USA overtaking Canada
- Thread starter Sergei Bure
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As Long As It Takes
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Don Cherry predicted as much.
This was before the ‘96 tournament. And he emphasized the lack of sustainable structure on rising costs, but also noting that the then building American youth system was placing greater emphasis on sound youth hockey education and resources.
Programmatically, he’s right.
Like everything that was once identifiably Canadian, cost and culture have become too expensive.
Doesn’t mean we won’t produce players in the future. I just think the Americans will produce more and as a consequence of greater yield, shift leadership accordingly.
Demographics in a multiplicative of applications aren’t in Canada’s favor here.
This was before the ‘96 tournament. And he emphasized the lack of sustainable structure on rising costs, but also noting that the then building American youth system was placing greater emphasis on sound youth hockey education and resources.
Programmatically, he’s right.
Like everything that was once identifiably Canadian, cost and culture have become too expensive.
Doesn’t mean we won’t produce players in the future. I just think the Americans will produce more and as a consequence of greater yield, shift leadership accordingly.
Demographics in a multiplicative of applications aren’t in Canada’s favor here.
Nor a chance.
There are about 40 million Canadians and 400 million Americans.
If they could do it, they would have done it by now.
They can't and they NEVER will.
And neither will Russia, Sweden, Finland or anyone else.
Canada is and will ALWAYS be #1.
Accept reality.
For this to happen, hockey simply needs to gain much more popularity in the USA. More viewers = bigger salaries.
The other sports down here have much higher peaks in terms of salary. Also demographics come into play. South of the Mason Dixon line, young children aren't being brought up to play hockey. Because of a multitude of factors. (weather, demographics, costs, and the list goes on).
I don't think the NHL will ever truly see that shift of getting the best of the best from the USA because there are simply better optiong for those kids that are truly great at sports.
saska sault
Registered User
Just my random thought without going too in depth. Hockey costs a lot no matter where you live. Helps having every province and territory in Canada being able to have outdoor rinks. I have played for nearly my whole life, the amount of time on an outdoor rink >>>>>> indoor rink.
The United States has the population to produce a ton of talent and keep pace. Canada has the geographical and cultural advantage.
The United States has the population to produce a ton of talent and keep pace. Canada has the geographical and cultural advantage.
USA has a total of 4 goal medals
WC: 1933
Olympics: 1960,1980
WCH: 1996
after the separation from Czechoslovakia to just Czech. It only took Czech 8 years to pass USA.
WC: 96,99,00,01
Olympics: 98
Ik this czech propaganda lamo. But my point is, absolutely noone from Czech is saying we are the best hockey nation in the world. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORED
USA HAS NOTHING. AND YET FOR SOME REASON LOOK AT THEMSELVES AS THE BEST
make it make sense people
WIN SOMETHING 1st THEN TALK. don't make this thread right after u lose 3-0 to the Swiss lmao. just a bad look
WC: 1933
Olympics: 1960,1980
WCH: 1996
after the separation from Czechoslovakia to just Czech. It only took Czech 8 years to pass USA.
WC: 96,99,00,01
Olympics: 98
Ik this czech propaganda lamo. But my point is, absolutely noone from Czech is saying we are the best hockey nation in the world. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORED
USA HAS NOTHING. AND YET FOR SOME REASON LOOK AT THEMSELVES AS THE BEST
make it make sense people
WIN SOMETHING 1st THEN TALK. don't make this thread right after u lose 3-0 to the Swiss lmao. just a bad look
Bear of Bad News
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make it make sense people
Not everyone from the same country has the same opinion. And it's an extreme minority position that the USA's recent history is stronger than Canada's.
You're conflating a few people with the consensus opinion.
Happy to help it make sense for you.
Bank Shot
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Since 2001, USA Swimming membership has increased by 25%, and more of those athletes are sticking with the sport (70% in 2010 compared to 65% in 2001). Clearly not all of that interest can be directly attributed to Phelps, but after Beijing, the organization saw its highest increase in year-round memberships in 23 years. At the last swim of his career in London, fans poured into the Aquatic Center from around the globe.
Out of the Olympic Pool, Can Michael Phelps Still Grow Swimming? | TIME.com
He's sworn off swimming competitively (for now). But that doesn't mean he won't be the world's best ambassador for the sport
olympics.time.com
There's one.
Lets see you provide a single source outside of talking out your ass.
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Honestly, looking at recent/upcoming Drafts, it looks like Canada is back to producing far and away the best talent in the world.
I would argue the "USA overtaking Canada" window is closing quite rapidly, and I would replace the word "overtaking" with "equaling"...they're going to need to win at least two best on best tournaments to erase Canada's dominance at best on best to be in the equal conversation in my opinion.
I would argue the "USA overtaking Canada" window is closing quite rapidly, and I would replace the word "overtaking" with "equaling"...they're going to need to win at least two best on best tournaments to erase Canada's dominance at best on best to be in the equal conversation in my opinion.
JungleBeat
Registered User
More wealth in the US.
Also the defence and goalies of Canada are falling off. The US is pumping out elite goalies one after another.
1989
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You say more wealth, I say more income disparity. Just because you can pay for it doesn't mean the kid is skilled enough. Hockey is an expensive sport but rich families aren't exactly the ones who comprise the elite athlete tier.
1989
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And a lot of Canadian players are still developed in Canada in Canadian leagues paid for in Canadian dollars. Just because the US is richer doesn't mean they produce top talents everywhere, even in the other Big 5 sports it's Europeans and Latin Americans and other persons of other cultural backgrounds dominating the new generation.
Shohei Ohtani. Victor Wenbanyama. Luka Doncic. Some could argue no American player is even as good as Leon Draisaitl in a vacuum right now let alone Canada's players. The Americans are certainly doing much better now in hockey but the money isn't doing the skating on the ice just yet.
If all it took was money then the smaller European leagues would not even be in the conversation yet the Czechs by my estimation have had top players outclass the best Americans in Hasek and Jagr and they even have international tournament results to show for it.
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United states has like 10x the population of Canada. It is only a matter of time if the sport grows enough due to sheer numbers they overtake Canada in players. Canada will continue to produce superstars though.
As for your Meca comment / bait, let me know when Quebec is turning out superstar after superstar like Ontario is. Who was the last great Quebec superstar?
Fatass
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Rob
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WarriorofTime
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?
Actual evidence related to hockey.
That didn’t support your made up point. USA has always been the best at swimming so the premise doesn’t make sense. It’s not as if Phelps was the first great American swimmer. Your point is garbage. American hockey fans care a lot more about their nhl teams. Not what country a particular player is from. Who do you think is more popular in Washington DC - Auston Matthews or Alex Ovechkin?Since 2001, USA Swimming membership has increased by 25%, and more of those athletes are sticking with the sport (70% in 2010 compared to 65% in 2001). Clearly not all of that interest can be directly attributed to Phelps, but after Beijing, the organization saw its highest increase in year-round memberships in 23 years. At the last swim of his career in London, fans poured into the Aquatic Center from around the globe.
Out of the Olympic Pool, Can Michael Phelps Still Grow Swimming? | TIME.com
He's sworn off swimming competitively (for now). But that doesn't mean he won't be the world's best ambassador for the sportolympics.time.com
There's one.
Lets see you provide a single source outside of talking out your ass.
Actual evidence related to hockey.
Fatass
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And in those 30 years it could be argued that Canada increased its gap over the USA. Canada has multiple wins in best in best since that last American win. Other Euro countries have wins. While the USA has none. The USA produces a lot of good players but lacks the elite players other countries have. Other than Patrick Kane was there an elite difference maker from the US since the 90’s? Yet during that time Canada and several European nations have produced a lot.
Dirtyf1ghter
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- Aug 7, 2019
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In 2019/20, the 2001/2005 generation, Canadiens also seemed superior with Lafreniere, Byfield, Drysdale, Power, Clarke, Wright, Fantilli, Bedard. Everyone has become less strong than expected and USA has the advantage over these generations while in the draft they were behind (J.Hughes, Boldy, Sanderson, Faber, Knies, L.Hughes, Cooley, Hutson).
Let's admit that, unusually, the predictions turn out to be correct for the 2006/10 generations - the question will continue to arise for subsequent generations.
The gap in the number of young people licensed is largely in favor of USA and the trend is growing. The first trends in international tournaments for players born in 2011/2012/2013 suggest a crossover between the two nations.
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WarriorofTime
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People are obviously trolling a bit if they’re bringing up Olympics from like 1998 or 2006 as if it’s reflective today. Nobody that played in those are even playing now.
Basically the American nhl percentage is at its highest it’s ever been, the number of elite American nhl players is arguably as high as it’s ever been (I would say so, 1996 World Cup had a few big names but 2024 four nation team has more), the annual recurring tournament that is the best available junior players (non-NHL since they aren’t junior) has seen a lot of recent USA success, there has only been one sort of best on best thing in the last decade and it was very close. The one thing USA stinks at is the world championships for reasons that go outside the player pool.
Obviously it’s the cool thing to do whenever a thread like this is made twice a year but some of the comments are silly like good for the Czechs for winning the Olympics 26 years ago but Jagr and Hasek aren’t coming out of the tunnel next Olympics.
Basically the American nhl percentage is at its highest it’s ever been, the number of elite American nhl players is arguably as high as it’s ever been (I would say so, 1996 World Cup had a few big names but 2024 four nation team has more), the annual recurring tournament that is the best available junior players (non-NHL since they aren’t junior) has seen a lot of recent USA success, there has only been one sort of best on best thing in the last decade and it was very close. The one thing USA stinks at is the world championships for reasons that go outside the player pool.
Obviously it’s the cool thing to do whenever a thread like this is made twice a year but some of the comments are silly like good for the Czechs for winning the Olympics 26 years ago but Jagr and Hasek aren’t coming out of the tunnel next Olympics.
Hm. I mean, right now, the political landscape “fits in” quite well with the top hockey players in the US. Eichel, Tkatchuk etc and their hillbilly style/hair/bullyish attitude so yeah marketing-wise I think it could be on the upswing over there. Hockey’s quickly taking a position as the…NASCAR of the Big 4 leagues away from MLB, or that’s how it feels like anyway!
With all this, I can see more kids seeing Eichel etc like role models and follow suit. Please delete if this got a bit weird!
With all this, I can see more kids seeing Eichel etc like role models and follow suit. Please delete if this got a bit weird!
Fatass
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History + Passion + 24 Cups make Montreal the Mecca of hockey. And it’s not just me who makes that allusion.
The Bell Centre: The Mecca of Hockey
The Coyotes are set to take on the Canadiens tonight. Coyotes' players opened up about the historical atmosphere that the Bell Centre provides.
thehockeynews.com
A Habs fan on a pilgrimage to hockey mecca Montreal | Globalnews.ca
It’s springtime in Montreal. The snow is gone, the flowers are blooming. But, for Montreal Canadiens fans, spring means only one thing: Playoff hockey.
globalnews.ca
HOT HAND
"Montreal is the Mecca of hockey. Everybody in this city thinks he knows the game." First there was the fire wagon. Fire wagon hockey was the swirling,
vault.si.com
