WC: TEAM CANADA 2023

[jj cale]

Not much to write about really. They haven't exactly looked like world-beaters. but just okay. And when Veleno looks like he's flying around out there just underscores how degraded this tournament has become the past couple of years. It's gone from B level tournament to D level pretty rapidly.

And how does Fantilli look? Looks like I'm not going to have to buy any pints next year in Prague. I know one thing for sure...this year's tournament so far is making me rethink my travel plans to Prague next spring. I'm not going to shell out all that cash just to see these kinds of players show up. It's too bad.

Difficult to wrap my head around this players caring about what city it is in stuff probably because I am from rural Nova Scotia and not from a rich family (precious few of those where I am from to begin with) going anywhere in Europe would be interesting for me and my main focus if I ever could have been a player at this level isn't some sight seeing lolly gagging anyway. I know what my focus and job would be and that I would be going with pride to wear my countries sweater and maintain our hockey tradition. The tournament could have been in Paris or East Berlin for all I would have cared I'm not there to chase chicks and booze it up at the bar...............I'm there to win, period.

It is and would be considered a duty and responsibility to me to do it as often as possible in my career and that's the bottom line.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I grew up in a different time with different experiences on what it means to be a Canadian hockey player.

 

[Fatass]

Difficult to wrap my head around this players caring about what city it is in stuff probably because I am from rural Nova Scotia and not from a rich family (precious few of those where I am from to begin with) going anywhere in Europe would be interesting for me and my main focus if I ever could have been a player at this level isn't some sight seeing lolly gagging anyway. I know what my focus and job would be and that I would be going with pride to wear my countries sweater and maintain our hockey tradition. The tournament could have been in Paris or East Berlin for all I would have cared I'm not there to chase chicks and booze it up at the bar...............I'm there to win, period.

It is and would be considered a duty and responsibility to me to do it as often as possible in my career and that's the bottom line.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I grew up in a different time with different experiences on what it means to be a Canadian hockey player.

Life used to be a struggle, especially on the farm. Now it’s mostly city kids coming playing the game. Not nearly so tough as the farm boys.

 

[jj cale]

Life used to be a struggle, especially on the farm. Now it’s mostly city kids coming playing the game. Not nearly so tough as the farm boys.

Not nearly enough 25-30 below freezing your balls off on the lake or pond and still loving it so much your mom had to finally pull her weight to get you back home because you needed to eat supper and get some sleep before school for these young guys.

 

[Eye of Ra]

how many roster spots left open`?

 

[jj cale]

how many roster spots left open`?

I don't think we are bringing any more players.

 

[Gold Standard]

I don't think we are bringing any more players.

Not unless there is an emergency injury replacement.

 

[Hallzy]

Joe Veleno should never wear a Canadian jersey again after that scumbag move. I hope he gets popped.

 

[NyQuil]

Joe Veleno should never wear a Canadian jersey again after that scumbag move. I hope he gets popped.

Well, it wouldn't be a great loss.

 

[NyQuil]

Not a surprising result, Switzerland carried the majority of the play and dominated the large ice surface with more frequency and better skating.

Canada had stretches of pressure but that was usually off the cycle as opposed to in transition or odd-man rushes.

Montembeault played well again, he had no real chance on the goals against.

Not a horrible game by the Canadians but they can't expect to medal if they play at this level.

 

[Gold Standard]

Getting bounced in the quarters this year would be a good thing. Makes it all the more likely that next year will be a Prague Powerhouse team.

Hopefully Veleno gets a significant Hockey Canada imposed sanction to whatever the IIHF imposes.
And Hockey Canada gets to a resolution with the '98 WJHC team players.

Hopefully it is a 1/4 final loss against the US. That would get Hockey Canada's attention.

But getting smacked by the Swedes would also work.

 

[jj cale]

Getting bounced in the quarters this year would be a good thing. Makes it all the more likely that next year will be a Prague Powerhouse team.

Hopefully Veleno gets a significant Hockey Canada imposed sanction to whatever the IIHF imposes.
And Hockey Canada gets to a resolution with the '98 WJHC team players.

Hopefully it is a 1/4 final loss against the US. That would get Hockey Canada's attention.

But getting smacked by the Swedes would also work.

The thing is all it would take for this teams chances for gold to be real good would have been about 2 good offensive players that can make a power play work at the very least, the competition here is just as low as our team is and in most cases still worse. We just couldn't get any player of note to play..............pretty sad. And at that we are still 4-1 and just barely lost to the best team here. This team just can't score enough, there simply isn't the talent up front, it's a bunch not noteworthy 3rd-4th line guys.................4 lines of Lawson Crouse types.

Don't understand why we couldn't get anyone this year. Monty has been real good in net, the defense is mostly fine so far at the level being played here by other teams....................we simply aren't dangerous enough offensively. 2 solid offensive players is about all it would have taken against the junk competition here this year. I mean, I haven't watched one single good all around team here aside from the Swiss yet, they all range from subpar to pretty pathetic. If you don't believe me all you have to do is watch them play, the Finns sweden,u.s,you name them..................this tournament is not their finest hour, they aren't very good.


We couldn't buy a soul of offensive talent in forwards this year, not one, unless you count an 18 year old not even drafted yet Adam Fantilli as one.

 

[ORRFForever]

Don't understand why we couldn't get anyone this year.

Because getting asked to go every year gets old. They go, after a long season, and, the very next year, they are pressured to go, again. How long before a players says, "No, last year was my last one!"?

As I have said many times, this tournament should be, at most, once every 2 years. Otherwise, fans will have to accept that they will be represented, especially in Canada and the U.S., by a bunch of players named "Who".

 

[jj cale]

Because getting asked to go every year gets old. They go, after a long season, and, the very next year, they are pressured to go, again. How long before a players says, "No, last year was my last one!"?

As I have said many times, this tournament should be, at most, once every 2 years. Otherwise, fans will have to accept that they will be represented, especially in Canada and the U.S., by a bunch of players named "Who".

plenty of guys who have only gone once who are in the 8th to 10th year of their career.

That is an awful lot of " no, last year was my last year" and that is said usually after their rookie year.

Funny how that works.

I will grant you that at this point it is probably seriously time to look into abandoning this tournament as an annual event. It's just not wanted by the players enough anymore

 

[ORRFForever]

plenty of guys who have only gone once who are in the 8th to 10th year of their career.

That is an awful lot of " no, last year was my last year" and that is said usually after their rookie year.

Funny how that works.

I just think that if it became more rare, more of a special event, players would be more inclined to go. Once a year, especially in May after a long NHL season, is not special.

Anyway, you asked why no one went. I gave my opinion.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Difficult to wrap my head around this players caring about what city it is in stuff probably because I am from rural Nova Scotia and not from a rich family (precious few of those where I am from to begin with) going anywhere in Europe would be interesting for me and my main focus if I ever could have been a player at this level isn't some sight seeing lolly gagging anyway. I know what my focus and job would be and that I would be going with pride to wear my countries sweater and maintain our hockey tradition. The tournament could have been in Paris or East Berlin for all I would have cared I'm not there to chase chicks and booze it up at the bar...............I'm there to win, period.

It is and would be considered a duty and responsibility to me to do it as often as possible in my career and that's the bottom line.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I grew up in a different time with different experiences on what it means to be a Canadian hockey player.

Yeah, I think it's a combo of factors. COVID really seemed to drain all energy out of this tournament and with it the sense of civic duty to go, especially as a younger player. I think there was also a time when NHL teams that were eliminated used to encourage their young guys to go and experience Playoff-like hockey against professionals. Now they not only don't do that, but will drag their feet to even agree to release the players because they're worried about an injury, and we know the NHL owners have developed quite a hostile stance against IIHF in general with the whole Olympics stuff. I also think the cultural attitudes towards "well if it's not best-on-best then it's irrelevant and nobody cares" hurts things as well. Additionally, there just aren't that many players that come from rural, non-rich families anymore, so I do think the location matters. I'm sure a lot of these guys have had opportunities to travel the world, even before becoming millionaires in the NHL. Finally, we're still 3 years removed from the next Olympics, so I don't think there's as much urgency for younger guys to "prove themselves" as worthy for the next go-around (which will hopefully have NHL players).

Even though he was never a great player, I appreciate a guy like Jack Johnson who was always ready and willing to answer the bell and come to this thing whenever he was asked. He was just a guy that had the mentality of "oh there's a hockey game? I want to play in it." I don't think too many players with that mindset these days.

 

[WarriorofTime]

As I have said many times, this tournament should be, at most, once every 2 years. Otherwise, fans will have to accept that they will be represented, especially in Canada and the U.S., by a bunch of players named "Who".

IIHF will never, this tournament is their big cash cow, and they need it to operate and spread money to the lower level federations. They will accept Canada and USA bringing all AHL players before they ever abandon it annually.

 

[ORRFForever]

this tournament is their big cash cow

Really? Wow. A bit of a shock - being sincere, not sarcastic.

But, now that I think about it, maybe...

 

[jonas2244]

Yeah, they're basically funding their whole program with the WC. And there is not much room for improvment income-wise if you do it every 2 or every 4 year.

And for developing the game these funds are needed. Each lower-tier and women tournament gets funded with this money.

 

[Gold Standard]

Because getting asked to go every year gets old. They go, after a long season, and, the very next year, they are pressured to go, again. How long before a players says, "No, last year was my last one!"?

As I have said many times, this tournament should be, at most, once every 2 years. Otherwise, fans will have to accept that they will be represented, especially in Canada and the U.S., by a bunch of players named "Who".

What the hell are you getting on with? The same players are not playing every year. They are asked and either accept or decline. Nobody from Hockey Canada is pressuring them.

Enough of your nonsense.

 

[jj cale]

I just think that if it became more rare, more of a special event, players would be more inclined to go. Once a year, especially in May after a long NHL season, is not special.

Anyway, you asked why no one went. I gave my opinion.

Your opinion was legit in terms of maybe this tournament annually s the right thing anymroe, I just think that players mentality today is a far cry from what it used be and is really lacking.

I remember Guy Lafleur going over to play this thing when asked and not blinking an eye after being eliminated in the 1981 playoffs. I guess I don't need to mention just how much hockey that fella had played by that time in his career and how he was ten times the player 99% of these players being asked to play today are and in many cases far younger players then he was at that time.

But he went because he had pride in our hockey and felt it was his duty to do so, he even got hurt real bad in that tournament.

Now with the players it's.......................gotta play golf, gotta get to that beach with my sweet hot gal!! Despite there being loads of time do that after the tournament is over.

I don't like it orrforever.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Really? Wow. A bit of a shock - being sincere, not sarcastic.

But, now that I think about it, maybe...

Yes, the tickets are pretty expensive and usually sell out (387 Euros for a bad seat to the final, of course group stage games are a lot less) and it gets broadcast all over Europe in addition to TSN and NHL Network in North America. It's a pretty big deal, especially for Europeans. I don't think IIHF could operate in its current form without it, and of course empty arenas due to COVID caused a big hit.

 

[ORRFForever]

What the hell are you getting on with? The same players are not playing every year. They are asked and either accept or decline. Nobody from Hockey Canada is pressuring them.

Enough of your nonsense.

Your opinion was legit in terms of maybe this tournament annually s the right thing anymroe, I just think that players mentality today is a far cry from what it used be and is really lacking.

I remember Guy Lafleur going over to play this thing when asked and not blinking an eye after being eliminated in the 1981 playoffs. I guess I don't need to mention just how much hockey that fella had played by that time in his career and how he was ten times the player 99% of these players being asked to play today are and in many cases far younger players then he was at that time.

But he went because he had pride in our hockey and felt it was his duty to do so, he even got hurt real bad in that tournament.

Now with the players it's.......................gotta play golf, gotta get to that beach with my sweet hot gal!! Despite there being loads of time do that after the tournament is over.

I don't like it orrforever.

That's fair and, you are right, the players are spoiled.

Yes, the tickets are pretty expensive and usually sell out (387 Euros for a bad seat to the final, of course group stage games are a lot less) and it gets broadcast all over Europe in addition to TSN and NHL Network in North America. It's a pretty big deal, especially for Europeans. I don't think IIHF could operate in its current form without it, and of course empty arenas due to COVID caused a big hit.

You are probably right. I just never thought of it that way.

 

[jj cale]

Yeah, I think it's a combo of factors. COVID really seemed to drain all energy out of this tournament and with it the sense of civic duty to go, especially as a younger player. I think there was also a time when NHL teams that were eliminated used to encourage their young guys to go and experience Playoff-like hockey against professionals. Now they not only don't do that, but will drag their feet to even agree to release the players because they're worried about an injury, and we know the NHL owners have developed quite a hostile stance against IIHF in general with the whole Olympics stuff. I also think the cultural attitudes towards "well if it's not best-on-best then it's irrelevant and nobody cares" hurts things as well. Additionally, there just aren't that many players that come from rural, non-rich families anymore, so I do think the location matters. I'm sure a lot of these guys have had opportunities to travel the world, even before becoming millionaires in the NHL. Finally, we're still 3 years removed from the next Olympics, so I don't think there's as much urgency for younger guys to "prove themselves" as worthy for the next go-around (which will hopefully have NHL players).

Even though he was never a great player, I appreciate a guy like Jack Johnson who was always ready and willing to answer the bell and come to this thing whenever he was asked. He was just a guy that had the mentality of "oh there's a hockey game? I want to play in it." I don't think too many players with that mindset these days.

All fair points.

And yeah, how can you not respect a player like JJ who answered the call religiously? I was talking about jaromir jagr in the czech team thread and how a player of that stature did the same pretty impresive.

And yet there are all these players who won't ever be one tenth the player that guy was think it's oh so beneath them.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah, I think it's a combo of factors. COVID really seemed to drain all energy out of this tournament and with it the sense of civic duty to go, especially as a younger player. I think there was also a time when NHL teams that were eliminated used to encourage their young guys to go and experience Playoff-like hockey against professionals. Now they not only don't do that, but will drag their feet to even agree to release the players because they're worried about an injury, and we know the NHL owners have developed quite a hostile stance against IIHF in general with the whole Olympics stuff. I also think the cultural attitudes towards "well if it's not best-on-best then it's irrelevant and nobody cares" hurts things as well. Additionally, there just aren't that many players that come from rural, non-rich families anymore, so I do think the location matters. I'm sure a lot of these guys have had opportunities to travel the world, even before becoming millionaires in the NHL. Finally, we're still 3 years removed from the next Olympics, so I don't think there's as much urgency for younger guys to "prove themselves" as worthy for the next go-around (which will hopefully have NHL players).

Even though he was never a great player, I appreciate a guy like Jack Johnson who was always ready and willing to answer the bell and come to this thing whenever he was asked. He was just a guy that had the mentality of "oh there's a hockey game? I want to play in it." I don't think too many players with that mindset these days.

The guys who show up pretty much without fail definitely deserve respect. Ryan O'Reilly pretty much always went, so did Matt Duchene. Before that you had Smyth and Doan always willing to show up. Plenty of others who would go whenever.

I don't blame established stars for not going, especially if they have played the tournament a couple of times. I do think that young guys who are reasonably healthy should go, but the lack of best on best hockey removes probably the biggest motivating factor.

Realistically the rosters across the board have been quite disappointing since covid. I do think that the tournament will rebound somewhat in terms of player quality, but the IIHF has to be smart about it. I'd also say that this point that it's a lost cause to chase NHLers after decades of relative neglect and the tournament should start earlier, shortly after the NHL season ends.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

I think Hockey Canada needs to be more firmer.

If you're asked to play and aren't hurt or in a contract year, you must play at least 2 tournaments before being considered for best on best. There is no reason why Canada should be bowing down to these guys, Canada could lose 10 players in best on best and still be a gold medal fav. The Mitch Marners of the world should be here but they won't be. Then I say you don't play for Canada when the entire world's watching either.