novisor
Registered User
I found it great. Team Canada absolutely dominated, and small nations made big strides (Latvia, Slovenia).
Would you be fine with a World Cup Instead?
- Thread starter coolasprICE
- Start date
Alerion
Registered User
The Olympics reach a much larger audience and February is a way better month for hosting a hockey tournament than the end of summer/early fall. How many players are going to be willing to cut their brief time off even shorter to prepare for a tournament with no history or meaning? I could see the World Cup being something that only the most intense hockey fans care about, whereas even my mother watches the Olympics hockey and she can probably only name 3 people on the roster.
Bardown warrior
Registered User
Not at this moment, but it looks like something might give in the coming months, given that its been thrown around so much.
Bardown warrior
Registered User
Riggins
Registered User
I almost forgot that the 2004 World Cup happened. The 1996 one is memorable because of losing to the USA.
Laphroaig
Registered User
I prefer the World Cup concept. The way the second tier countries are improving it could probably support 16 teams and wouldn't impact the NHL or other pro leagues. There would be lots of Euro whining but let's just let them pretend that the World Championship actually means something.
gretskidoo
Registered User
- Nov 26, 2011
- 4,794
- 395
Not even close.
If hockey becomes as big as foot-to-ball, and NHL alone isn't organizing it, sure.
If hockey becomes as big as foot-to-ball, and NHL alone isn't organizing it, sure.
novisor
Registered User
Rob
Registered User
Sonic Disturbance
Grandmaster User
- Jan 1, 2009
- 2,315
- 140
I prefer the atmosphere and the timing of the Olympics, but can we please get rid of the big ice and the small attacking zones? Otherwise I'd be more inclined to do a World Cup where the NHL has more control.
Bardown warrior
Registered User
The 1996 was definitely memorable not only because of the loss to the Americans but the crowds in Canada were pretty wild. Not to mention Don Cherry was just tearing up the Russians left and right LOL.
Stanley Foobrick
Clockwork Blue
And how was that? How was it slanted to NA teams when most of the players on the legitimate championship teams play in NA anyway?
Suiteness
Registered User
What is the most popular sporting event on the planet? The WC of soccer. Ask any professional soccer player if he'd rather win Olympic gold or the WC of soccer and he'll slap you for asking something that stupid. Set up the WC of hockey just like the WC of soccer; different host country every four years, Europeans rink in Europe, NA rinks in North america. Leave the Olympics to the Spengler cup rejects and the WC will be #1 for all hockey fans around the world in no time.
Sacha Baron Corbin
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2011
- 12,544
- 481
A World Cup would be alright I guess, it wouldn't feel the same as the Olympics though.
I think the NHL should pursue a Champions League style tournament where the best club teams in the world play like in soccer.
I think the NHL should pursue a Champions League style tournament where the best club teams in the world play like in soccer.
Too, not instead for me.
Hold a world cup half way between the Olympics, so WC 2016, Oly 2018, WC 2020, Oly 2022. It would be nice if instead of having one or two host rinks, instead have 'road' games. Play against Canada in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver, play against USA in NY, Chicago or LA, play against Finland in Helsinki etc... but I guess that would make it too expensive, too much travel.
Hold a world cup half way between the Olympics, so WC 2016, Oly 2018, WC 2020, Oly 2022. It would be nice if instead of having one or two host rinks, instead have 'road' games. Play against Canada in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver, play against USA in NY, Chicago or LA, play against Finland in Helsinki etc... but I guess that would make it too expensive, too much travel.
No, the NHL is too ego-centric to properly run a tournament of this magnitude. Only NA would care.
I would prefer the IIHF endorsed a potential Canada Cup in exchange for continued NHL participation in the Olympics, where Cdn NHLers w/ heritage to countries like Latvia, Ukraine, etc were made available to those countries and games played in barns across Canada.
Having just the usual 6/7 teams have kind of run its course.
Oh, and I forgot to add, what's the point of being a cultural teapot if you can't use it for hockey?
I would prefer the IIHF endorsed a potential Canada Cup in exchange for continued NHL participation in the Olympics, where Cdn NHLers w/ heritage to countries like Latvia, Ukraine, etc were made available to those countries and games played in barns across Canada.
Having just the usual 6/7 teams have kind of run its course.
Oh, and I forgot to add, what's the point of being a cultural teapot if you can't use it for hockey?
TheGoldenJet
Registered User
World Cup is for hockey fans, Olympics is for everyone.
To grow the game, instead of plopping down teams in a half filled arena, they should focus on how to present the game as an exciting and passionate sport to the eyes of the world. I know that's how I fell in love with the game.
To grow the game, instead of plopping down teams in a half filled arena, they should focus on how to present the game as an exciting and passionate sport to the eyes of the world. I know that's how I fell in love with the game.
I'm afraid ditiching the olympics would hurt hockey's growth in smaller hockey nations. Perhaps we could have both?
Stanley Foobrick
Clockwork Blue
If the Olympics didn't interrupt the NHL season they I'd vote Olympics. Basketball season in North America is in the winter but they play in the summer Olympics, perhaps hockey could be moved to the summer Olympics?
Any tournament that doesn't interrupt the regular season is better than any tournament that does.
Any tournament that doesn't interrupt the regular season is better than any tournament that does.
