U18: Semi-Finals at the U18!

[Erikfromfin]

Theres problems in all the tournaments. In WJC top guys play NHL... in U18 top guys play world champs or playoffs or otherwise absent and Hlinka atleast Europeans send top guys often to U20 team instead... none of them have best of best

 

[WarriorofTime]

The only IIHF event I take seriously is the WJR's.

It’s basically the only “best on best” event there is until the nhl gets it together with the Olympics.

I know there’s semantics on if WJC is “best on best” since junior aged players don’t play in it but in my own definition if a kid is in the NHL they are no longer a junior player and so it’s the “best of best” of junior players.

 

[ORRFForever]

We haven't medalled yet, bud.

I bet you would if we actually won more often.

No, we have not medalled yet.

Canada does well at the World Championships in May (3 Golds and 3 Silver in the last 7 tournaments) and I don't take that seriously.

Theres problems in all the tournaments. In WJC top guys play NHL... in U18 top guys play world champs or playoffs or otherwise absent and Hlinka atleast Europeans send top guys often to U20 team instead... none of them have best of best

The WJR's comes closest to Best On Best. It is awesome.

It’s basically the only “best on best” event there is until the nhl gets it together with the Olympics.

I know there’s semantics on if WJC is “best on best” since junior aged players don’t play in it but in my own definition if a kid is in the NHL they are no longer a junior player and so it’s the “best of best” of junior players.

The World Juniors are awesome.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Theres problems in all the tournaments. In WJC top guys play NHL... in U18 top guys play world champs or playoffs or otherwise absent and Hlinka atleast Europeans send top guys often to U20 team instead... none of them have best of best

Essentially you just can't take any result too seriously for a "deeper meaning" and should just enjoy all of them for what they are.

 

[SantosHalper]

How much snus does the swedish coach use during the game? He seems to have the "bogeyman at the attic" all the time.

Im not against that, im a fellow snus guy myself. Feel the burn!

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Loved when Macdonell tried to run over wahlberg late in the game but hit a wall. Wahlberg is a big boi.

 

[Garl]

Loved when Macdonell tried to run over wahlberg late in the game but hit a wall. Wahlberg is a big boi.

6'3 214

 

[jj cale]

Hats off to Sweden, they were clearly the better team. This Canadian team just never developed any cohesion or showed any conception on how to play defense in any game this tournament.

Was depressing to watch really.

 

[Sliptip]

Holy shit this canadian team is bad. I was a bit worried about a potential comeback win after the embarassment in the groups, and after the first game misconduct I thought us screwed for second. But Swedens "good" performance only come second to how horrifically bad this was. I don't know remember last time I saw such a dead candian team. The shots don't do this game justice at all. Especially defensively.

Doesn't invite to much confidence into tommorows game either, because the US is a entirely different team to this.

 

[ijuka]

It’s basically the only “best on best” event there is until the nhl gets it together with the Olympics.

I know there’s semantics on if WJC is “best on best” since junior aged players don’t play in it but in my own definition if a kid is in the NHL they are no longer a junior player and so it’s the “best of best” of junior players.

Yeah, it's not really a best on best since the best players are in NHL.

U18s could be best on best, but for whatever reason Canada likes playing playoffs in the spring instead.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yeah, it's not really a best on best since the best players are in NHL.

U18s could be best on best, but for whatever reason Canada likes playing playoffs in the spring instead.

Part of the issue is Canada has had their junior playoffs run into May far longer than the IIHF Under-18s has existed so they are not inclined to change it, even though they could run on the same schedule as NCAA pretty easily. No reason in my mind that the junior leagues each need to run four best-of-seven series when many aren’t that competitive, which precedes the Memorial Cup.. just seems like an attempt to be a mini-NHL in all facets..:. But that’s just me.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Holy shit this canadian team is bad. I was a bit worried about a potential comeback win after the embarassment in the groups, and after the first game misconduct I thought us screwed for second. But Swedens "good" performance only come second to how horrifically bad this was. I don't know remember last time I saw such a dead candian team. The shots don't do this game justice at all. Especially defensively.

Doesn't invite to much confidence into tommorows game either, because the US is a entirely different team to this.

Of course the US team is different. They have played together all year.

 

[EK47]

Theres problems in all the tournaments. In WJC top guys play NHL... in U18 top guys play world champs or playoffs or otherwise absent and Hlinka atleast Europeans send top guys often to U20 team instead... none of them have best of best

If Leo Carlsson had been six days younger he would’ve been unavailable due to playing with the mens team.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Benson is in the playoffs, I doubt Winnipeg would want him to go. Yager had just finished up and would've missed the start of the tournament. Gauthier's been done for 10 days, not sure there.

Gauthier is still in playoffs too. They were off for extended time bc they swept last round. akey and bonk would help the d too. Akey just got knocked out and bonk is still going.

 

[ORRFForever]

Part of the issue is Canada has had their junior playoffs run into May far longer than the IIHF Under-18s has existed so they are not inclined to change it, even though they could run on the same schedule as NCAA pretty easily. No reason in my mind that the junior leagues each need to run four best-of-seven series when many aren’t that competitive, which precedes the Memorial Cup.. just seems like an attempt to be a mini-NHL in all facets..:. But that’s just me.

Oh WT, you always think so poorly of Canadian hockey.

We're not so bad.

**

I am not sure why so many Canadian fans are upset. Assuming we win bronze, tomorrow, Canada's results are better than our average at this event.

Just try and enjoy the hockey.

 

[ORRFForever]

Canada has won 5 of the last 9 World Juniors. Comparing those 5 wins with how we finished 2 years earlier at the U-18's :

WJR 2015 - Gold / U18 2013 Gold

WJR 2018 - Gold / U18 2016 4th

WJR 2020 - Gold / U18 2018 Did not make Top 4

WJR 2022 - Gold / U18 2020 Cancelled due to Covid

WJR 2023 - Gold / U18 2021 Gold

 

[WarriorofTime]

Oh WT, you always think so poorly of Canadian hockey.

We're not so bad.

**

I am not sure why so many Canadian fans are upset. Assuming we win bronze, tomorrow, Canada's results are better than our average at this event.

Just try and enjoy the hockey.

I don’t think poorly of Canadian hockey. Quite the contrary. I just don’t see why the junior leagues each need four best of 7 series. For instance, Seattle and Kamloops both went 8-0 in the first two rounds. Everyone knew the top 4 teams in the Q all year so what are you waiting for? That being said, I acknowledged they’ve been doing it the way they do it for longer than the IIHF U18 has existed.

 

[Old Man Jags]

Huge statement victory by Sweden. To beat Canada 8-0 and 7-2 at the same tournament… wow! Canada are not as dominant at U18 than in other categories, but still. Excited about the final, definitely the two best teams of the tournament.

 

[wetcoast]

Yeah, it's not really a best on best since the best players are in NHL.

U18s could be best on best, but for whatever reason Canada likes playing playoffs in the spring instead.

Pretty weird since the u18 tournament has been around like forever and the CHL only in the last 30 years or so changed their playoff format to conflict with the preexisting u18s eh?....

Sweden simply also had an extremely good balanced team this year so hats off to them.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Holy shit this canadian team is bad. I was a bit worried about a potential comeback win after the embarassment in the groups, and after the first game misconduct I thought us screwed for second. But Swedens "good" performance only come second to how horrifically bad this was. I don't know remember last time I saw such a dead candian team. The shots don't do this game justice at all. Especially defensively.

Doesn't invite to much confidence into tommorows game either, because the US is a entirely different team to this.

so why did canada only lose to sweden in this tournament if sweden is not good?