SI picks Czechs

[Macman]

1993 World Championships is a legitimate victory. (Canada has won four World titles since then, and I don't question their legitimacy, so I won't question the Russians 1993 championship, either). But the old USSR used to dominate the Worlds (plus every other IIHF event), so to see Russia, which comprised so much of the USSR's roster, struggling to this degree, is surprising.

It's not surprising at all. The Soviets dominated those tournaments because they got to bring their absolute best players to every tournament while some others, like Canada, were not permitted to. They no longer have that unfair advantage.

 

[Nihilism]

SI is simply anti-Canadian. They probably picked the US in 2002. They should stick to the NFL and college basketball.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

SI is simply anti-Canadian. They probably picked the US in 2002. They should stick to the NFL and college basketball.

Yeah, that's it.........

 

[I am Jack's Fish]

People are reading SI for hockey stories?

Michael Farber is an excellent hockey writer, and that issue actually has a few more good hockey stories/pieces.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

it's amazing that 99% of hockey fans still believe that results are based rosters.

if anyone should know that this is wrong, it's hockey fans. yet, it seems that HFBoards members have never seen a hockey game.

I hear that the Czech defense is worse than Canada's ... O RLY? and how is that? I heard the same thing before last year's World Championship, and we all know how it turned out. and I heard the same in 1998, and we also know what happened.

so please, for Christ's sakes stop making comparisons based on rosters. the only thing that really matters is how a group of players will be able to play like a team.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

1993 World Championships is a legitimate victory. (Canada has won four World titles since then, and I don't question their legitimacy, so I won't question the Russians 1993 championship, either). But the old USSR used to dominate the Worlds (plus every other IIHF event), so to see Russia, which comprised so much of the USSR's roster, struggling to this degree, is surprising.

It's not that the World Championships are illegitimate, it is still a good tournament, but the results from the World Championships mean very little when comparing them to the "Best on Best" tournaments. Slovakia won the 2002 World Championship, but that year almost all their best players were there, and hardly any of the Olympians from the other nations participated. The average skill level in the World Championships is way below what we will see in Turin this year!

 

[LannysStach]

so please, for Christ's sakes stop making comparisons based on rosters. the only thing that really matters is how a group of players will be able to play like a team.

yeah, but then why even have these boards or discussions or thoughts about the Olympics?

people who discuss rosters aren't idiots by definition.

of course it comes to gel, and coaching, and the hot goalie on one particular night, and refs, and bounces.

nobody (including the players) will know till it happens (or not), and till then all we've got is rosters, history, and predictions.

but i certainly agree, the Czechs are awesome. Canadians seem to ignor the lock-out World Championship last year (the last major big-boys-go-at-it) and how The Mighty Nucks got skunked 3-zip by the Czechs who didn't even have Hasek.

it's so crazy that after the first quarter-final day after the 12-team round-robin there'll only be 4 of these masterpiece teams left.

there's gonna be a lot of great warriors who want to be carrying medal home, and February 22nd is gonna be D-Day on ice!

 

[Canuck21t]

but i certainly agree, the Czechs are awesome. Canadians seem to ignor the lock-out World Championship last year (the last major big-boys-go-at-it) and how The Mighty Nucks got skunked 3-zip by the Czechs who didn't even have Hasek.

Canada was far from being mighty and that was apparent from the very beginning. It only had one or two good lines and when you have Souray on your defense, you know that it won't be pretty. I was sure that Canada wouldn't win Gold and I was right. The Czechs on the other hand were stacked with some of their best players playing. So of course I'm going to ignore last year's World Championship and also all the previous ones. The World Cup though showed the the Czechs are a very good team to be afraid of. It is THE team that gives Canada the most trouble.

 

[time]

Michael Farber is an excellent hockey writer, and that issue actually has a few more good hockey stories/pieces.

Yah, that also gave me pause. SI is always jingoistic in its Olympic coverage, actually the whole of American media are, but Farber is a sharp guy who knows his hockey so I thought. . . okay, hmm, sure, well I guess there is one hockey writer who is picking the Czechs. . . until I looked at the CNNSI website!

It declares: "Hockey writer Michael Farber disagrees and thinks Canada will win the gold."

This begs the question: Who made the pick and how valid are any of their predictions?

 

[Big Phil]

As far as Canada coming together and gelling as a team it wont be a problem. Most of these guys were on the '04 World Cup team. The Czechs and the Russians are the teams that give me a scare. Other than that the truth is Canada should stomp on every team out there. Of course the games are being played on the ICE, but that's just my prediction.

 

[wildone26*]

I think the Czechs have a good chance. Brodeur is now playing alot better which is good news for Canada, but I could still see either Vokoun or Hasek outdoing Brodeur on a given day in a final, Jagr is arguably the Worlds best player when he is in form and motivated like he is this year, they have great depth on both forward and defence. They have a great chance to take the gold away from Canada. BTW have the Czechs decided who their starting goalie is, or are they going to use a hybrid type system and decide as the tournament goes along?

 

[ILuvLA]

I saw the gold medal game at the World Championships in Austria May 2005. The Czechs took it to the Canadians in a big way. Canada didn't know how to defend against them. I was rooting for Team Canada and what a shocker that was!!! I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Czechs at the top of the podium at the Olympics. I will probably get flamed for this, but the Czechs have as much talent and as much depth as Canada.

 

[kovalev27hf]

pretty interesting considering team czech is led by basically the ny rangers who SI publically tried to embarrass by picking them dead last, fools.

 

[ILuvLA]

pretty interesting considering team czech is led by basically the ny rangers who SI publically tried to embarrass by picking them dead last, fools.

Concur. The Rangers have been amazing this year.

 

[MisterUnspoken]

Concur. The Rangers have been amazing this year.

Rangers are definitely going to win gold in Torino

 

[David]

SI thinks that Czechs are gonna win gold because Ryan Miller won't be there to out duel Hasek!


Seriously though, I do think that the Czech may be the team to beat again this year. Canada hasn't beaten Czechs in the last two Olympics.

Remember that in the Nagano, Canada was badly out played by the Czechs in regulation and only managed to tie it up late in the 3rd on a flukely Trevor Linden goal. The only reason why Canada didn't get blown out in that game was because Patrick Roy out played Hasek...and then let in one more goal than Hasek on the shootouts.

In Salt Lake City, Canada tied the Czechs 3:3.

And this time around, half of the damn Czechs have been gelling together in NY with the Rangers for the whole year while Canada will be scrambling to learn to play with each other esp. during the first week.

It will be interesting but it would be a BIG mistake for Canada to go into Turin thinking that they are the ones to beat in this tournament. If we do, we didn't learn anything from that Nagano fiasco!!!!

 

[espo*]

SI thinks that Czechs are gonna win gold because Ryan Miller won't be there to out duel Hasek!


Seriously though, I do think that the Czech may be the team to beat again this year. Canada hasn't beaten Czechs in the last two Olympics.

Remember that in the Nagano, Canada was badly out played by the Czechs in regulation and only managed to tie it up late in the 3rd on a flukely Trevor Linden goal. The only reason why Canada didn't get blown out in that game was because Patrick Roy out played Hasek...and then let in one more goal than Hasek on the shootouts.

In Salt Lake City, Canada tied the Czechs 3:3.

And this time around, half of the damn Czechs have been gelling together in NY with the Rangers for the whole year while Canada will be scrambling to learn to play with each other esp. during the first week.

It will be interesting but it would be a BIG mistake for Canada to go into Turin thinking that they are the ones to beat in this tournament. If we do, we didn't learn anything from that Nagano fiasco!!!!

Canada did'nt get badly outplayed in that nagano game,you must be thinking of some other game my friend.

It was even-stevens until overtime and then Canada dominated the overtime but Hasek saved the Czechs not the other way around.Then the Czechs won in the shoot-out.

what you say happened NEVER happened.I don't know what game you're talking about but it sure was'nt that one.

 

[David]

Canada did'nt get badly outplayed in that nagano game,you must be thinking of some other game my friend.

It was even-stevens until overtime and then Canada dominated the overtime but Hasek saved the Czechs not the other way around.Then the Czechs won in the shoot-out.

what you say happened NEVER happened.I don't know what game you're talking about but it sure was'nt that one.

Go back and watch that game again. The Czechs were an amazing bunch who controlled the pace of the game and played as almost a perfect unit.

Canada was struggling to keep possession of the puck the entire game and they were lucky as anything to score that tying goal late in 3rd period when Linden accidently tipped a shot in and then started proudly pointing to himself to make sure that everyone was aware that he had tipped it in.

The only time that Hasek outplayed Roy was during the shootouts.

Go watch the game again if you have it taped like I do.

Biggest disappointment for Canada that I can remember...and the saddest part was when that big lug Brandon Shannahan came out on camera and breaks down and cries like a little boy who just saw his mother die while apolozing to the entire country of Canada for not bringing home the gold.

 

[espo*]

Go back and watch that game again. The Czechs were an amazing bunch who controlled the pace of the game and played as almost a perfect unit.

Canada was struggling to keep possession of the puck the entire game and they were lucky as anything to score that tying goal late in 3rd period when Linden accidently tipped a shot in and then started proudly pointing to himself to make sure that everyone was aware that he had tipped it in.

The only time that Hasek outplayed Roy was during the shootouts.

Go watch the game again if you have it taped like I do.

Biggest disappointment for Canada that I can remember...and the saddest part was when that big lug Brandon Shannahan came out on camera and breaks down and cries like a little boy who just saw his mother die while apolozing to the entire country of Canada for not bringing home the gold.

I'll have to.That game i remember very well and through the first 3 periods it was basically a defensive fest with both teams getting little scoring chances.In the overtime Canada got damn near all the chances and then..............the dreaded shoot-out.Roy had to do little in regulation time as the Czechs simply trapped all game long and stuck to the neutral zone mostly while Canada tried to break it but could'nt.Both teams were cautious and unimaginative as hell.It was'nt until the overtime we saw REAL action.

Same game.........................two different reads,strange.What do other fans think?.What were the shots on goal after 3? that can tell us a little bit.

 

[Draft Guru]

Petr Prucha just got hurt tonight against Philly, looks like he'll miss the Olympics.

This opens the door for Elias or Sykora to be named.

 

[Corto]

Same game.........................two different reads,strange.What do other fans think?.What were the shots on goal after 3? that can tell us a little bit.

I have it on tape.

The Czechs were the better team through 60 minutes, but it wasn't by a stretch by any means.

They were slightly better, but unfortunately, they had two of their biggest scoring chances fall to the awesomness that is Josef Beranek.

Not that much between those two teams then, it was a good, close hockey game, and IMO, deserved to go into OT.

 

[espo*]

I have it on tape.

The Czechs were the better team through 60 minutes, but it wasn't by a stretch by any means.

They were slightly better, but unfortunately, they had two of their biggest scoring chances fall to the awesomness that is Josef Beranek.

Not that much between those two teams then, it was a good, close hockey game, and IMO, deserved to go into OT.

Thats what i thought.The game was very close,boring,but close.Roy did'nt have to do anything special in that game at all,except win the shootout,which he did'nt unfortunately.

I do remember Canada outplaying the Czechs in overtime but Hasek shut the door.

 

[David]

Thats what i thought.The game was very close,boring,but close.Roy did'nt have to do anything special in that game at all,except win the shootout,which he did'nt unfortunately.

I do remember Canada outplaying the Czechs in overtime but Hasek shut the door.

I actually just finished re-watching that game in its entireity so that I would get my facts straight.

Here are the facts.

Team Canada skipped the skate before the game day.

Team Canada came out really flat and was outplayed by the Czech in the first period leading Harry Neale to say that Patrick is the reason for the scoreless tie so far.

Ron MacLean interviewed Lindros who was the captain of this team ( ) during the first intermission.

Lindros said that Patrick kept them in the game so far and that they have to generate offense by going to the net.

Ron then asked if skipping the skate the day before is the result of Canada playing so badly.

Lindros the punk got pissed and said "It doesn't matter what we did yesterday. We've got to win this sucker." and then walked off leaving Maclean flabbergasted.

Second period was a little bit better but Czechs still outplayed Canada which led Theo Fleury to say in the 2nd intermission interview that Canada played well for first 15 minutes and then started running around in the last 5 minutes.

Theo also said that Czechs are playing a "conservative game with the third man high".

At about 10 minute mark in 3rd, Jiri Sleger scored from the point. At that point, the shots on net was 24 to 16 for Czechs with Czechs holding many more quality scoring chances and holding Canada within their territory for long periods of time.

As time ticked down, they kept showing Janet Gretzky and the two hotties with her getting anxious in the stands. Neale and Cole start talking as if the game is over.

With 1:03 left to go (18:53 on the clock since international clock goes the other way) MacInness blasts a howitser at Hasek point blank from about 10 feet away but Hasek blocks it and Lindros picks it up from behind the goal line and dumps it out front where Linden shoots along the ice where Hasek is already covering with hi pads but then it gets deflected accidently by a Czech player and goes high on Hasek for the tying goal.

Everyone is up and celebrating. To be fair Linden didn't thump his chest as I remember it...but is excessive in celebration to say that he scored. Brandon Shanahan was more teary eyed thatn bawling as I remember it. The mind is a funny thing sometimes.

They go into OT where Czechs basically play for the shoot out by sitting back and not letting Canada get any quality chances. Canada is getting stronger and one of their D gets hurt.

They go to shoot out.

Robert Reichel is the first shooter and beats Roy. Realstinky, Pavel Patera and Jagr are all stopped by Roy.

Theo Fleury, Ray Bourque, Joey Kneeondyke, Lindros (hits the post), and Shanny all miss.

Gretzky sits alone in the players bench after the arena has cleared still in disbelief of what has just happened.

I sit alone with my little girl and cry all over again.

 

[DownFromNJ]

The Czechs have one absolutely huge advantage coming into this tournament. How many Czech players are coming from the New York Rangers? The Czechs will be able to field (less now without Prucha, but still) two lines, a defense pairing, and a powerplay unit which already has a season's worth of chemistry under it's belt.

 

[London Knights]

I'm picking Italy as the darkhorse longshot.

A mysterious poisoned pasta fed to all of Italy's opponents right before their game?