State of USA Hockey after another disappointing Olympics Part II
- Thread starter SoupNazi
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they won silver four years ago-- do not get the bridge jumping going on--
For me, As a Canadian and a hockey nut. Here are my observations and perspective.
1) I think some American fans fails to realize and understand that countries such as Sweden and Finland are hockey hotbeds like Canada. Been to both countries in the winter and I can tell you they are small versions of Canada. While not a flashy as some of their north american counterparts both countries produce top players and on of the big differences is that they put the team first not the individual.
American ideology sort of is an example of this thread. Americans expect to win any sport or activity. And how the American finished up the fins game is an example of what is wrong with certain players. The players could not win the gold and gave up. With American ideology--you either come first and nothing else matter and if you can not come first, why play? This is not the first time in team sports an American team, who could not win gold or first place, went out and shat in their bed the next game.
IF Canada had come fourth, most Canadians would have been jumping off of bridges, hockey is our game and is deeply rooted in out belief system and ideology. Can you say that about the Americans? Hockey in Scandinavia is very huge and if you have been there during their hockey season you would see countries that rival that of Canadians in the love of the game. How many Americans tuned in these last two weeks to watch hockey for the first time all year? Some Americans it is just sport.
As for the state of the sport, The fins and Swedes are very good teams with a lot of heart and I personally think some people are undervaluing just how hockey mad those countries are and how much heart the players have. You can not teach heart and the fins and swedes have lots of it
For me, As a Canadian and a hockey nut. Here are my observations and perspective.
1) I think some American fans fails to realize and understand that countries such as Sweden and Finland are hockey hotbeds like Canada. Been to both countries in the winter and I can tell you they are small versions of Canada. While not a flashy as some of their north american counterparts both countries produce top players and on of the big differences is that they put the team first not the individual.
American ideology sort of is an example of this thread. Americans expect to win any sport or activity. And how the American finished up the fins game is an example of what is wrong with certain players. The players could not win the gold and gave up. With American ideology--you either come first and nothing else matter and if you can not come first, why play? This is not the first time in team sports an American team, who could not win gold or first place, went out and shat in their bed the next game.
IF Canada had come fourth, most Canadians would have been jumping off of bridges, hockey is our game and is deeply rooted in out belief system and ideology. Can you say that about the Americans? Hockey in Scandinavia is very huge and if you have been there during their hockey season you would see countries that rival that of Canadians in the love of the game. How many Americans tuned in these last two weeks to watch hockey for the first time all year? Some Americans it is just sport.
As for the state of the sport, The fins and Swedes are very good teams with a lot of heart and I personally think some people are undervaluing just how hockey mad those countries are and how much heart the players have. You can not teach heart and the fins and swedes have lots of it
Devil Dancer
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2006
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I fail to see how 2010 was disappointing. Missing out on gold by 1 goal is literally as close to perfection as you can be without actually achieving perfection.
Stone Valley
A State of Trance
Well... really.. Just Canada is in the way. For the women at least.. Honestly I though the men would make it to the finals and have a shot at the gold, but I think they were disappointed from the loss to Canada.
Future USA coach going forward. Do we have any potential replacements?
Any decent replacements for the staff? And Management?
What do we have going forward for USA hockey?
Any decent replacements for the staff? And Management?
What do we have going forward for USA hockey?
Tostito Rangers
Registered User
chauron
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- Jan 5, 2014
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Or atleast hire Kekälälainen (CBJ) as a consult. He can bring Erkka Westerlund with him.
BoHorvatFan
Registered User
Yea, I'm sure the honorable Canadians would play with great passion and effort if they ended up in the bronze medal game. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_1998_Winter_Olympics_–_Men's_tournament
Almost certainly Team Canada would NOT have fared well either...if in the Yanks' skates...Most Canucks would readily, READILY admit this...
Should hire a coach from another country, but I don't think that will go over well...the brain trust probably thinks one of the existing U.S. pro coaches will be sufficient.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
What? That will never happen and isn't neccessary. I would expect to see someone like Jon Cooper or even Phil Housley take the reins. Besides, is coaching really the issue here? There isn't a more thankless position in sports. Finland game aside the difference between playing for gold was +2.
That was a post in another thread that got merged with this one, if it seemed random
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Shoalzie
Trust me!
Keep developing talent...there's always room for improvement when you see the talent on teams like Canada and Sweden. The biggest need for Team USA is skilled defensemen. The goaltending is world class and the forwards are amongst the best in the world but they need are mobile puck-moving D.
- Jan 22, 2007
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USA needs to start by shaking the old Herb Brooks "I'm not looking for the best players..." nonsense. Keith Yandle, Bobby Ryan, Kyle Okposo and Jack Johnson all should have been on that team. Instead, the USA brain trust tried to be too smart for the room, failed, and embarrassed their own players in the process.
- Jan 22, 2007
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They have them but chose not to bring two of them. Keith Yandle is one of the best pure offensive defensemen in the NHL and has scored more points than any American born NHL defensemen recently. They left him home in favor of a turd like Orpik because he's the coach's pet. Jack Johnson can also move the puck and has been HUGE in International play and they kept him home too. Shattenkirk, Suter and Fowler can move the puck but Yandle is a pure offensive beast from the back-end.
Time to get rid of Burke for starters. The Bobby Ryan stuff was pure amateur hour. When Canada had a poor showing at the 2006 Olympics, Gretzky stepped down as GM.
USA is still well within the top 5 tier of nations (Canada, Sweden, USA, Finland, Russia), and in a single game elimination anything can happen. They got outworked in the Canada and Finland games, so that needs to be addressed. Don't be cute and take role players, take the best players available and make sure you have a balance of youth. USA will be just fine at the next best on best tournament, which I bet will be in 2015 or 2016 because it looks like Bettman wants a World Cup.
USA is still well within the top 5 tier of nations (Canada, Sweden, USA, Finland, Russia), and in a single game elimination anything can happen. They got outworked in the Canada and Finland games, so that needs to be addressed. Don't be cute and take role players, take the best players available and make sure you have a balance of youth. USA will be just fine at the next best on best tournament, which I bet will be in 2015 or 2016 because it looks like Bettman wants a World Cup.
Holymakinaw
Registered User
Team USA had plenty of talent.....certainly enough to win.
But Kessel, Kane & Team USA saved their worst for last.....Crosby, Toews & Team Canada saved their BEST for last.
You've gotta WANT it.
Pay attention, USA.
But Kessel, Kane & Team USA saved their worst for last.....Crosby, Toews & Team Canada saved their BEST for last.
You've gotta WANT it.
Pay attention, USA.
Pepper
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- Aug 30, 2004
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FFS, when will people realize that Burke is NOT the GM of USA Hockey??? Burke spoke his mind not knowing it was going to end up in public, in the end it was Poile and the other members of the group who made the call on Ryan.
The only amateur people were the journalist and the USA Hockey PR-people, for different reasons.
It's amazing how some bitter people put blame for lack of success on Burke when he was the GM of USA Hockey in Vancouver when USA played much better.
Incredible really.
Holymakinaw
Registered User
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
I think blaming the GM is a lame move anyway. Aside from one or two players this was the absolute best line-up the team could put on the ice. This is an incredibly hard team to evaluate post-mortem as they started with such promise.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
A lot folks are talking about how Okposo should have been on the team. Is it just because he is having a great season? How about Yandle? Same thing? Any international experience?
I think you need some "team" qualities. But it does appear that Poile and company erred on the side of team instead of talent. No surprise considering the teams Poile has assembled here.
I think you need some "team" qualities. But it does appear that Poile and company erred on the side of team instead of talent. No surprise considering the teams Poile has assembled here.
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