Is he eligible for Sweden?
I think the IIHF has to revisit their eligibility rules regarding children born to foreign players playing in North America.
If they're legitimately dual citizens they should be allowed to play for either country.
So a player born to Swedish parents and raised in New York because his dad was playing pro hockey would be eligible for either country but a player born to Swedish parents and raised in New York because his parents work for a bank that relocated them there wouldn't be eligible for either country?
I'm not huge fan of the 2 years in the country after 10 rule but it's better than 2 years in the country after 12. I'd rather it be that if you played any amount of junior hockey in the country and you have citizenship, you can pick.
Well, we are on a hockey forum. I actually meant, daughters or sons born to foreigners that have citizenship of their parents country or countries, should be eligible to play for any country they have citizenship with.
As long as you have recognized citizenship, why should you be denied the right to play for that country.
That would include any Canadian playing for a US team that has taken US citizenship.
The IIHF is trying to reward the hockey system that "developed" the player, even if that's an oversimplification. It's also an attempt to add some consistency to the varied citizenship practices of its member countries. Every system has holes though.
Wahlstrom's mom is American. He doesn't speak Swedish. He's lived his entire life in the US and developed as a hockey player here. His dad is an American citizen that has lived in the US longer than he lived in Sweden. I can see why the IIHF would rather a player like that play for Team USA.
I understand what you're saying but still think a person should have the right to play for a country they are a citizen of.
So a bunch of sons of Italian immigrants in Canada go and represent Italy in a U20 tournament and all the Italian kids that actually grew up playing hockey in Italy sit at home and cheer them on?
Senior world championships do that quite often and it's the lamest thing about the tournament every year (See "Croatian" D-men Alan Letang, Geoff Waugh, and Kenny MacAulay)
Yes Sir.
If they are citizens, why not.
Don't get me wrong. I understand the argument against it. I just don't agree with it.
You asked why not and then said you understand the argument against
It would get very shady very fast without restrictions.
Mark Divver @MarkDivver 29s29 seconds ago
Oliver Wahlstrom no longer committed to @MaineIceHockey , per sources. One of top 2000-born U.S. players. Big-time potential.
Isn't he also eligible for Sweden?
Isn't he also eligible for Sweden?
He's an old freshman, but a freshman.
http://ssmathletics.org/sports/hockey/boys_prep/2015-16/roster
To scouts/NHL/NTDP, ya. To the kids at the school, he is a freshman that made Prep and that will be talked about for a long time.Freshman/Sophomore doesn't matter, birth year does