Which tournaments matter in which countries?
- Thread starter Canuckistani
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PaulieVegas
Registered User
I would agree with the other poster who said that the World Cup isn't that big down here in the US. It's pretty much just the Olympics. Most Americans wouldn't pay much attention to the World Cup, and most probably don't even know the World Championships and/or the U-20 tournament exist.
It's not whether the tourney matters or not - but when you put on your country's jersey, you play your best.
jekoh
Registered User
- Jun 8, 2004
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The WHC means more to Euros than the WJC, yes.
WJC means absolutely nothing to me.
Well the WHC roster is a lot better than the WJC roster. It's too bad some people in Sweden are not knowledgeable enough to see that, though they're obviously allowed to prefer the WJC regardless.
jekoh
Registered User
- Jun 8, 2004
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They also care a lot more than they would like to admit.
I mean we even have threads with the sole purpose of convincing us that they don't care. How ridiculous is that?
Not to mention the outrage every time a WHC-based ranking is published that does not have Canada topping it. If you don't care about the WHC, why in the world would you care about a ranking based on it?
For regular people here in Czech Republic it's:
Olympics, WHC, then big gap and everything else
But I got a feeling WJC is getting bigger here (even though it's still nowhere near close to WHC). Of course, it would help if we achieved some bigger success in that tourney. When we advanced to the U18 finals this year, many people followed
Olympics, WHC, then big gap and everything else
But I got a feeling WJC is getting bigger here (even though it's still nowhere near close to WHC). Of course, it would help if we achieved some bigger success in that tourney. When we advanced to the U18 finals this year, many people followed
As a Swiss and. German Citizen i would say:
Germany:
The real Number One Event in Germany is DEL , DEL2, Ober- and Bayernligahockey
The Number two in line of interest is NHL Hockey, especially if many Germans participate (i remeber Uwe Krupps Stanley Cup clinching Goal like it was Yesterday).
Tournament wise i'd say Olympcs followed by IIHF WC, BUT the WC Tournament is only a big Event when it's been held at Home like 2017
Next in line is Canada Cup or WC of Hockey, which has been forgotten by most not Hardcore Hockey Supporters, cos it's not Happening on a regular Base and only of big interest if Germany participates.
Then i'd say comes Womens Hockey, followed by Junior Tournaments.
Beside the fact Germany is a Sports Nation, which is declining rapidly, cos Money is not been spent on Sports so easily anymore After the Nation got reunited, the regular German Sportfan doesn't care about Youth / Junior Sport at all, even if it's Soccer.
In Switzerland:
I See a Nation not being Part of the European Union and very Proud of it's state of being a neutral Country, i also would say the regular Swiss is a well educated Person, but not much interested in foreign Affairs, so they do not (want to) know much of the World outside, especially when Switzerland has nothing to Profit.
So the NL A is the Big Deal First.
Second in line is for sure the Spengler Cup (Grümpiturnier). The Announcer is not getting tired to tell Year after Year how Big the Spengler Cup Even in Canada is - from Swiss Point of View it's The Event in international Hockey.
Third in line is since so many Swiss play NHL Hockey, many follow their fellow Countrymens Performance through the Blick or 20min.ch Newspaper or of course NHL Gamecenter.
Since Switzerland won it's First Medal last IIHF WC Tournament after a Long Time, suddenly the formerly often criticized Tournament for being held every god damn single freakin year is now the next big Thing to make the Swiss Feel like a Hockey Powerhouse.
Next in Line of interest are the Olympics, coz it's so much harder to Win a medal there, when everybody's coming in full Force.
As you can see, i am not overly polite with my two Home countries, but both seem to be only interested in Other than themselves, if there's something to Win or Profit or legally steal from other countries.
If You see the Interest in Tennis declining in Germany after Boris Becker and Steffi Graf retired or the stupid Swiss Alinghi Hype, suddenly everybody was wearing those crappy UBS-Alinghi Hats and called themselve a Sailing Fan - gosh.
But at least Both countries have a decent Hockey Fanbase which helps me not giving up on them!
Germany:
The real Number One Event in Germany is DEL , DEL2, Ober- and Bayernligahockey
The Number two in line of interest is NHL Hockey, especially if many Germans participate (i remeber Uwe Krupps Stanley Cup clinching Goal like it was Yesterday).
Tournament wise i'd say Olympcs followed by IIHF WC, BUT the WC Tournament is only a big Event when it's been held at Home like 2017
Next in line is Canada Cup or WC of Hockey, which has been forgotten by most not Hardcore Hockey Supporters, cos it's not Happening on a regular Base and only of big interest if Germany participates.
Then i'd say comes Womens Hockey, followed by Junior Tournaments.
Beside the fact Germany is a Sports Nation, which is declining rapidly, cos Money is not been spent on Sports so easily anymore After the Nation got reunited, the regular German Sportfan doesn't care about Youth / Junior Sport at all, even if it's Soccer.
In Switzerland:
I See a Nation not being Part of the European Union and very Proud of it's state of being a neutral Country, i also would say the regular Swiss is a well educated Person, but not much interested in foreign Affairs, so they do not (want to) know much of the World outside, especially when Switzerland has nothing to Profit.
So the NL A is the Big Deal First.
Second in line is for sure the Spengler Cup (Grümpiturnier). The Announcer is not getting tired to tell Year after Year how Big the Spengler Cup Even in Canada is - from Swiss Point of View it's The Event in international Hockey.
Third in line is since so many Swiss play NHL Hockey, many follow their fellow Countrymens Performance through the Blick or 20min.ch Newspaper or of course NHL Gamecenter.
Since Switzerland won it's First Medal last IIHF WC Tournament after a Long Time, suddenly the formerly often criticized Tournament for being held every god damn single freakin year is now the next big Thing to make the Swiss Feel like a Hockey Powerhouse.
Next in Line of interest are the Olympics, coz it's so much harder to Win a medal there, when everybody's coming in full Force.
As you can see, i am not overly polite with my two Home countries, but both seem to be only interested in Other than themselves, if there's something to Win or Profit or legally steal from other countries.
If You see the Interest in Tennis declining in Germany after Boris Becker and Steffi Graf retired or the stupid Swiss Alinghi Hype, suddenly everybody was wearing those crappy UBS-Alinghi Hats and called themselve a Sailing Fan - gosh.
But at least Both countries have a decent Hockey Fanbase which helps me not giving up on them!
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It amuses me how some people aim to make the people interested in this tournament to feel guilty for watching it.
For me, Olympic hockey is obviously the biggest event, followed by the WHC. Sure, we don't have the best players there but it's still highly entertaining to watch.
For me, Olympic hockey is obviously the biggest event, followed by the WHC. Sure, we don't have the best players there but it's still highly entertaining to watch.
I think Risto Dufva, a top Finnish coach, has said that, you don't need to be the best team in the world to win a game. You just need to be the best team of the two attending the game. This pretty much sums it up for the Finnish hockey fans. When the Finnish national team is winning, people are interrested. Olympics are the biggest thing, followed by IIHF World Championships, and then everything else, but if we are succesful, people are taking notice.
Personally this year has been the first off-year of the WHC for a long time. Olympics took the passion of NT games. Then again, the surprise win against Canada has gotten me more excited, so you never know :p .
Personally this year has been the first off-year of the WHC for a long time. Olympics took the passion of NT games. Then again, the surprise win against Canada has gotten me more excited, so you never know :p .
It is hard to say what the interest in the World Cup is in the US. There have been two in last twenty years, 8 years apart. The last one occurred right before the season long lockout. It also didn't help the broadcaster was ESPN who at the time had spent the previous two season marginalizing the sport to reduce the price of the contract.
I think a new World Cup that is regularly held would gain greater interest. NBC would likely have the rights and given their relationship with the league and being the Olympic broadcaster would be behind it more.
As for the question from a USA Hockey perspective it is
1. Olympics
2. World Cup
3. World Juniors
4. U18
5. Womens World Championships
6. mens Worlds
US basically can't convince any top player to come to the Worlds if their NHL season is over. Rosters are basically kids and fringe players.
Uncle Rotter
Registered User
Will this convince you?
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/e...-nhl-schedule-does-cbc-191146373.html#more-id
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/e...tournament-hockey-hits-heights-225344019.html
Even I was shocked: the WHC gets lower TV ratings in Canada than the Spengler Cup
TheFeistyFinn
Registered User
- Dec 31, 2011
- 862
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Most Finnish "casual" fans appreciate WHC more than olympics cause it's super hyped by the media(money money)
They think that gold is gold, no matter what tournament it is from so in their eyes WHC gold 95/2011 are the biggest accomplishments in Finnish hockey history, not Olympic silver/bronze or World cup silver or the WJC 2014 gold(only kids tournament in their eyes)
Real hockey fans ofcourse don't think like that.
personally for me it is
1. Olympics
2. Stanley Cup
3. WJC
4. WHC
They think that gold is gold, no matter what tournament it is from so in their eyes WHC gold 95/2011 are the biggest accomplishments in Finnish hockey history, not Olympic silver/bronze or World cup silver or the WJC 2014 gold(only kids tournament in their eyes)
Real hockey fans ofcourse don't think like that.
personally for me it is
1. Olympics
2. Stanley Cup
3. WJC
4. WHC
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In Finland for the great majority of people watching hockey:
1. Olympics
2. World Championship
3. FEL
4. KHL/NHL
5. WJC
6. World Cup / Canada Cup
7. Sock knitting championships for the elderly
8. District championship of water polo
9. Town championship of cat obedience training
10. Spengler Cup
1. Olympics
2. World Championship
3. FEL
4. KHL/NHL
5. WJC
6. World Cup / Canada Cup
7. Sock knitting championships for the elderly
8. District championship of water polo
9. Town championship of cat obedience training
10. Spengler Cup
In Poland it's rather about whether the own team is participating or not. Olympic hockey was shown rather badly here (although in Germany it seemed to be even worse) and the World Championships are now on TVP Sport which is a channel by the public broadcasting company but available only either on pay TV or for free online. They do show a lot of games though at least.
So in other words it's Division I first and whatever might be shown on TV second. That Canada Cup or World Cup exist though I doubt many even know.
So in other words it's Division I first and whatever might be shown on TV second. That Canada Cup or World Cup exist though I doubt many even know.
In the US the olympics trump everything. You can put beer drinking in the olympics and Americans would tune in and declare it a sport of kings. Hockey in the Olympics gets ordinary Americans caring.
After that the World Cup was sort of fun thing for hockey fans but generated only subdued interest, no doubt because it came right before the lockout. It's been a decade since that tournament so it's nearly impossible to compare it to....
...the world juniors which have slowly gained in popularity in the states. It's now a fairly popular tournament among hockey fans, even if with casual sport fans it generates little to no interest.
After that the IIHF World's do draw in the casual stray eyes of hockey fans, but the hours of day and obvious competition with the playoffs keep it pretty niche even among hockey fans.
The U18s and on down are for scouts and wannabe scouts only pretty much.
After that the World Cup was sort of fun thing for hockey fans but generated only subdued interest, no doubt because it came right before the lockout. It's been a decade since that tournament so it's nearly impossible to compare it to....
...the world juniors which have slowly gained in popularity in the states. It's now a fairly popular tournament among hockey fans, even if with casual sport fans it generates little to no interest.
After that the IIHF World's do draw in the casual stray eyes of hockey fans, but the hours of day and obvious competition with the playoffs keep it pretty niche even among hockey fans.
The U18s and on down are for scouts and wannabe scouts only pretty much.
Sorry but when I see the U18s and Women's worlds on NBC Sports or any sort of highlight ever on any other cable sports network I'll agree with that.
The Zetterberg Era
Ball Hockey Sucks
The Women's Olympic team would be an interesting one to place if we did that.
I think the World Cup if brought back correctly as in placed right in that two year gap of the Olympics will be a different animal these days. I think it will do quite well this time around.
MMANumminen
Registered User
I was going to post but snaibberi nailed it already.
We are nation on 5 million people. If we reach the final, there will be 2 million viewers on television
We are nation on 5 million people. If we reach the final, there will be 2 million viewers on television
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
Yup, 2.4 million people watch WHC final in 2011. Any other tv program or sports event didn't get more views that year.
For me:
1. Olympics
2. World Cup
3. World Juniors
4. WHC
5. Womens World Championships
6. U18
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svartgul
Hata Löven
Interesting to hear that WJC is rated so low in Europe. In Sweden the tournament has grown immensely these last years and is almost on par with WHC in viewership. Well, not exactly on par, but not that far behind. Even though WJC is so often in Canada and the games are aired at 3-4 in the morning there are still hundreds of thousand that tune in, which is really cool.
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