World Cup: Is international hockey dead (or too boring to resuscitate)?

[Confucius]

Yes. Finland is too dominant in juniors, while Canada is too good at senior level.

Finland has 4 world Jr. Titles, Canada has won 5 straight twice.

You've proven why the one loss and you're out format is bogus. Canada has a bad game is out and Finland thinks they now are a super power.

 

[Lepardi]

It is pretty obvious why not............it is a gimmick and a gimmick contest should never be used to decide winners in elimination games, it completely destroys the integrity of the sport. Europeans might be o.k with that due to their soccer culture but we do not have that here in Canada, we have a hockey culture and thus have higher standards for the sport. We do not care what you guys want to do in your footie games, we care about hockey.

1. Include "Team European Leftovers" and "Team North American Kids" in the World Cup of hockey.
2. Lecture Europeans on the "integrity" and "high standards" of the sport.

The irony level there is through the roof. I can guarantee you there will never be a "Team European Leftovers" in the World Cup of soccer, cause it doesn't belong there. A Canada versus Germany+France+Slovenia+Slovakia+Switzerland+Norway+Denmark+Austria final in the World Cup is a gimmick in itself. World Cup finals are supposed to be contested between countries. That's integrity for you.

 

[Lepardi]

The United States' performance in the World Cup was just pathetic. They finished 8th, or tied for 7th, depending on how you want to say it.

They finished 7th, or tied for 7th. There is no way you could have them as 8th, as their goal difference was minus 6 and Finland's was minus 8.

 

[jj cale]

1. Include "Team European Leftovers" and "Team North American Kids" in the World Cup of hockey.
2. Lecture Europeans on the "integrity" and "high standards" of the sport.

The irony level there is through the roof. I can guarantee you there will never be a "Team European Leftovers" in the World Cup of soccer, cause it doesn't belong there. A Canada versus Germany+France+Slovenia+Slovakia+Switzerland+Norway+Denmark+Austria final in the World Cup is a gimmick in itself. World Cup finals are supposed to be contested between countries. That's integrity for you.

I have no idea why you are lecturing me on integrity because I have always acknowledged that the format with the gimmick teams at the world cup was bogus also.


Go and search out someone who did, it sure as hell wasn't me.


And what do the gimmick teams at the world cup have to do with the shootout system at the olympics being ******** anyway?

it's silly to use a shootout to determine playdown games in hockey at the olys..............period.

What you think of the world cup does not change that.

 

[Jussi]

Finland has 4 world Jr. Titles, Canada has won 5 straight twice.

Remind me again, who won gold in U-20 and U-18 last season?

 

[Confucius]

Remind me again, who won gold in U-20 and U-18 last season?

Do it 4 more times in a row and we'll talk.

 

[Jussi]

And that makes Finland dominant?

a one year run?

Yes, we own junior this year.

 

[jj cale]

Yes, we own junior this year.

This year, what about the coming years?

Do you already think you are going to be too good for everyone and the games are a mere formality so we should just not bother playing because you are clearly too good?

O.K.

Are you in for a much needed reality check.

 

[Confucius]

Yes, we own junior this year.

That's better.

Lucky for you Canada had 6 teenagers in the NHL that otherwise might have helped them not lose that one game that knocked them out.

Congrats, not saying your victory is tainted by the way.

 

[Jussi]

This year, what about the coming years?

I don't worry about the future, only thing that matters is now.

 

[snipes]

I don't worry about the future, only thing that matters is now.

McDavid and Ekblad could have been on Team Canada at last years WJC. Think about that for a second.

For a good laugh, even though obviously he won't be there, McDavid could be at the 2017 WJC as well .

 

[Jussi]

McDavid and Ekblad could have been on Team Canada at last years WJC. Think about that for a second.

.

No thanks.

 

[Lepardi]

it's silly to use a shootout to determine playdown games in hockey at the olys..............period.

To take penalty shootouts away from Olympic hockey would mean you can't have two playoff games in the same arena on the same day. With the extremely tight schedule that would probably mean you have to play every single quarter-final in a different arena. That's pretty challenging for the organizers. Good luck trying to find four suitable arenas close to Pyeongchang.

In Sochi for instance Bolshoy Ice Dome hosted three quarter-final games on February 19th 2014. If there were no penalty shootouts, they couldn't have even hosted two.

How problematic do you find it that by your definition the WJC is also a gimmick tournament, cause they've got shootouts? I've understood that it's quite a big thing in Canada. For me as a European it's pretty hard to understand why Canadians with their superior hockey culture get so excited about a gimmick tournament.

 

[snipes]

No thanks.

But in all seriousness, you guys got some very good players coming up. Need some more elite D men though. I'm happy with Niemalainen for us as a pick, but it seems the D aren't on par with the forwards you guys are producing lately.

More elite forwards coming up this year it seems. Tolvanen and Vesalainen look good.

 

[jj cale]

I don't worry about the future, only thing that matters is now.

Sure, whatever you say.

 

[BruinLVGA]

1.It is pretty obvious why not............it is a gimmick and a gimmick contest should never be used to decide winners in elimination games, it completely destroys the integrity of the sport. Europeans might be o.k with that due to their soccer culture but we do not have that here in Canada, we have a hockey culture and thus have higher standards for the sport. We do not care what you guys want to do in your footie games, we care about hockey.

2. Toughen up as fans to get used to shootouts? this has to be the lamest attempt at an argument in favor of ridiculous shootouts in play down or championship games that I have ever heard. Back to the drawing board for you I would say.

3. In short, get out of here with that shootout stuff, you keep that to your Swiss leagues and stuff, leave it out of international play where our teams are playing to win thank you very much.

1. It's a gimmick because? Because you say so? It is a rule that exists in every league. It is part of the game and it is valid for everyone in the same way. I repeat it: you are Canadian... A fan of the all-conquering nation from 2010 on. You should not be afraid of penalty shots.
The "integrity" thing is just laughable: go look up the definition in a dictionary and see if it applies here...

2. Oh really? Well, here is my argument for it not being a gimmick (I suggest you look this up in the dictionary too, by the way...) is simple: it is a rule that is in the books for a long time. Thought & agreed upon by all the professionals of the sport.
However, you say it's a gimmick... It is your chance to show your argument why you think so. Go for it.

3. I am afraid it is in every league (including the NHL...), every competition. Did you somehow miss that?

Guess you missed the posts that complained of the best of 3 format for the final in the World Cup. Several stating it was obviously that way to favour Canada. Yep some people wanted to win by luck and not by merit.

Indeed a best of 3 format is not fair because it favors the strongest team (because the more games played, the better odds they have). Like it favors the home team to have the tournament played in front of their home crowd too.

Are you pre-emptively saying that if Canada would lose a one game final, it could only be because of luck and not because the other team... <gasp>... played better? Confucius, you used to be wiser...

Of course a best of three final favours Canada compared to a one game final. That's simply because the more games, the more the better team is favoured. A best of five would favour Canada even more. Using overtime instead of a shootout favours Canada as well. Playing 60 minute games instead of 30 minute games favours Canada too. When one team is the best, actually playing hockey favours that team. Such is life.

True & not exactly rocket science...

 

[jj cale]

1. It's a gimmick because? Because you say so? It is a rule that exists in every league. It is part of the game and it is valid for everyone in the same way. I repeat it: you are Canadian... A fan of the all-conquering nation from 2010 on. You should not be afraid of penalty shots.
The "integrity" thing is just laughable: go look up the definition in a dictionary and see if it applies here...

2. Oh really? Well, here is my argument for it not being a gimmick (I suggest you look this up in the dictionary too, by the way...) is simple: it is a rule that is in the books for a long time. Thought & agreed upon by all the professionals of the sport.
However, you say it's a gimmick... It is your chance to show your argument why you think so. Go for it.

3. I am afraid it is in every league (including the NHL...), every competition. Did you somehow miss that?



Indeed a best of 3 format is not fair because it favors the strongest team (because the more games played, the better odds they have). Like it favors the home team to have the tournament played in front of their home crowd too.

Are you pre-emptively saying that if Canada would lose a one game final, it could only be because of luck and not because the other team... <gasp>... played better? Confucius, you used to be wiser...



True & not exactly rocket science...

I have already told you why it is a gimmick and I am not going through it all again , please don't attempt to waste anymore of my time.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Canada often doesn't send there grade A team to the IIHF world championship.
Best on best Canada's record speaks for itself.

So is for all other teams at the IIHF WC who have players in the NHL.

Best on best Canada's record is better than anyone else by far. But not unbeatable. They have been batting 1.000 at home, but only .333 outside NA. Yet they want from now on the constant advantage of playing at home and/or small ice...

 

[snipes]

The New Zealand Rugby team have won 14 of 21 Rugby Championships since 1996. They are in a Golden Era like Canada is in hockey. I don't think anyone is calling for changes in the Rugby world.

 

[BruinLVGA]

First: So you have problems with WJC as well then?

Second: Please list all major international team sports tournaments where the playoff stage is played in a best 3/5/7 format?

total mic drop, right there.

1. Include "Team European Leftovers" and "Team North American Kids" in the World Cup of hockey.
2. Lecture Europeans on the "integrity" and "high standards" of the sport.

The irony level there is through the roof. I can guarantee you there will never be a "Team European Leftovers" in the World Cup of soccer, cause it doesn't belong there. A Canada versus Germany+France+Slovenia+Slovakia+Switzerland+Norway+Denmark+Austria final in the World Cup is a gimmick in itself. World Cup finals are supposed to be contested between countries. That's integrity for you.

Utter annihilation. I am in awe of our Finnish brothers.

I have already told you why it is a gimmick and I am not going through it all again , please don't attempt to waste anymore of my time.

No you didn't. You kept on saying "..but...but...it's a gimmick... I say so!" and nothing else.

A penalty shot is a rule that is present - with a name or another - in a ton of pro team sports, yet you seem to think that it's some sort of novelty... Never mind the "integrity" & "high standards" in relation to it... Lolllll

 

[jj cale]

total mic drop, right there.



Utter annihilation. I am in awe of our Finnish brothers.



No you didn't. You kept on saying "..but...but...it's a gimmick... I say so!" and nothing else.

A penalty shot is a rule that is present - with a name or another - in a ton of pro team sports, yet you seem to think that it's some sort of novelty... Never mind the "integrity" & "high standards" in relation to it... Lolllll

You can think I shot John F Kennedy if you want as long as you stop attempting to waste my time going over things i have already gone over five times previous.

But it appears that is yet one more thing I cannot get through to you.

 

[BruinLVGA]

You can think I shot John F Kennedy if you want as long as you stop attempting to waste my time going over things i have already gone over five times previous.

But it appears that is yet one more thing I cannot get through to you.

"It's a gimmick because I say so!" said 5 times =/= a valid way to support an argument.

 

[Confucius]

Indeed a best of 3 format is not fair because it favors the strongest team (because the more games played, the better odds they have). Like it favors the home team to have the tournament played in front of their home crowd too.

Are you pre-emptively saying that if Canada would lose a one game final, it could only be because of luck and not because the other team... <gasp>... played better? Confucius, you used to be wiser...



True & not exactly rocket science...

Amazing that the strongest team not be recognized as so. Let's have a tourney where anybody can win. You don't want to find the better team you want the lucky one.

 

[jj cale]

"It's a gimmick because I say so!" said 5 times =/= a valid way to support an argument.

No, I said it was a gimmick because of the obvious .......it is a skills competition, it is not playing the game of hockey.

That is why , as if you did not already know that anyway.

Satisfied?

 

[jj cale]

Amazing that the strongest team not be recognized as so. Let's have a tourney where anybody can win. You don't want to find the better team you want the lucky one.

Yeah, the best team wins, what a novel concept!!

If they are good enough to win it should not matter what length the finals of a tournament is.

But the problem is right now they aren't..............and thats what burns their ass and makes them lose their mind when discussing international hockey.