National Team Rivalries

[canadiantarheel]

I love watching international hockey and especially rivalries; I'm more than aware of the rivalries involving the Big 6 Nations but I'm interested to know what do the fans of the other nations consider to be their main rival(s)? As EA finally has the IIHF license I'd love to play with each national team and play against their arch rival.

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[Albatros]

Beyond that there hardly are any rivalries, maybe Alpine to some extent. Also friendships like Poland and Hungary.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I love watching international hockey and especially rivalries; I'm more than aware of the rivalries involving the Big 6 Nations but I'm interested to know what do the fans of the other nations consider to be their main rival(s)? As EA finally has the IIHF license I'd love to play with each national team and play against their arch rival.

For Canada, Russia

 

[Lartsaman]

I think Germany- Switzerland and Germany-Austria are some kind of rivalries. And of course Denmark-Norway.

 

[alko]

For us it is clear: Czech team.

Its like little brother - big brother relationship. We think, we are so good, we can beat Czechs every-time, but the reality show us, we are wrong.

Then Hungary

It has clear political background, because on ice-hockey level we are still better. But this game is always a thing to see. That was a cry, when Slovakia lost some game few years ago...

 

[EichelFan15]

For Canada, Russia

Historically maybe but I personally hate losing to the US more than anyone.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Historically maybe but I personally hate losing to the US more than anyone.

I mean I’m not really into junior-level hockey that much compared to senior-level but I think at senior level the best games in terms of star power, skill level, and individual rivalry (Crosby v Ovechkin) still are Canada versus Russia; the USA I think it’s certainly a nice spectacle when they play Canada but it can’t compare to the history nor spectacle that Canada-Russia provides

 

[Hanji]

The Romania-Hungary rivalry is nasty in everything.
But it's funny for hockey considering the Romanian national team is comprised of a majority ethnic Hungarians.

 

[Czechboy]

I don't think Czechs have a natural rival anymore... every win over a Top 5 nation feels like a gold and every loss to a non top 5 nation reminds us that we are not a top 5 nation.lol

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

For us it is clear: Czech team.

Its like little brother - big brother relationship. We think, we are so good, we can beat Czechs every-time, but the reality show us, we are wrong.

Then Hungary

It has clear political background, because on ice-hockey level we are still better. But this game is always a thing to see. That was a cry, when Slovakia lost some game few years ago...

From a historical and political point of view, rather Austria.

But there are no tensions between European countries.

Only sporting rivalry.

I see a triangular Canada / USA / Russia rivalry, a Sweden / Finland rivalry and a Czech / Slovakia rivalry.

I think Switzerland and Germany are secondary rivals for the Slovaks for 7th nation status.

 

[Antiillafire]

From a historical and political point of view, rather Austria.

But there are no tensions between European countries.

Only sporting rivalry.

I see a triangular Canada / USA / Russia rivalry, a Sweden / Finland rivalry and a Czech / Slovakia rivalry.

I think Switzerland and Germany are secondary rivals for the Slovaks for 7th nation status.

Austria has never been a rival of Slovakia and actually historically, slovaks were much more partial to the Austrian rule because they treated minorities in their sphere of territory much better than Hungarians. Czechs are rivals but the Hungarian match up is on another level especially in football

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Austria has never been a rival of Slovakia and actually historically, slovaks were much more partial to the Austrian rule because they treated minorities in their sphere of territory much better than Hungarians. Czechs are rivals but the Hungarian match up is on another level.

I don't know what it really was. Austria was clearly at the head of the empire. The Austria-Hungary phase only lasted 51 years.

In any case, Slovakia and Hungary are today allies within the framework of Visegrad.

 

[Albatros]

I don't know what it really was. Austria was clearly at the head of the empire. The Austria-Hungary phase only lasted 51 years.

Slovakia was an integral part of Hungary also during Hungary's subjugation. In fact Bratislava was the capital of Hungary for centuries, and also otherwise Slovakia was in many ways the most significant part of the country. It was then only natural that concurrent Slovak and Hungarian national awakenings would lead to a conflict of interest much more between one another than with the Habsburgs.

 

[Fjorden]

I love watching international hockey and especially rivalries; I'm more than aware of the rivalries involving the Big 6 Nations but I'm interested to know what do the fans of the other nations consider to be their main rival(s)? As EA finally has the IIHF license I'd love to play with each national team and play against their arch rival.

Denmark-Norway is classic rivalry

As Denmark has long been an underdog in the historical sense, and only recently has begun to perform better against the better nations in the A-group, the rivalry between Denmark and Norway has a special position.
For many years, Norway was very superior to the Danes. While Norway stayed in the B-WC (with a few stays in the C-WC) and qualified for the Winter Olympics , Denmark stayed in the C-WC for a long time. The only three times they met in official World Cup matches were when Norway was on a short stay in the World Cup C: 1973 (14−2 victory), 1975 (draw 5−5) and 1986 (7−0 victory).
The rivalry began in earnest on April 4, 1989, when Norway hosted the B-World Cup at home. With the headline "Easy match, Norway!" The match was described by Aftenposten as "the only World Cup match for Norway that can be easily described . The Danes have so far played weaker than expected - despite the fact that none of them were really expected. Denmark's goal is to save its place in the B-pool. " [2] The match was to turn out to be a close affair that was decided by a controversial match-winning 3-2 goal by Stephen Foyn in the last second of the match. [3] [4] Norway later in the tournament secured promotion to the A-VM for 1990 , and would remain here (with short stays in the B-VM in1991 and 1998 ) until 2001, when they relegated to Division I for 2002.
Denmark wanted revenge at the World Cup division in 2002 , where the favorites Norway and Denmark met again for promotion to the elite division. Despite what was described as "the best hockey national team ever" on paper, and a match with a shooting statistic of 42-23 in Norway's favor, Denmark won 4-3 over Norway on April 19, 2002, and secured promotion the next day. they defeated Hungary. [5] Norway, on the other hand, had to wait three years before advancing to the A-WC after winning the B-WC in 2005.
Since Norway returned to the elite division in 2006 , the rivalry has intensified, and Norway has won all five official international matches against Denmark (four World Cup matches and one Olympic qualifying match). [6] In 2006, Denmark was beaten by the numbers 6−3, which sent Norway to the qualifying round while Denmark had to play in the relegation round. The next meeting was during the Olympic qualifiers in Oslo in February 2009, where the group was to be decided in the last match between Norway and Denmark, who had both won two first matches. [7] [8] Despite being below both 0−1 and 1−2, Norway came back strongly, led by Patrick Thoresenshattrick Norway finally won the match 5−3 and was thus qualified for the Olympics. [9]
At the World Cup in 2009 , they met again, and this time the Danes were hungry for revenge after the loss in the Olympic qualifiers. In a close and dramatic match, Denmark took the lead three times followed by three Norwegian equalizers, after which Norway took the lead and then was followed by a Danish equalizer. The match was first decided 1 minute and 6 seconds in extra time when captain Tommy Jakobsen scored the winning goal which again sent Norway to the qualifying round Denmark again had to play in the relegation round. [6] [10]
It would be three years before they met again in the World Cup , and this time Norway was ready for the quarterfinals while Denmark had managed to save their place in the A-pool. Led by Patrick Thoresen's goal and 3 assists, the match ended 6-2 in Norwegian favor - a match that also included a mass fight where Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Danish Jannik Hansen were involved. [11] [12] Thoresen wanted to be the hero again when they met in the World Cup the following year . With only 2 minutes left of a hard fought and close match, he scored the decisive 3-2 goal. [13] After the match, Martin Røymark statedthe following: «I hate Danes. We all do. Therefore, it is extra delicious to beat them. They are breiale, play piglets and think they are so damn good. Then it's good to put them in place. " [14] He later explained that he did not hate the Danes, "but that they have good teams on the same level as us, so there will be great rivalry" and blamed the statements after the fight on adrenaline.

 

[A Bundy]

Great post Fjorden. Maybe a bit on the side as it is not a national rivalry, but was intrigued when I read about this 130 years-old hockey-rivalry, the oldest in the world. A hockey rivalry for the ages: Cambridge, Oxford prepare to play 100th varsity match The UK student hockey-league seem quite viable.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Denmark and Norway hate Sweden. From their side there is rivaly against Sweden.

 

[A Bundy]

Denmark and Norway hate Sweden. From their side there is rivaly against Sweden.

Well, if I could choose I'd definately rather see Norway beat Sweden than Denmark, but a loss against Denmark hurts way more.

 

[Porvari]

I don't think Czechs have a natural rival anymore... every win over a Top 5 nation feels like a gold and every loss to a non top 5 nation reminds us that we are not a top 5 nation.lol

So basically, you're every Team Finland from mid-60's until early 90's. A one-team mid tier.

 

[Albatros]

The Czechs have a full team's worth of good players in the NHL, Finland of that era wasn't even professional.

 

[Czechboy]

So basically, you're every Team Finland from mid-60's until early 90's. A one-team mid tier.

Sad but true. Even crazier. Czech hockey ladies are very similar. We love that mid tier.haha

 

[snipes]

For Canada it’s always Russia for me. No team I would rather play with everything on the line, and the games are just always so entertaining with crazy intensity.

Especially at the U-20 level. Never a dull game against Russia. It’s obvious on the ice how much it means to the players. As I always say, it doesn’t matter if it’s a bunch of old men playing street hockey, if it’s Canada v Russia it’s on and I will be tuning in.

After that, the Americans quite easily. There is some hatred and dislike between the teams.

Over the last 5 or so year a bit of a budding rivalry with Finland has started so I’d put them in a fairly distant 3rd but still in the top 3 for rivals.

 

[jj cale]

For Canada it’s always Russia for me. No team I would rather play with everything on the line, and the games are just always so entertaining with crazy intensity.

Especially at the U-20 level. Never a dull game against Russia. It’s obvious on the ice how much it means to the players. As I always say, it doesn’t matter if it’s a bunch of old men playing street hockey, if it’s Canada v Russia it’s on and I will be tuning in.

After that, the Americans quite easily. There is some hatred and dislike between the teams.

Over the last 5 or so year a bit of a budding rivalry with Finland has started so I’d put them in a fairly distant 3rd but still in the top 3 for rivals.

"some hatred" between the U.S and Canada in hockey?

You are being very diplomatic there snipes. Courtroom habits perhaps?

 

[57special]

Nothing but brotherly love between Finland and Sweden, or course.

One of the craziest rivalries ever was the old Soviet Union teams against Czechoslovakia. The Soviets were almost always more talented, but the Czechs were about as intense as it came, and would do ANYTHING to win. Block a shot with their face, spear a guy in the nethers...whatever it took. I think sometimes the Soviets would be taken aback, and kind of flustered, because they were often looking ahead to playing against the Canadians.
Amazing hockey.

 

[Albatros]

Germany (FRG) flat out refused to play against the GDR team at the World Championships in 1961 and was relegated for that reason, but because the 1962 tournament happened to take place in the United States the US authorities refused to allow the GDR team in their country, thus somewhat controversially giving Germany the lost place back. The following year in Sweden the game finally did take place.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Finland is USA’s main sporting rival. They usually knock us out.