Ranking the Greatest Rivalries

[teddy83]

Yeahh, don't know... last time my Swe friends were in Finland, they faked the Russian accent and claimed they were from the Moscow State University ... they thought it was safer that way...

If they were male friends maybe, but Finns love Swedish women, like everybody else

 

[Den]

Don't believe everything that is said to you.

In this particular case I certainly believe it, knowing the people who did it very closely, but of course this is just one in a million cases, clearly nobody is seriously hiding their identities...

 

[Den]

If they were male friends maybe, but Finns love Swedish women, like everybody else

The set up being: a bar, tattooed Finnish guys, some apprehension in the air..

 

[Kharkov]

In this particular case I certainly believe it, knowing the people who did it very closely, but of course this is just one in a million cases, clearly nobody is seriously hiding their identities...

Well that sounds quite paranoid to me, but if they feel themselves safer that way then go for it.

 

[FlutteringSaucer]

Finland-Sweden is great because the rivalry covers every sport, it's not just about hockey although hockey is the greatest stage for it. It's not at its peak currently but hopefully these wjc games this year and last will wake up the rivalry among our youngsters. This rivalry has some golden stories in the past like in 2004 when Jarkko Ruutu told Swedish media his hotel room number and invited Hedström to "talk" after the game. That's some good old rival hate.

Canada-Russia is of course the two big hockey countries but is it a huge rivalry any more? At least in soccer the greatest rivalries aren't between the top clubs (outside El Classico). Spain against Germany in soccer? Not a rivalry imo.

 

[FedorBure]

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

As a Russian, the 72 series truly meant nothing as Canada deliberately and malicously injured Kharlamov.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I have no way of proving this. But just musing...

If you asked a Russian hockey fan they would say Canada.

If you asked an average Russian they'd say USA.

Or is the average Russian a hockey fan? Don't know...

The Cold War might be over but Russia/USA will always be a tense political relationship.

That political factor in Russia - USA hockey rivalry is overrated greatly. While beating Canada is always the sweetest.

 

[Den]

Jeez, I remember the turn of the century when it was all about beating the Czechs for Russia....

 

[dwanmaster*]

I would also add USA-Canada. after that nothing else really matters.

if you're talking in a strictly hockey sense, sure.

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

Yeahh, don't know... last time my Swe friends were in Finland, they faked the Russian accent and claimed they were from the Moscow State University ... they thought it was safer that way...

most Finnish people have absolutely nothing against Swedes, and most Swedes have nothing against Finns. We make fun of Norwegians all the time aswell, but it's all in good fun.

 

[ViD]

I think most Russian posters will support me on this: every hockey tournament Russia has two goals - win the gold and beat Canada. If one of the two is achieved the tournament is usually considered a success. That's why I feel ok about 2006 Olympics .

However the sweetest possible thing is to beat Canada in the final game on their ice . See Halifax 2003, Quebec 2008, Buffalo 2011. Nothing tops this.

 

[chokei]

We had lots of thrilling games against Latvia in the past.

But the most special games for me are against the Germans. It's always nice to beat our big neighbors (well, in hockey they are our little neighbors ).

Definitely more of a rivalry against Germany. Too bad these two countries are rarely on par in the sports that matter the most here. Hockey is not a big factor in Germany and Switzerland is bad at football. Just look at Holland what could be if we were a better football nation.

Never tought of the games against Latvia as a rivalry. But we play each other quite often and in important games because we are on a similar level I guess.

 

[Den]

most Finnish people have absolutely nothing against Swedes, and most Swedes have nothing against Finns. We make fun of Norwegians all the time aswell, but it's all in good fun.

A Norwegian, a Swede and a Japanese are working on a skyscraper construction in NY.

One day they open their lunch boxes. The J goes, "oh, no, sushi again. Will jump off the skyscraper next time if I get it for lunch". The S goes: "oh, no, meatballs again, will jump off next time". The N goes: "oh no, cod again, will jump off next time".

Next time comes, all three find same stuff in their lunch boxes, all three jump off.

The funneral. The S wife and the J wife go: "oh, my bad, I did not know, would have prepared diff food for him."

The N wife goes: "don't look at me, he packs his own lunch".

 

[Petri1981]

Canada-Russia
Canada-USA
Sweden-Finland

Cant find any other "real" rivalries right now. Ofcourse as a finn I hate to lose against Russia even more than I hate to lose against the swedes, but still..

 

[Scotty B]

We need to define what rivalry is then. If its the two superpowers in hockey, then yes we all agree, if youre talking rivalry (the ONE game no team wants to loose) then its Usa vs Russia. There is more passion in Finland - Sweden as well due to geographical reasons (ie wars) but that prob is not what you wanted to hear. Nobody hates Canada.

Ive grown up (as most european, and all over the world) with american tv with russians as villains. In russia, that dislike is mutual and still is to a degree. The whole world watches USA v Russia, no one outside Canada gives a **** when you and the USSR back in their day play(ed) other teams, that is the truth. Why, because hockey alone isnt enough to be called a rivalry. Thats like saying Brazil and Germany is a rivalry beacuse they are the two most storried nations in soccer. Brazil v Argentina on the other hand... USA vs Russia in a physical sport is like Rocky vs Ivan Drago

Deal with it

Except that the most physical games, historically, are Canada Russia ( Ever been to Piestany, Billy? ) And anyone who doesn't know that, doesn't know squat about hockey !

Hockey FANS, in Russia and Canada KNOW FULL WELL what the most intense International rivalry IN HOCKEY is, ...those who say otherwise tend to be A/ Casual Hockey Fans from different countries Or B/ Not Hockey fans at all...

A lot of u ( dare I say it, outsiders ) are confusing geopolitics with hockey imo...while this also got thoroughly confused in the Summit series in 72, and, to a lesser extent, in the Canada Cup competitions, the Soviet NHL Super Series etc which followed.....You'll never convince many Canadian and Russian HOCKEY FANS... especially not many greyed haired ones...nor many hockey historians worth their salt either... that the sports most storied rivalry is anything other than Canada vs Russia...Again ( At the risk of seeming arrogant ) anyone who argues otherwise knows precious little about the sport...

Though those Canadian and Russian jr players weren't alive for most of the most infamous Canada Russia clashes, 1976 Mtl vs Red Army, Red Army vs Broad St Bullies ( all Canadian Boyz ), yadda yadda...They've all seen the videos, and they've all been brought up with those stories since they were knee high to grass hoppers.Indeed young Domi wears 16 , in honour of Bobby Clarke

this latest Gold Medal, clash of the titans, was far and away the tourney's best and most intense game...And for good reason.Hockey's #1 Rivalry is Still ALive and Well, and remains the greatest in the history of this, or damn near ANY SPORT!

***


Some talk about the Czechs vs Russia , but the Czech Republic is NOT Czechoslovakia...Some talk about USA Russia, but then we might as well be talking about Kennedy vs Khrushev, or The Arms Race, or the Space Race, or McCarthyism, or Stalinism, or some sport other than hockey, like USA vs Soviet basketball, or the Red Mafia, or KGB vs CIA, or Hollywood's Greatest villains, or Rocky Balboa vs Drago ( as someone said ).

Again Hockey purists, + most Russians, and most Canuck hockey fans ( save some whippersnappers ) know the score...Henderson scores for Canada. Gretzky to Mario, yadda, yadda...

Kidz there is NO DEBATE..So turn out the Lights(Piestany)and Go Home ( Red Army )


www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ5YKQrEqRk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ydbATVriqA

 

[Coaster]

You would have to be completely biased if you claim that Canada-Russia is easily hockey's number 1 rivalry right now. The last time these two teams met on senior level in finals was in 2009 WC. I also want to mention that this rivalry has been almost non-existent in the Olympics for the last 20 years. And we all remember what happened the last time when the two teams met in the Olympics (2010). The only reason the rivalry is still good is because of juniors, which most people outside of Canada don't even watch. The USA-Canada rivalry would be better if the US managed to upset Canada even once on senior level. Finland-Sweden is the only rivalry that currently exists in all three major tournaments (Olympics, WC, WJC).

I'm not denying how great the Can-Rus rivalry is historically, I'm just telling facts how it has been recently.

 

[byfuglien]

Except that the most physical games, historically, are Canada Russia ( Ever been to Piestany, Billy? ) And anyone who doesn't know that, doesn't know squat about hockey !

Hockey FANS, in Russia and Canada KNOW FULL WELL what the most intense International rivalry IN HOCKEY is, ...those who say otherwise tend to be A/ Casual Hockey Fans from different countries Or B/ Not Hockey fans at all...

A lot of u ( dare I say it, outsiders ) are confusing geopolitics with hockey imo...while this also got thoroughly confused in the Summit series in 72, and, to a lesser extent, in the Canada Cup competitions, the Soviet NHL Super Series etc which followed.....You'll never convince many Canadian and Russian HOCKEY FANS... especially not many greyed haired ones...nor many hockey historians worth their salt either... that the sports most storied rivalry is anything other than Canada vs Russia...Again ( At the risk of seeming arrogant ) anyone who argues otherwise knows precious little about the sport...

Though those Canadian and Russian jr players weren't alive for most of the most infamous Canada Russia clashes, 1976 Mtl vs Red Army, Red Army vs Broad St Bullies ( all Canadian Boyz ), yadda yadda...They've all seen the videos, and they've all been brought up with those stories since they were knee high to grass hoppers.Indeed young Domi wears 16 , in honour of Bobby Clarke

this latest Gold Medal, clash of the titans, was far and away the tourney's best and most intense game...And for good reason.Hockey's #1 Rivalry is Still ALive and Well, and remains the greatest in the history of this, or damn near ANY SPORT!

***


Some talk about the Czechs vs Russia , but the Czech Republic is NOT Czechoslovakia...Some talk about USA Russia, but then we might as well be talking about Kennedy vs Khrushev, or The Arms Race, or the Space Race, or McCarthyism, or Stalinism, or some sport other than hockey, like USA vs Soviet basketball, or the Red Mafia, or KGB vs CIA, or Hollywood's Greatest villains, or Rocky Balboa vs Drago ( as someone said ).

Again Hockey purists, + most Russians, and most Canuck hockey fans ( save some whippersnappers ) know the score...Henderson scores for Canada. Gretzky to Mario, yadda, yadda...

Kidz, there is NO DEBATE...So turn out the Lights ( Piestany )and Go Home ( Red Army )


www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ5YKQrEqRk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ydbATVriqA

How old are you anyway? You are as arogant and oneminded as ive seen, like a stubborn child. I cant take you seriously as you use most of youre time belittling me. Im not very good at writing in english and dont have your vocabulary, therefore i may come across as bit of a amateur and i most certainly am to the most knowledgeable of you. Ok. Im not a oldtimer, that is correct, but i watch alot of NHL/hockey and know my history. That doesnt mean i cant disagree with you and rate USA v Russia higher as a rivalry then you because of different (more non-hockey) related matters.

You are very biased. My guess is that you know nothing about finland-russia, finland-sweden either.

 

[tony d]

Top 5:

1) Canada Russia
2) Canada USA
3) Sweden Finland
4) USA Russia
5) Czech Republic Finland

 

[Petri1981]

Top 5:


5) Czech Republic Finland

What

 

[Scotty B]

How old are you anyway? You are as arogant and oneminded as ive seen, like a stubborn child. I cant take you seriously as you use most of youre time belittling me. Im not very good at writing in english and dont have your vocabulary, therefore i may come across as bit of a amateur and i most certainly am to the most knowledgeable of you. Ok. Im not a oldtimer, that is correct, but i watch alot of NHL/hockey and know my history. That doesnt mean i cant disagree with you and rate USA v Russia higher as a rivalry then you because of different (more non-hockey) related matters.

You are very biased. My guess is that you know nothing about finland-russia, finland-sweden either.

Hmmm...It is certainly ur prerogative to disagree with me, and vica versa

Still in my defense, I think something got lost in translation here? ...I respect the fact that English isn't ur first language. AND it amazes me that so many Euros can converse so eloquently in a language other than their native tongue. Sorry, if some of my comments were misconstrued...

But Please believe, that when I made cryptic references to Piestany Billy, Or Kidz, I wasn’t directing said comments at u. I was simply trying to make the point, that casual hockey fans, many youngsters , and many Euros from outside the more traditional hockey nations/ powers, don’t tend to appreciate just how much Canada and Russia, and yes their storied rivalry too, served to shape the modern hockey landscape.

byfuglien

no one outside Canada gives a **** when you and the USSR back in their day play(ed)

..

When u make comments like that, u come across as arrogant and insulting not to mention ignorant ( vis a vis hockey )yourself. Hockey historians, even those not from Canada or Russia, certainly do know and care about the 72 Series, and/or the names of all time greats like Howe, Espo, Orr , Mario, Gretz, yadda yadda. Just like we Canucks care about names like Tretiak , Vasiliev, Yakushev, Maltsev, Petrov, Mikhailov, Kharlamov, yadda yadda. Also of note, and maybe this helps explain my passion, one of my relatives ( not a close relative ) was invited behind the Iron Curtain, circa 1953, to serve as a guest coach for CCCP by Anatoli Tarasov which is something I've mentioned before ici, and backed up with documentation ( sorry about my spelling of names, Russians )

To me, Ur Not just insulting Canadians (where hockey is akin to religion ) but insulting Russian hockey fans as well...And Russia ( u may want to Google map this ) last time I checked is OUTSIDE of Canada !

The Fans of Both nations ( hockey’s TRUE SUPERPOWERS and yes, Hockey’s All Time Greatest Rivals) care DEEPLY about Can/Russia Games, and the rich RICH history of that rivalry. I don’t remember where u said ur from, but it’s a safe bet that my country CANADA had more impact on the game of hockey since ...wait for it....We INVENTED IT Eh!?! So too, most of the games ALL TIME Greats were/are Canadian!

byfuglien

...hockey alone isnt enough to be called a rivalry

Wow...just Wow...

Unspoken but Implicit in the original posters question: What is the greatest international rivalry? Is that he was really asking what is the greatest International HOCKEY Rivalry ? Guess u missed that too eh?

 

[Den]

byfuglien ..

When u make comments like that, u come across as arrogant and insulting not to mention ignorant (

Well, he is mostly right. The correct statement should be "apart from Canadians and hockey fans in Russia nobody cares..."

 

[Scotty B]

Well, he is mostly right. The correct statement should be "apart from Canadians and hockey fans in Russia nobody cares..."

Hockey historians also care...the IIHF cares...Heck the IIHF cares all the way to the Bank! Bearing in mind that Canada is the main supporter of World Juniors, and Canada Russia is a marquee junior matchup insofar as TSN et al are concerned ...but many other Euros and Yanks may not and again that's their prerogative...Doesn't change the fact, that Hockey's all time greatest rivalry was ( and I would argue still is, based on the intensity of the games and a whole lot more, as we witnessed yet again last nite ) Canada vs Russia. And presumably, this was what the original poster was asking about...NO?

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

I would rather see Canada lose to Russia than the States by a long shot

The younger you are, the more likely you are to have this opinion. I'm "only" in my 30s (which obviously isn't even old enough to have lived/experienced the '72 shenanigans), but it's my experience that most of my peers (or older, obviously) who follow hockey at all see Russia-Canada games as "must win" or "can't lose", while against the US it's more about simple bragging rights with a bit of "as long as we beat them often enough to keep them from taking the #1 spot, it's all good".

 

[ViD]

Any Russian sports fan older than 25 years old knows about the 72 super series . It's well documented as one of the greatest victories of soviet hockey (even though we lost the series eventually).

 

[Scotty B]

As a Russian, the 72 series truly meant nothing as Canada deliberately and malicously injured Kharlamov.

And yet you're still bitter about that incident, more than 40 years later? Methinks the lady ( or gent? ) doth protest too much