US Junior Team cuts

[Stack]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

So far after watching the games here's what I see happening:

I see Sweden finishing 4-0, Russia second in that bracket at 3-1 and Finland at 2-2
I see Canada beating the US. Simply put when I watch Canada they look like a pro team and the US looks like a college team. Canada is much more physical and the US has not played a team that is physical AND fast. Unless our goalie stands on his head I see us losing 6-2 with Slovakia or Switzerland finishing third most likely Slovakia.

First quarterfinal we play Finland and squeak out a win. Second quarterfinal Russia pounds Slovakia.
First semifinal we lose to Sweden, second semifinal Canada beats Russia.

Final: Sweden upsets Canada and shuts the **** Canadian crowd up.

Man I hate it when they boo the US players for no reason except they are from the USA. I just don't get Canadians hating the USA.

PS. After talking to a true Canadian Hockey fan this is their Super Bowl. It used to be the Stanley Cup but that has faded with the proliferation of US teams and the lack of Canadian teams in the finals. Her last words to me were " All I want for Christmas is for Canada to beat the US on New Year's Eve". A guy at our table said "In What?" Just shows what this tourney means to the average US person even in Minnesota.

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Man I hate it when they boo the US players for no reason except they are from the USA. I just don't get Canadians hating the USA.

I think there may have been some anti-Americanism in the past boos, but I think the majority of the booing now is not so much that they hate the US Junior team or America per say, but now they see that the USA is a serious rival and long-term threat to the dominant status in 'their game'.

What they they really hate is Gary Bettman, the Sun belt expansion of the NHL at the expense of teams in Canada, and the fact that no Canadian franchise has won the Stanley Cup in a while. The Junior tourney is the one place they get to use their nationalism every year to send a statement that they still own the game.

[redwing77]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

I think there may have been some anti-Americanism in the past boos, but I think the majority of the booing now is not so much that they hate the US Junior team or America per say, but now they see that the USA is a serious rival and long-term threat to the dominant status in 'their game'.

What they they really hate is Gary Bettman, the Sun belt expansion of the NHL at the expense of teams in Canada, and the fact that no Canadian franchise has won the Stanley Cup in a while. I

Yeah, but how does that affect us?

I mean, do we support Bettman?

I agree with Canadian fans in saying that Bettman should have been fired a long time ago.

[du78]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

The Canadian tax system is as much responsible for the decline in the success of the teams in that country as Bettman. Most players don't want to pay their high taxes and would rather play in the U.S. where they can make more money. The first chance a star player has at making the big bucks through free agency, they are off to a U.S. team as the Canadian teams can't afford them. If Obama gets his health plan passed in the U.S., our taxes will increase significantly and the tax difference between the two countries could be closer.

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Yeah, but how does that affect us?

I mean, do we support Bettman?

I agree with Canadian fans in saying that Bettman should have been fired a long time ago.

Fans in both countries see hockey as a game. Owners see hockey as a business. The NHL owners love Bettman, and that's who pays his check. Most of the NHL team owners are American businessmen, which doesn't help.

Canadians remember a time when 99 percent of NHL hockey players were Canadian, the league offices were in Toronto and Montreal, and the commissioners like Clarence Campbell looked out for Canadian interests, even when four of the original six teams were American-based. Since then, Canadians see an NHL that doesn't cater to Canadian interests, and they look to the national teams to restore their sense of "ownership" of the game they so dearly love - a game that most Americans are totally ambivalent about. Most Canadians have played the game - it defines who they are and how they get through the difficult long winters.

[blockski]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

I think there may have been some anti-Americanism in the past boos, but I think the majority of the booing now is not so much that they hate the US Junior team or America per say, but now they see that the USA is a serious rival and long-term threat to the dominant status in 'their game'.

What they they really hate is Gary Bettman, the Sun belt expansion of the NHL at the expense of teams in Canada, and the fact that no Canadian franchise has won the Stanley Cup in a while. The Junior tourney is the one place they get to use their nationalism every year to send a statement that they still own the game.

Just so they realize that their hate is based on emotion and not reason.

If they want more Canadian NHL teams, perhaps more of them should move to Winnipeg or QC - so those cities are stronger media markets. If they want a cup winner, maybe they should look to their management and not the country to the south.

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Call me cliche but this thread has been a great read over the past few pages.

I've enjoyed learning a bit more about the history of the tournament and why Switzerland didnt end up hosting the tournament this year (I was unaware they were even supposed to host).

I remember watching that USA/Canada game last year in Ottawa and I dont think I've ever heard a louder arena when Canada tied that game up after going down three. One of the best hockey games I've ever watched and that atmosphere had to be unreal.

I'm glad there is television coverage for this event and hope it continues to only grow in the future. We've seen some great players in this tournament over the past few years as many have moved on to become stars in the NHL. Keep it going. I dont care if it's in Canada every year as long as the games keep being televised and the US keeps sending a team.

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Just so they realize that their hate is based on emotion and not reason.

If they want more Canadian NHL teams, perhaps more of them should move to Winnipeg or QC - so those cities are stronger media markets. If they want a cup winner, maybe they should look to their management and not the country to the south.

Most hate is based on emotion, and rarely on reason.

I think most Canadians want the game in Canada not because of media markets (an American invention if there ever was one) but because they think that just filling the rink should be enough to justify a franchise. They see half full rinks in places like Phoenix, Carolina and LA, and it kills them to know that they once filled in the rinks in Winnipeg and Quebec City and it wasn't enough for the greedy Americans....

[blockski]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Most hate is based on emotion, and rarely on reason.

I think most Canadians want the game in Canada not because of media markets (an American invention if there ever was one) but because they think that just filling the rink should be enough to justify a franchise. They see half full rinks in places like Phoenix, Carolina and LA, and it kills them to know that they once filled in the rinks in Winnipeg and Quebec City and it wasn't enough for the greedy Americans....

Again, they can think all they want, but unless they think up some major money, it just ain't gonna happen.

Obviously, this is based on emotion and not reason - but it's hard to empathize with folks who can't even see or acknowledge reason and logic once the heat of the moment wears off.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Most hate is based on emotion, and rarely on reason.

I think most Canadians want the game in Canada not because of media markets (an American invention if there ever was one) but because they think that just filling the rink should be enough to justify a franchise. They see half full rinks in places like Phoenix, Carolina and LA, and it kills them to know that they once filled in the rinks in Winnipeg and Quebec City and it wasn't enough for the greedy Americans....

There is no question that greed changed the NHL for the worst. In Canada it's a way of life, for American owners it's just another toy.

[defkit]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

So far after watching the games here's what I see happening:

I see Sweden finishing 4-0, Russia second in that bracket at 3-1 and Finland at 2-2
I see Canada beating the US. Simply put when I watch Canada they look like a pro team and the US looks like a college team. Canada is much more physical and the US has not played a team that is physical AND fast. Unless our goalie stands on his head I see us losing 6-2 with Slovakia or Switzerland finishing third most likely Slovakia.

First quarterfinal we play Finland and squeak out a win. Second quarterfinal Russia pounds Slovakia.
First semifinal we lose to Sweden, second semifinal Canada beats Russia.

Final: Sweden upsets Canada and shuts the **** Canadian crowd up.

Man I hate it when they boo the US players for no reason except they are from the USA. I just don't get Canadians hating the USA.

PS. After talking to a true Canadian Hockey fan this is their Super Bowl. It used to be the Stanley Cup but that has faded with the proliferation of US teams and the lack of Canadian teams in the finals. Her last words to me were " All I want for Christmas is for Canada to beat the US on New Year's Eve". A guy at our table said "In What?" Just shows what this tourney means to the average US person even in Minnesota.

I was wondering if and when someone would look ahead of tomorrow night. Sure, the USA-Canada game is big, but both teams will make the next round and perhaps meet again, with far bigger stakes.

[Goon]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

I think most Canadians want the game in Canada not because of media markets (an American invention if there ever was one) but because they think that just filling the rink should be enough to justify a franchise. They see half full rinks in places like Phoenix, Carolina and LA, and it kills them to know that they once filled in the rinks in Winnipeg and Quebec City and it wasn't enough for the greedy Americans....

I think some of the teams in the USA that can't fill the rinks should be moved to a place where the fans will fill the arenas. I am holding out hope that Winnipeg will some day get a team again.

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

I think some of the teams in the USA that can't fill the rinks should be moved to a place where the fans will fill the arenas. I am holding out hope that Winnipeg will some day get a team again.

If there is any justice in the world, Hartford will get a team again. Long live the Whale!

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

I think some of the teams in the USA that can't fill the rinks should be moved to a place where the fans will fill the arenas. I am holding out hope that Winnipeg will some day get a team again.

I agree 100%.

[BUT09]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

If there is any justice in the world, Hartford will get a team again. Long live the Whale!

Have you ever been to a Wolf Pack game? I have, living an hour away, and I was one of maybe 900 people there. No way Hartford can support an NHL team.