A mickey mouse tournament with that frequently has had players like mcdavid, ovechkin, crosby, kane, matthews etc
That is only very recently (and using those recent result the US places in the top 4 as they are currently in the IIHF’s top 4 rankings)
That said using it as an historic benchmark for the US is kind of a joke. I don’t even think most people, including the players, knew the tournament even existed prior to the early 00’s. That is an exaggeration but the world championships have always been an off the radar tournament here. It isn’t something players grew up with so it isn’t something they want to participate after a long season. In many ways US players are even more Stanley Cup focused than Canadians.
If you look at the best on best results since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US is clearly second behind Canada. They won in 96 and have been a finalist three other times (91 Canada Cup, 02 and 10 Olympics) in that time span.
But the question isn’t the last 30 years it is now. My answer to that is a follows
1. Canada
2/3. Sweden and USA (I think the team are pretty much even)
4/5. Russia / Finland
Olympic Golds:
Canada- 9 golds (16 total medals)
Soviet Union/Russia- 7 golds (11 total medals)
United States- 2 golds (11 total medals)
Sweden- 2 golds (9 total medals)
Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia - 1 gold (10 total medals)
Finland- 0 (6 total medals)
IIHF Championships:
Soviet Union/Russia- 27 golds (46 total medals)
Canada- 26 golds (49 total medals)
Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia - 12 golds (46 total medals)
Sweden- 11 golds (47 total medals)
United States- 2 golds (19 total medals)
Finland- 2 (13 total medals)
World Cups:
Canada- 6 golds (8 total medals)
Soviet Union/Russia- 1 gold (5 total medals)
United States- 1 gold (5 total medals)
Sweden- 0 gold (5 total medals)
Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia- 0 gold (4 total medals)
Finland- 0 gold (2 total medals)
World Juniors:
Canada- 17 golds (31 total medals)
Soviet Union/Russia- 12 golds (34 total medals)
Finland- 4 golds (14 total medals)
United States- 4 golds (11 total medals)
Sweden- 2 golds (18 total medals)
Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia- 2 golds (14 total medals)
So among the Olympics, IIHF Championships, World Cups, and World Juniors the final totals are:
Canada- 58 golds (104 medals)
Soviet Union/Russia- 47 golds (96 medals)
Sweden- 15 golds (79 medals)
Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia- 15 golds (74 medals)
United States- 9 golds (46 medals)
Finland- 6 golds (35 medals)
Hence, historically speaking (record-wise), the top 4 goes:
1. Canada
2. Russia/Soviet Union
3. Sweden
4. Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia
With USA/Finland coming in afterwards
However, Russia has definitely slowed down over the last couple decades and some can argue that their total trophy case is a bit inflated due to a lot of their wins coming in years and tourneys where other teams couldn't send their best players.
Definitely! I hope they do!If a country like Germany started to take the sport seriously they would easily break into the top 4.
If a country like Germany started to take the sport seriously they would easily break into the top 4.
There was a time when I would have said Canada without reservation. However, I am floored at how well Finland and Sweden both maximize their available resources; if Hockey Canada was smart - which it isn't (just look at the idiots who are still employed there) - its self-proclaimed "hockey people" would take a long, hard look at how those Scandinavian countries develop young players. Put down that greasy pork chop, Salmond, swallow your pride instead of the next morsel, and study how these other countries do it. Personally, I think a standing Canadian national team at the junior level - like the muricans have - should be seriously considered. But see, that would take brains and effort, and both are in short supply at Hockey Canada. Thus, my list of the top 4 is as follows:
1) Finland
2) Sweden
3) Canada (should obviously be higher, but has squandered so much, and has basically signed away its future in the dark)
4) Murica
On a P4P basis, hard to see how it can be anyone other than Finland in 2018.