey at the Olympics. I am not a Canada fan, that in my mind is just simple fact.