GDT: USA - Latvia bronze game

[Like Wall]

US Embassy in Latvia shows class!

Good sportsmanship along with embassies of other hockey nations that were visited by our fans!

 

[GX]

Congrats to Latvia. But we all know what would have happened in a true best on best tournament game between Latvia vs. USA.

Sure thing. Just like in Torino 2006. Oh, wait, it was .. a 3-3 tie.

 

[Hanji]

Good for Latvia but this is far from a real world championship- more like local tournament
This is USA 4team and Canada 6 team
Instaed of silly all star game have world's in a 10 day or 2 week span then

C'mon, there's no reason to even go there.

 

[Peiskos]

Is USA a hockey power amymore?

Statistically speaking at the International mens level the US is not considered a hockey power no, simply based on gold medals won at the mens level, the US remains the only major country without a gold medal at the mens level in the 21st century. (The last coming at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey)

If we go purely by success at the mens level in terms of actual hardware (last gold at mens level) the US is clearly behind the likes of Finland (2022), Sweden (2018), Czech Republic (2010) even and Slovakia (2002) at this point as they all have golds at the mens level more recently than the US program.

I think the people in charge of the US program really need to sit down and examine this situation.

 

[crowi]

2nd thing i love about this is the massive middle finger to the "bronze medal game is futile"-crowd and to the "best-on-best purists" who claim this doesn't mean anything to anyone. WRONG!

Yep, players ALWAYS care, no matter what people here or in the media say. In this case it's a great thing for a country.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Also it sucks that Russia is not allowed to participate, making it far from a real tournament.

Congrats to Latvia. But we all know what would have happened in a true best on best tournament game between Latvia vs. USA. People should not be downplaying how great of a hockey country USA is based on this one loss with their D Team.

This tournament is like the Stanley Cup for Europeans. People in North America do not care about this tournament, which is a shame though. Look at the quality of players that declined Invites to Team USA and Team Canada. People should not be saying USA is not a hockey power anymore based on this one loss, and yesterday's heartbreaking loss to Germany.

Who cares, let them stay on the sidelines where they belong. This is a great story and what sport is all about. A country of 1.8 million just upset a hockey powerhouse. The playing field is getting more and more level every year,we all know it is not the hockey version of The World Cup.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Who cares, let them stay on the sidelines where they belong. This is a great story and what sport is all about. A country of 1.8 million just upset a hockey powerhouse. The playing field is getting more and more level every year,we all know it is not the hockey version of The World Cup.

Did they really beat a powerhouse team, though? Tuch is the only player on Team USA who would be considered one of the top-100 American players, and even at that he’s… maybe #30-40?

That’s what people are pointing out. It’s hard to talk about, because nobody wants to take away Latvia’s moment in the sun. But come on, you also can’t expect people to take this at face value.

 

[Asinine]

Good for them.

Kind of odd seeing grown men mimic a celly of a 17 year old but go off sis.

 

[Kegs]

Did they really beat a powerhouse team, though? Tuch is the only player on Team USA who would be considered one of the top-100 American players, and even at that he’s… maybe #30-40?

That’s what people are pointing out. It’s hard to talk about, because nobody wants to take away Latvia’s moment in the sun. But come on, you also can’t expect people to take this at face value.

Alex tuch is easily a top 15 American player. He is a really large 2 way player who scores and makes his team better. He easily makes the team USA roster.

 

[DaJackal]

Wow. Just wow. Congratulations Latvia, you earned it!

If I'm completely honest, the fact that Latvia won bronze makes me happier than Finland's gold would have done. The pure joy of those incredible fans is so heart-warming to watch. This is a huge thing for them, probably a bit like our first gold in 1995 was for us Finns.

I hope our national hockey federation people now pull their heads off their ***** and see how much fans matter in the event.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Alex tuch is easily a top 15 American player. He is a really large 2 way player who scores and makes his team better. He easily makes the team USA roster.

Matthews
M Tkachuk
Gaudreau
J Hughes
Thompson
Robertson
B Tkachuk
Connor
Pavelski

Fox
McAvoy
Slavin
Werenski
Q Hughes
Carlson

Hellebuyck

That’s 15 players, and we’re still quite a long way from guys who Tuch would “easily” knock off a roster. Yes he had a good season, but at age 27 he is still a guy who has only broken 20 goals once, and only broken a 27/62 pace one time in his career.

And again to the point, this is by far the best player. Nobody else on that team is anywhere near an actual “Team USA” roster.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Also it sucks that Russia is not allowed to participate, making it far from a real tournament.

Congrats to Latvia. But we all know what would have happened in a true best on best tournament game between Latvia vs. USA. People should not be downplaying how great of a hockey country USA is based on this one loss with their D Team.

This tournament is like the Stanley Cup for Europeans. People in North America do not care about this tournament, which is a shame though. Look at the quality of players that declined Invites to Team USA and Team Canada. People should not be saying USA is not a hockey power anymore based on this one loss, and yesterday's heartbreaking loss to Germany.

Not a reflection on the talent level of the players in the USA but certainly a black mark for the way USA Hockey approaches the tournament.

Having 22 and 23 year-olds facing more experienced European national teams may not be the best approach.

Perhaps it's time for a "permanent" national team with a full-time coaching staff and veteran players no longer interested in the grind of an NHL or AHL schedule but willing to represent their country; experienced enough to compete against the older rosters at the WC.

 

[larek]

C'mon, there's no reason to even go ther

C'mon, there's no reason to even go there.

Too bad the Bruins got knocked out so early

 

[Grinner]

Congrats to team Latvia and to the nation of Latvia

 

[DaJackal]

They declared a national holiday. This is huge for them.