U17: 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge — Nov. 2-8
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Sending 3 teams feels like underestamating the other countries to me. Even thou some of them missing players.
I am not sure, But I what can you say, All three are out. Also need to look at who selected these players, and how they were created. Goalies were a weak point for all Canadian teams.
I think it's more that the players were mixed from all regions. The most effective lines were the ones where all three forwards were from the same region.
I think Canada hockey is trying to integrate these players to the u-18, WJC, etc. levels at an earlier age so they will perform/gel better at those competitions.
This '98 group is actually pretty strong IMO. If I were to make up 1 team, it would be 4 equal, scoring lines on offence. The captains of the team, Patrick, Kaspick, Clague are all really solid players. Future 1st rounders in their drafts IMO, alot of grit, skill combined in these 3 teams.
For those watching all the tourney games, who would you rank as the top 10 players?
Ive only watched parts of the US, but I feel Keller, Jones, Pastujov and Khodorenko have been strong at F, and Krys and Fox very poised and mobile on D. How do you rank these guys with the rest of the tourney.
As said before Krys is similar to Keith, and Keller to Parise.
Ive only watched parts of the US, but I feel Keller, Jones, Pastujov and Khodorenko have been strong at F, and Krys and Fox very poised and mobile on D. How do you rank these guys with the rest of the tourney.
As said before Krys is similar to Keith, and Keller to Parise.
Yeah, HC staff talked alot about player evaluation in this tournament and experience to the international game.
Not a chance.
Canada has the most depth in hockey and will have it forever IMO, that just kills the system. They will be leaving way too many talented players off the U17 squad and honestly alot of the players left off are just as good as the ones on the "one national team" some games so really it's pointless.
The 3 teams are full of future good NHLers. The U17s is a tournament HC wants to win (obviously) but it is more so to evaluate players for the future tournaments like U18s and WJCs.
They have so much depth all 3 teams were knocked out in the first round of elimination games. You're underestimating the rest of the hockey powers in the world.
You could say the same for any countries national team. Of course there will be good players left off. You think there's 98's in Russia, Sweden, U.S., Finland that were judgement calls?
Start giving the rest of the world credit. Some years Canada wins, some years they lose. They're no longer the best. They're one of the best along with the others, and any given year they could win, but the 3 teams is a project that will be squashed soon enough. Besides, the same players on one makeshift national team will make up 80-90% of the Ivan Hlinka and World Junior teams anyways. Might as well get those players as familiar as possible with themselves at the earliest age.
Most countries can barely put up a good 2nd team and Canada puts up 3 competitive teams.
Maybe 4-5 at most but really those countries can't put up 3 competitive teams. At a younger age it's easier for Canada to put up 3 competitive teams compared to the World Juniors where it's alot closer.
The other world is definitely getting better but it isn't like the #1 isn't taken by Canada. Other countries are producing top talents who can go top 5 in the drafts but when it gets to the Olympics, Canada just wins. If the Olympics didn't exist the only thing Canada could really say we're so much better at is producing the top NHL players and history. Canada is struggling in the junior with the results but it's never really "best on best." 3 Canadian teams in the U17s, U18s have some Canadians but some are in the CHL playoffs, U20s have some players in the NHL like MacKinnon and Drouin.
I honestly think Canada underperformed, Canada White was all over Sweden, Canada Red gave USA a match for the most part but USA just scored on their chances. Canada Red beat Sweden in the preliminary, White beat Russia, Black beat Finland. 1/3 of Canada is beating some solid hockey countries.
It isn't like how it used to be with Ontario or Pacific or the regional teams always winning but this tournament and this format for HC is more beneficial in the long-term rather than winning the tournament.
USA brings 1 really good team but if they brought 2, I think they'll lose in the Quarter-Finals.
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Only the second time in the history of the tournament that Canada goes without a medal (first time was in 2013). First time no Canadian team makes the semis.
Fox is a turnover machine that does not battle inhis own end. Very limited up side.
I really question the coaching. Down 2-0 going into the 3rd for team white and there forecheck still has one guy high and hardly any pressure on the Swedish D. No chemistry on any of the Canadian teams at all. Yes they are only 17 year olds but I'm having second thoughts on how talented our '98 age group really is.
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I agree. I was concerned when HC decided to go with 3 teams.
I thought when they announced 3 teams they would go with one from each league.
I'd go back to the 5 teams to give the kids a chance to wear the Canadian sweater.
Failing that stay with the 3 teams, one from each league. (with 2 or 3 spots for "others")
Under no circumstance should we go to 2 or 1 team.
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I will be putting together a list upon completion of the tournament at McKeens Hockey
And you know this how?
Wouldn't you want to see a best on best at the U-17 level then? We don't get to see it at U-18 because, as you pointed out, the CHL playoffs, so why not make the U-17 event a true best-on-best while you can? You're going to give the core group a chance to better familiarize themselves, while not watering it down with the 3 teams.
If's and but's. Bottom line is all 3 lost. They need to get their egos in check and make one makeshift U-17 National team. As I mentioned earlier, if they're so worried about getting the players familiar with each other, one team is the best bet. Sure, you'll have the odd player that won't be there at the U-18 or U-20, but 80-90% of the players will be the same.
They'd be all the better equipped for U-18's and U-20 if they picked one team for the reason I previously stated.
"Think". I bet you thought there'd be at least one Canadian team in the semi-final. The multiple teams per country is silly. By this age, for the most part you know who's who, and while there will be some movement with players, the bulk of the team will stay the same. Here's hoping Hockey Canada sees this and goes to one team sooner rather than later at this event. At the very least it will give as a chance to see a best-on-best Canada vs USA at the U-17 level, because as it stands now the multiple Canadian teams are no longer competitive with the USA. Outscoring the 3 by the tune 17-4 proves this.
I also doubt the french and english players can clearly communicate, critical for a goalie and his D.
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I disagree with you. I don't think the difference between the Canadian teams and the others is that big.
We can never be at the same level as the US in the Under 17 tournament, damn even in the under 18's unless we started a similar hot house program they have.
The first mistake HC made (and they're no strangers at that) is reducing it to 3 teams. The second was not going with league under 17 teams.
You know the under 18 Hlinka tournament is when we send our best team. (we have dominated that tournament) The US doesn't and I think the others send pretty much their best. That's when everyone can send their best.......and should.
I'm happy with the talent we have and the effort these kids showed after being thrown together a few days before the games started.
In an ideal hockey world, Canada would have one team at the U-17's, and the USA would send their USNDP team to the Ivan Hlinka. Yes, it's not EXACTLY the same because the U.S. plays together year-round, but at least we'd be getting best-on-best. Heck, even when Canada sends one team to the U-18's they're usually competitive with the U.S., and actually beat them in the '95 birth year tourney.
The U-17 Canada/USA games aren't even that interesting anymore because the USA is considerably better. With one U-17 team you'd add another level to the Canada/USA hockey rivalry, and the games would actually be competitive.
