WJC: Tournament popularity outside Canada

[TheTwelfth]

Exactly as I thought. They're talking about children, not about kids.



You are mistaking the words "child" and "kid".

Kid
1. [informal] A child or young person:
Example: she collected the kids from school
SYNONYMS
child, youngster, little one, young one, baby, toddler, infant, boy/girl, young person, minor, juvenile, adolescent, teenager, youth, stripling;
offspring, son/daughter;

The use of "kid" with respect to "College kids" is a derogatory american term. Basically, you want to treat young adults like they are still children, just because the used to be children when you were an adult. It does in no respect mean that the WJC is a "kids' tournament".

TV-pucken in Sweden, now that is a kids' tournament.

 

[Joe MacMillan]

The term "kid" can be interpreted in a lot of ways depending on the context in which it is used. "College kids" refers to young adults who go to college, and can hardly be misinterpreted as something else. However, if you refer to the WJC as a "kids tournament" it can be easily misinterpreted as a peewee tournament rather than what it actually is: a competitive hockey tournament played by mostly young adults at the outset of their pro careers.

 

[NyQuil]

I use the term "kid" for "young adult" sometimes because it's one syllable instead of three and more informal. Usually it's in a comparative context. As I get older, the range widens.

"Old? No, he's still just a kid".

"Those kids out there are really playing their guts out."

But it is a colloquial term. I wouldn't call it derogatory, but young adults might. That's part of being a kid - wanting to be treated as older.

In the hockey context, we often use the word "junior hockey" instead of "kids hockey".

"I've enrolled my kid in junior hockey."

In the States, they often say "pee wee" as in "pee wee football" and "pee wee hockey".

This is further complicated by the fact that Pee Wee and Junior are both specific age levels in North-American hockey.

"What level does he play at? Junior? Midget? Bantam? Pee Wee? Atom?"

The word "child" is pretty unambiguous.

 

[MrBojangles4]

Finns and Swedes, is hockey the most popular sport overall in your countries?

 

[NyQuil]

Finns and Swedes, is hockey the most popular sport overall in your countries?

I'm pretty sure it is in Finland.

They and Canada are the two in the world.

With Sweden it's football (e.g. soccer) IIRC.

 

[Backami]

In my country you hardly find any information about this tournament. Thanks for miracle, named as internet, i can follow whole tournament.

 

[saffronleaf]

Pretty much. There were more people watching the juniors than the Raptors. It's pathetic. We have a non-existent culture for sports. Other sports are actively marginalized. Look at a similarly populated country in Australia. Look at the large number of team sports they follow (Aussie Rules Football, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Cricket etc..), and how well they do in international tournaments.

The attitude is, if it isn't hockey it doesn't matter. Pisses me off. Apparently I can't be a fan of a multitude of other sports in this country in addition to hockey. It's ridiculous. Fortunately, it's markedly different in my generation. People have diverse tastes for the most part.

It's really been a complete 180 degree change in my generation. Everyone I know in Toronto who is of my age likes basketball (and a litany of other sports) before hockey. And because of the marginalization you mentioned, many actively hate hockey. It's actually pretty cool now to say that you hate hockey. Many associate it with small town hillbillies. It is seen as a niche "sport" played by small town brutes who just don't know any better.

 

[saffronleaf]

"Boo hoo, why don't Canadians care about basketball?!?"

What are you going to do, force them to watch?

Canada has rapidly changed during my generation. The large metros are already majority minority or approaching that figure.

Hockey is seen as a small town white sport for the unsophisticated.

Canada is producing numerous basketball players now who already are or will be in the NBA.

With the way most Canadian NHL teams are playing, it wouldn't surprise me if, by the time some of the baby boomers die off, the NBA / basketball surpass NHL / hockey (and by corollary, WJC).

 

[BobDobolina]

It's really been a complete 180 degree change in my generation. Everyone I know in Toronto who is of my age likes basketball (and a litany of other sports) before hockey. And because of the marginalization you mentioned, many actively hate hockey. It's actually pretty cool now to say that you hate hockey. Many associate it with small town hillbillies. It is seen as a niche "sport" played by small town brutes who just don't know any better.

Canada has rapidly changed during my generation. The large metros are already majority minority or approaching that figure.

Hockey is seen as a small town white sport for the unsophisticated.

Canada is producing numerous basketball players now who already are or will be in the NBA.

With the way most Canadian NHL teams are playing, it wouldn't surprise me if, by the time some of the baby boomers die off, the NBA / basketball surpass NHL / hockey (and by corollary, WJC).

 

[NuxFan09]

So it's safe to say that after Canada the WJC's is the most popular in Sweden?

 

[karnige]

its hosted in canada for a reason. massive tv ratings, revenue, packed houses...... sucks for other countrys but its about the $$$.

 

[NuxFan09]

The term "kid" can be interpreted in a lot of ways depending on the context in which it is used. "College kids" refers to young adults who go to college, and can hardly be misinterpreted as something else. However, if you refer to the WJC as a "kids tournament" it can be easily misinterpreted as a peewee tournament rather than what it actually is: a competitive hockey tournament played by mostly young adults at the outset of their pro careers.

OT, but I bet you're looking forward to the tournament being in your home town next year! Lucky!

 

[Devilsfan992]

So it's safe to say that after Canada the WJC's is the most popular in Sweden?

I can't speak of other countries, but in the USA it's non-existant. The Olympics probably get about 100 times more viewers and I'm not exaggerating.

 

[Devilsfan992]

The Frozen Four is bigger than the WJC in the US

 

[An Argument For]

It's really been a complete 180 degree change in my generation. Everyone I know in Toronto who is of my age likes basketball (and a litany of other sports) before hockey. And because of the marginalization you mentioned, many actively hate hockey. It's actually pretty cool now to say that you hate hockey. Many associate it with small town hillbillies. It is seen as a niche "sport" played by small town brutes who just don't know any better.

Lol.. If hockey has a nice it is certainly not "hillbilly". It's a very expensive sport and those who do well tend to come from affluent families.

Soccer and basketball are the sports that are played largely by the poorer children.

 

[NuxFan09]

It's really been a complete 180 degree change in my generation. Everyone I know in Toronto who is of my age likes basketball (and a litany of other sports) before hockey. And because of the marginalization you mentioned, many actively hate hockey. It's actually pretty cool now to say that you hate hockey. Many associate it with small town hillbillies. It is seen as a niche "sport" played by small town brutes who just don't know any better.

Who the hell do you hang out with?? You're right that it seems like more and more Canadian kids/teenagers aren't being automatically indoctrinated in hockey but that's as far as it goes from what I can tell. I haven't come across anyone who looks down on hockey in any way.

So yeah, speak for yourself.

 

[DyerMaker66*]

Lol.. If hockey has a nice it is certainly not "hillbilly". It's a very expensive sport and those who do well tend to come from affluent families.

Soccer and basketball are the sports that are played largely by the poorer children.

Yeah, you aren't going to the hood to find 12 people with sticks, nets and a puck.

 

[NuxFan09]

Lol.. If hockey has a nice it is certainly not "hillbilly". It's a very expensive sport and those who do well tend to come from affluent families.

Soccer and basketball are the sports that are played largely by the poorer children.

Exactly! To play soccer all you need is a ball and a local field. All you need for basketball is a ball and a public court.

 

[Hullois]

It's really been a complete 180 degree change in my generation. Everyone I know in Toronto who is of my age likes basketball (and a litany of other sports) before hockey. And because of the marginalization you mentioned, many actively hate hockey. It's actually pretty cool now to say that you hate hockey. Many associate it with small town hillbillies. It is seen as a niche "sport" played by small town brutes who just don't know any better.

Canada has rapidly changed during my generation. The large metros are already majority minority or approaching that figure.

Hockey is seen as a small town white sport for the unsophisticated.

Canada is producing numerous basketball players now who already are or will be in the NBA.

With the way most Canadian NHL teams are playing, it wouldn't surprise me if, by the time some of the baby boomers die off, the NBA / basketball surpass NHL / hockey (and by corollary, WJC).

Nope

 

[hockey17jp]

It's hard for this tourney to get recognition in the US because it only airs on the NHL Network which is unavailable unless you pay an additional fee. How is the game being spread if only hockey fans can watch it?

 

[Harikkerk]

I think football (soccer) is getting more and more popular in Sweden. It's been 50/50 before, but football will probably take over more and more now. The TV is hyping hockey up a lot to.

Also MMA is growing like a mf, will be interesting to see the UFC in 10-15 years A lot because of Gustafsson.

 

[roto]

MTV broadcasts WHC, WJC and EHT in Finland. It didn't want to use the option for next two years fot WJC and EHT, so it means that we don't know which channel will broadcast the WJC next time (or if it'll be broadcasted at all).

MTV didn't have any kind studio in this tournament and it didn't have even a commentator for the play-by-play guy in QF of Finland. They don't publish the ratings but I guess almost nobody watches these games, so they don't set up any kind of studio. They didn't bother to broadcast any other games but Team Finland's games, USA-CAN and the playoff games. For comparison, even EHT games of Team Finland have half hour studio parts before, studio parts during intermissions and extra sport news.

I guess that MTV doesn't use its option for WJC because very few are willing to pay for it in order to watch it.

Many soccer fans also in Finland treat ice hockey as a violent hillbilly sport - "ice kendo". Soccer has most registered players but ice hockey is probably still more popular if you look at the ratings/attendances, for example. It would be no wonder if ice hockey would lose that place in future as other sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball) are getting more international success, visibility and traction in general.

 

[Urbanskog]

MTV broadcasts WHC, WJC and EHT in Finland. It didn't want to use the option for next two years fot WJC and EHT, so it means that we don't know which channel will broadcast the WJC next time (or if it'll be broadcasted at all).

MTV didn't have any kind studio in this tournament and it didn't have even a commentator for the play-by-play guy in QF of Finland. They don't publish the ratings but I guess almost nobody watches these games, so they don't set up any kind of studio. They didn't bother to broadcast any other games but Team Finland's games, USA-CAN and the playoff games. For comparison, even EHT games of Team Finland have half hour studio parts before, studio parts during intermissions and extra sport news.

I guess that MTV doesn't use its option for WJC because very few are willing to pay for it in order to watch it.

Many soccer fans also in Finland treat ice hockey as a violent hillbilly sport - "ice kendo". Soccer has most registered players but ice hockey is probably still more popular if you look at the ratings/attendances, for example. It would be no wonder if ice hockey would lose that place in future as other sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball) are getting more international success, visibility and traction in general.

Lol, Finland has achieved international success at soccer? The Finnish national soccer team is in the same qualifying group for the Euro 2016 with the likes of Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands and they have already pretty much lost their chances to qualify. Liiga is the only fully professional league in the country and no other sports are even televised. The average attendance of the lottery league (Veikkausliiga) is barely 2000 and it's getting lower. As for volleyball and basketball, do you know anyone who actively follows those sports? I can say that I don't.

But yes, Finnish soccer fans (also known as soccer fascists) are extraordinarily bitter about hockey's status as the number one sport in the country. However, hockey will remain as the most popular sport for the foreseeable future.

 

[hallonskal]

The WJC is known in Sweden but I wouldn't call it popular. Casual fans don't care at all but hardcore fans do.

In Sweden the popularity of hockey is probably something like this among non-hardcore fans

SHL/Allsvenskan > Olympics >> WHCs >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Other national team tournaments (EHT/WC) (somewhere after here causals stop caring) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WJCs >>>>>>> NHL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> KHL/Other leagues

There's a lot of people that cheer for their hometown clubs or clubs that are close to their hometown/where they live, even if they don't always show it. You can ask most Swedes about which team they like and almost everyone will have an answer for you, even if they aren't that into hockey.

During the Olympics it seems like most people cares, especially further into the tournaments, same goes for the WHC if Tre Kronor does well. Then you can hear people talk about hockey on the streets/in the subway/on the bus etc but when there are no tournaments you almost never hear people talk about the national team or hockey in general.

WJCs is big among the more hardcore fans, mostly the same people that cares about prospects or the NHL. So it is quite a small minority of swedish hockey fans that really cares, at least compared to other kinds of hockey. It is growing though, SVT has really helped to make it grow, junior sports usually isn't popular at all in Sweden so I'm a bit surpised about that.

As an example, all my close friends have SHL teams that they cheer for but they almost never watch hockey (except for when it's the SHL-playoffs, then they might watch a game or two), most of them watch the Olympics if they have time and the WHCs if Sweden goes far (Semi-finals or final), one or two of them have gone to EHT a few times "to watch Tre Kronor" and they have caught a WJCs game sometime as well due to Sweden doing well but I've never heard any of them ever mention NHL or any other league, I would be surprised if they have seen any non SHL-games at club level ever.

 

[LOFIN]

Lol, Finland has achieved international success at soccer? The Finnish national soccer team is in the same qualifying group for the Euro 2016 with the likes of Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands and they have already pretty much lost their chances to qualify. Liiga is the only fully professional league in the country and no other sports are even televised. The average attendance of the lottery league (Veikkausliiga) is barely 2000 and it's getting lower. As for volleyball and basketball, do you know anyone who actively follows those sports? I can say that I don't.

But yes, Finnish soccer fans (also known as soccer fascists) are extraordinarily bitter about hockey's status as the number one sport in the country. However, hockey will remain as the most popular sport for the foreseeable future.

Where did he say so? He said that as they will get more success (in the future, maybe?), the popularity will increase.

Also, to the note that the attendance is getting lower. If we look at the last 10 years then yes, also we have had one big team fold (Tampere United) and reduced the size of the league so more match ups against the same teams. The attendance is higher than it was 2 years ago. Then again, numbers have gone up for the second division. The average attendance is ATM higher for football second division than for hockey. And when KooKoo will be introduced to Liiga next season that difference will just grow. And how about the fact that the attendance for Liiga has gone down over 600 spectators from last season? Yeah, it has to do with Jokerit joining the KHL but still.

Although our national team has pretty much blown it's chances for EURO 2016, the next possible momentum changer could be the Helsinki derby in Veikkausliiga next season. Since Jokerit left for the KHL, there is an empty void of "battle for Helsinki" to be filled. And fittingly, HIFK got promoted to the highest tier of football in Finland for the first time in 42 years. The media exposure the first derby will get will probably be higher than for any Jokerit - HIFK match in the recent years, save for maybe the first winter classic.

Hockey is, and will be the most popular sport in Finland for some time that I can agree, but making false claims and denying the fact that hockey popularity has gone down while sports like basketball have grown is just stupid.


As for ontopic, popularity of WJC might increase in Finland next season since it will be hosted here, but it will never reach the popularity of WHC.