Ranking the Greatest Rivalries
- Thread starter novisor
- Start date
It's hard to rank the best rivalries based on the last 10 years or so.
Canada-Russia is historically the greatest rivalry, and they have multiple WC and WJC finals from the last 10 years, but Russia's poor olympic succes has really hurt the rivalry's value.
Canada-USA has been great recently because of the olympics.
Finland-Sweden has been one of the best rivalries recently, there is no denying it. In fact, this is the only rivalry to have finals in olympics, WC and WJC during the last 10 years.
I'm gonna go ahead and say that all of those three rivalries are quite equally good at the moment.
Canada-Russia is historically the greatest rivalry, and they have multiple WC and WJC finals from the last 10 years, but Russia's poor olympic succes has really hurt the rivalry's value.
Canada-USA has been great recently because of the olympics.
Finland-Sweden has been one of the best rivalries recently, there is no denying it. In fact, this is the only rivalry to have finals in olympics, WC and WJC during the last 10 years.
I'm gonna go ahead and say that all of those three rivalries are quite equally good at the moment.
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Benedict Kovalchuk
Kovalchuk: A spy?
Is Canada-USA really a rivalry? A rivalry involves some back and forth, Canada has only been beaten by the USA once in a senior tournament nearly 20 years ago. I get the USA views beating Canada as some sort of milestone and Canada views the USA as one of the tougher hockey nations out there, but that doesn't exactly scream rivalry to me.
Rivalry yes, but not really a big one.
You're right. I didn't even realize that USA literally always loses to Canada.
novisor
Registered User
Don't forget 2010 in Vancouver. USA won in the round robin. Outscored Canada 7-6 in those two games.
Canada only won 1-0 in the Sochi Semi Final.
USA defeated Canada in the 2004 WJC gold medal game.
USA defeated Canada in the 2010 WJC gold medal game on Canadian ice.
USA defeated Canada in the 2013 WJC semi final, wasn't even close actually 5-1.
And obviously there was 1996 World Cup, but I'm assuming you were talking about that.
The rivalry is real, the only place it doesn't exist is at the World Championship, because they rarely play each other, and both nations could care less barring Canada gets to the Semi's.
Samcanadian
Registered User
- Dec 13, 2011
- 2,849
- 183
The USAs best players lose to Canada's best players pretty consistently. By that, I mean pros.
For us old guys, and as many youngsters will have discovered tonite. Nothing beats Canada vs. Russia . Easily, EASILY Hockey’s ALL TIME GREATEST RIVALRY
And this one, like so many others, starting with 72 ( which will NEVER EVER be topped! ) was like a Wagnerian Opera. It had the WOW FACTOR, an unbelievable emotional roller coaster, crazy momentum swings; an absolute classic Canada/Russia neo-Cold War Battle... Verily, this was Piestany Parts Deux ( Sans Punches )!!!
By the time the dust had settled, Both Teams had developed tremendous respect for one another, as evidenced by all the hugs exchanged btwn Russian and Canadian kids/foes Post Game.
Their 8th time meeting in a Gold Medal Game in World Juniors ( remembering that they didn’t have 'Official' Gold Medal Games for much of this tourney’s stellar history ). Canada and Russia are reportedly tied 4-4 in gold medal game wins. Guess we’ll have the tie breaker next year
Course Canada still leads with 16 Golds all time, vs 13 for CCCP/CIS/Russia
OH CANADA ( and Oh Russia too ) BAByyyyyyy
And this one, like so many others, starting with 72 ( which will NEVER EVER be topped! ) was like a Wagnerian Opera. It had the WOW FACTOR, an unbelievable emotional roller coaster, crazy momentum swings; an absolute classic Canada/Russia neo-Cold War Battle... Verily, this was Piestany Parts Deux ( Sans Punches )!!!
By the time the dust had settled, Both Teams had developed tremendous respect for one another, as evidenced by all the hugs exchanged btwn Russian and Canadian kids/foes Post Game.
Their 8th time meeting in a Gold Medal Game in World Juniors ( remembering that they didn’t have 'Official' Gold Medal Games for much of this tourney’s stellar history ). Canada and Russia are reportedly tied 4-4 in gold medal game wins. Guess we’ll have the tie breaker next year
Course Canada still leads with 16 Golds all time, vs 13 for CCCP/CIS/RussiaOH CANADA ( and Oh Russia too ) BAByyyyyyy
Didnt seem that intense to me, I think Czechs and Slovaks get along much better than other rivaling nations. They seem to cheer for the other when their team is not playing.
Jaromir Jagr picked the number 68 to commemorate the Prague Spring...nothing more needs to be said ( look it up youngsters )
Canada USA rivalry goes even deeper than that, especially in junior, where many of the combatants, over the years , have been 1/ team mates on their club teams 2/ long time foes 3/ childhood friends, etc..
saskriders
Can't Hold Leads
What about for lower tier countries.
Is Switzerland-Germany a rivalry? Does Latvia consider anyone a rival?
Is Switzerland-Germany a rivalry? Does Latvia consider anyone a rival?
Ohashi_Jouzu*
Registered User
This. Losing to the States in hockey is like when the big brother finally loses something one-on-one against the little brother. It's bound to happen sometime, as it's how you've always played anyway, and you don't really feel bad about it, or like you "let anyone down". With Russia, it's more like losing to the kid you hate at school. Pure hate rivalry, not just a "simple" competition rivalry.
saskriders
Can't Hold Leads
As an outsider (european) id say USA v Russia mostly due to political reasons and history in the olympics. Even though Canada and the USSR/russia is the two big ones historically. In europe id say Finland v Sweden
Canada is the motherland of "hockey" , but i dont see that "hostile" rivalry with anyone other then the ones you have created for yourself. USA just dont give a crap other then the russia games. The Lake Placid game between USSR and USA is easily the most storied hockey game of all time world wide
Canada is the motherland of "hockey" , but i dont see that "hostile" rivalry with anyone other then the ones you have created for yourself. USA just dont give a crap other then the russia games. The Lake Placid game between USSR and USA is easily the most storied hockey game of all time world wide
For old timers, the Russian hatred goes MUCH deeper
Ditto old time players
Espo ( paraphrased ): ' I would have killed to win that series. When I think about it now it scares me '
' Give that guy's ankle a tap Bobby' TC assistant coach John Ferguson ( again paraphrasing ) reportedly instructing Clarke on how to defense Valeri Kharlamov
Most storied game vs most storied SERIES/ RIVALRY....That Miracle was Huge, HUGE for sure...But for Hockey insiders, in terms of its lasting impact on the international hockey landscape, and if u were to ask Russians their OP, the 72 Series + the CAN/RUS rivalry is MUCH BIGGER/ MORE IMPACTFUL Historically
That was the most one sided 1-0 game I've ever seen in my life. If such a thing as a 1-0 beat down were possible, this was it.
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