US Junior Team cuts

[HarleyMC]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

I don't know the ins and outs of the financing of this particular event, but its pretty obvious that this event is a huge money loser anywhere but in Canada & Border cities.

Switzerland is one of the richest countries on earth. If they can't afford to host the event, its pretty obvious that it isn't going to work financially anywhere else.

What makes this event incredible is that they not only sellout the Canada games, but all the Tier II games as well. The Canadians should be praised for their passion.

As for Team USA, its pretty handy holding the event in North America with all of the comforts of home, no time zone issues and no language barriers.

I say keep it in Canada or the border cities, keep televising it on the NHL Network and keep doing what they are doing because the event and games have been awesome.

I couldn't disagree more. The criteria for hosting this tournament should never be which country has the most cash. Switzerland is not the best choice for hosting this tournament anyway because they cannot compete at a high enough level and are typically eliminated early. So far they haven't even scored a goal in this tournament.

This is NOT Canada's tournament! The IIHF has it's base of power in Europe (Switzerland) with it's respective national governing bodies, leagues and 68 international members. But it also has stronger ties with Hockey Canada than the NHL and it's Hall of Fame is in Toronto. Their relationship with the NHL should be engaged and further developed.

I would bet that if the WJC were held at the X and marketed properly, they could easily generate comparable revenue. For example, with the WCHA represented on Team USA as they are this year, I'm sure this thing would fly in St. Paul. There is no good reason why this should not be investigated by the IIHF and allow home ice to be evenly distributed among the powerhouse teams in the tournament from year to year. Canada's tournament? As long as it's on their home ice they'll always have the advantage year after year. Should be interesting next year in Buffalo.

Home State of Team USA

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Team USA College Connection

Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA) . . . 3
Boston College (HEA) . . . . . . . . 1
Boston Univ. (HEA) . . . . . . . . . . 1
RPI (ECACH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
St. Cloud State Univ. (WCHA) . 1
Univ. of Denver (WCHA) . . . . . . 1
Univ. of Michigan (CCHA) . . . . . 1
Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA) . . . .1
Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA) . 1
Univ. of Notre Dame (CCHA) . . 1

College Connection By League

WCHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
HEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
CCHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ECACH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

[glowingheart]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Canadians do not hate Americans, although i think if any Canadian read some of the disparaging remarks in this post they might change their minds ...I don't know if you people get to see any games not involving the US, but the Canadian crowd always cheers for the underdog ... whether Austria is playing Sweden, or the States is playing the Swiss ... and if the US is the favourite playing Russia, then Russia will get the support of the crowd as it did a couple of tournaments ago ... in regards to 'booing 18 year olds', in Canada you are treated as Men at 18 for better or for worse. Sometimes for the worse ... but like the Canadian tradition of shaking hands after an intense playoff series, or going out for a beer after a fight during a game, its all left on the ice. Jack Johnson was interviewed on local Vancouver TV during the WJC a few years ago and said he loved the Canadian crowds, and after losing to Canada said he wanted Team Canada to win gold. He also said that TC was a class organization and that the players were class people etc.... he was very gracious, so the American players at ice level don't hold the same bitterness that some of the people on this forum seem to have towards the Canadian hockey fan. JJ will get booed most likely at the Olympics, but he is respected, and most would want him on our club team. Canadians like tough hockey players even if they are on an opposing team/country, and even though we boo them.

in regards to wanting to beat the US, i think you are overstating your importance a little ... Russia is Canada's main rival in hockey although the US is getting up there. If you would start pulling your weight it could become a classic rivalry. Canadians LOVE a great tough hockey game, and the better the competition and the harder the climb, the sweeter the victory. Canada plays full tilt for 60 minutes with passion and skill, and so far the American player just can't keep up. Someone said its only a matter of time before the US catches up and passes Canada ... wishful thinking has its uses, but i think most Canadians feel if we put the same intensity into Baseball, Football, soccer etc. that we put into hockey we would be pretty hard to beat in those sports too ...

The US has a lot of talented young players and will be a force in the future. Hopefully the average American can see how great the sport is, and in the future perhaps your top athlete of the decade/year won't be a golfer, but a Parise, or a Kane ...

[HarleyMC]

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....

Of course most Canadians couldn't care less about "markets", as long as they have the tournament in their own backyard. It's the national winter sport, a national pastime and the most popular spectator sport. However, make no mistake about it, the IIHF/Hockey Canada bedfellows are all about marketing, media rights and $$$. Snobbish Canadian Hockey execs. are just as interested in $$$ and marketing as "greedy" Americans are PS.

[Slap Shot]

glowing is full of it.

That said, Canadians don't feel threatened by the American game in the least nor the growth the game here. The fact is their youth system is worlds ahead and will never be matched in America. Never. The only advantage we have is the number of NHL teams and that's been in our favor for decades so I don't buy that has anything to do with their booing us. I blame Clinton.

[brianvf]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

although i think if any Canadian read some of the disparaging remarks in this post they might change their minds

Have you seen the anti-American posts on the TSN website? If you read some of those disparaging remarks, you might change your mind.

I don't know if you people get to see any games not involving the US, but the Canadian crowd always cheers for the underdog

If they always cheer for the underdog, then I expect full support for the US tomorrow night by the Canadian crowd!

JJ will get booed most likely at the Olympics, but he is respected, and most would want him on our club team. Canadians like tough hockey players even if they are on an opposing team/country, and even though we boo them.

Then why boo them/him?

i think most Canadians feel if we put the same intensity into Baseball, Football, soccer etc. that we put into hockey we would be pretty hard to beat in those sports too

[joecct]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

And then no one will show up. This is Canada's tournament. They all watch it up there, and look forward to it. The fact that they can get some of these countries to attend it and get slaughtered is the amazing part. You want to win it, find a way to beat Canada in Canada. Not sure how you're going to do that, but maybe someday it will happen.

EXACTLY!!!!

USA Hockey is not stupid . They know that the Canadian fans are the engine behind the tournament and any place where they can't easily get to in NA is doomed to lose money. Hence, Grand Forks and Buffalo. The trade off is that the fans are primarily rooting for the Maple Leaf rather than the Stars & Stripes.

St. Paul may work with Mariucci / Ritter and Xcel acting as host facilities. It's a bit of a haul for Canadians, but not too bad. Detroit and Yost may work, too. Other than that, forget about it.

[glowingheart]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

[QUOTE=brianvf;4538084]Have you seen the anti-American posts on the TSN website? If you read some of those disparaging remarks, you might change your mind.

there are idiots in every country ... i certainly don't think the US has a higher proportion than Canada.

If they always cheer for the underdog, then I expect full support for the US tomorrow night by the Canadian crowd!

i defer on this one ...

Then why boo them/him?

personally i don't boo players, but thats how some people get into a game ... besides it makes the game lively, and the players play more intensely when the crowd is participating ... don't you find that?

[Stack]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

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.

I still think the US loses to Canada tomorrow night and don't be surprised if Russia gives the Candaians all they can handle in the semifinal game.

People may not remember how close Canada came to losing to them last year in the semifinals but read this and remember:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/can...dEtX5JQ18J-3Xw

[brianvf]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Finland beat Austria 10-1 today, sending Austria to the Relegation Round.

A bit of a surprise...Latvia is leading Switzerland 3-2 in the first period.

[Dirty]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

How in the hell does Conz give up three goals to Latvia in 11 minutes?

[Puck Swami]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

St. Paul may work with Mariucci / Ritter and Xcel acting as host facilities. It's a bit of a haul for Canadians, but not too bad. Detroit and Yost may work, too. Other than that, forget about it.

Minnesota hosted this event back in 1982 and no one came. To be fair, the tourney has grown quite a bit since then, and perhaps it's time to look at Minnesota again as a possible host. Besides the big arenas in the twin cities, I think it would also be cool to spread some of the lesser games around the state so the small towns could be a part of this, too.

One of my best memories was at the 1991 World Journey in Saskatchewan, where some games were played in small towns like Humboldt, Prince Albert, and North Battleford. It was amazing how these small towns would totally sell out the local rinks, and the games were such a big deal.

[WeWantMore]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Mild upset in the making, Latvia up 3-2 on the Swiss after one.

[brianvf]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Mild upset in the making, Latvia up 3-2 on the Swiss after one.

The Swiss have tied it at 3 early in the 2nd.

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

How in the hell does Conz give up three goals to Latvia in 11 minutes?

Hmm... this could be brutal to the United States' PWR.

[brianvf]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Hmm... this could be brutal to the United States' PWR.

I wish they used KRACH for this tourney, much more accurate with the short duration.

Latvia has retaken the lead at 4-3 in the 2nd.