World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

[LTsatch]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

The silver and bronze things are so 80's Olympics. Participation trophys for the Ref's as well

Sorry to all the refs out there, forgot to add the wink,

[tomthumb]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

What a great game and great tournament. Some of the most entertaining hockey I have watched in ages. Indeed, it is a shame that one of these teams had to lose. Both teams gave it everything they had - the big "MO" flowed back and forth throughout the game.

What a letdown to get to the end of that overtime, with chances going both ways, knowing a goal was coming for someone soon....then have to sit through a GD shootout to decide a winner and a loser to this incredible game...

Does the NBA have a free throw contest to decide a playoff game if it is tied?
Does the NFL have an extra point kicking contest to decide a playoff game if it is tied?
Do PGA players EVER have a putting contest to decide a match if it is tied?
Do they EVER have a home run derby to decide a baseball game?

NO, they all just keep playing the game as it was meant to be played until someone wins...

So WhyTF does IIHF insist on deciding the winner of an international tournament with a cheap-azz gimicky play that only happens in the course of a game if a significant infraction has occurred??? I have no effing idea either... What a travesty...

Congrats to both teams on a great gold medal match. Neither deserved to lose like that. BTW, no sour grapes here - I am a die hard USA fan. Just felt an incredible sense of "kissing your sibling" at the end of this one...

[Buckeye22]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

What a great game and great tournament. Some of the most entertaining hockey I have watched in ages. Indeed, it is a shame that one of these teams had to lose. Both teams gave it everything they had - the big "MO" flowed back and forth throughout the game.

What a letdown to get to the end of that overtime, with chances going both ways, knowing a goal was coming for someone soon....then have to sit through a GD shootout to decide a winner and a loser to this incredible game...

Does the NBA have a free throw contest to decide a playoff game if it is tied?
Does the NFL have an extra point kicking contest to decide a playoff game if it is tied?
Do PGA players EVER have a putting contest to decide a match if it is tied?
Do they EVER have a home run derby to decide a baseball game?

NO, they all just keep playing the game as it was meant to be played until someone wins...

So WhyTF does IIHF insist on deciding the winner of an international tournament with a cheap-azz gimicky play that only happens in the course of a game if a significant infraction has occurred??? I have no effing idea either... What a travesty...

Congrats to both teams on a great gold medal match. Neither deserved to lose like that. BTW, no sour grapes here - I am a die hard USA fan. Just felt an incredible sense of "kissing your sibling" at the end of this one...

I don't think I would word it as strongly. I definitely felt satisfied at the end of this one. I mean I was on the edge of my seat all game and we won (!!!), so I'm still walking away happy. But ya, overall I'd have to agree. Shootouts are dumb. Especially when they apparently use different overtime rules for the semifinal and the final.

Anyways great win for the U.S. and great to see a Buckeye on the roster that earned the gold medal!

[Stauber1]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

Add me to the long list of those singing about what a great game this was. And what a great tournament the World Juniors are year in and year out.
U.S. v Canada in Montreal for gold - high promise, and it didn't disappoint.

McAvoy is a treat to watch. Great hands, great stride, and even better vision.
Living in Portland I've been to a few Winterhawks games, and came away not overly impressed with Caleb Jones. But my tune has changed after this tournament.

And I'm fairly certain Chabot is a Canadian commissioned, Apple engineered hockey playing automaton - plug it in over night and you can get up to 4 hours of non-stop, high-quality play.

[The Zlax45]

Someone get Greenway a band-aid and all of Canada a hankie.

That was actually Foley...three African Americans in this squad. Has to be some sort of record high for USA Hockey.

One of the best hickey games I have ever watched..congrats to both teams.

[UMICH]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

This is nice to see. The ONLY sport where the handshakes are more than just a formality.

Well, a lot of those players play on the same college team so they know each other well.

[joecct]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

Gang

North Americans have no objection to games lasting forever. None of the sports that started and are played here have a skills competition to end it. We like it and revel in marathon games.

Euros don't subscribe to our way of thinking and it shows in their championships are designed to fit in a set time slot.

Soccer champions are decided on PKs, too.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

Soccer champions are decided on PKs, too.

As they are in North America. That's how the WNY Flash won this year. At least it's not a "no golden goal" situation.

[Bomber]

Stayed home from my hockey to watch that.

Epic choice executed perfectly.

Chose wisely, you did. Nailed the landing.

[E.J. Smith]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

Gang

North Americans have no objection to games lasting forever. None of the sports that started and are played here have a skills competition to end it. We like it and revel in marathon games.

Euros don't subscribe to our way of thinking and it shows in their championships are designed to fit in a set time slot.

Soccer champions are decided on PKs, too.

I’m trying to figure out what axe it is that you’re overreaching so desperately to grind. Is it just straight up Europhobia, or is it more than that? PKs and shoot out are hardly a European conspiracy against world sports. In England, in the FA Cup, if a match is tied they replay the entire match at a later date. Endurance sports are far more popular in Europe than they are here – x country skiing, cycling – Tour de France? 5 or 6 hour stages? Ring any bells? Haven’t even mentioned cricket where they can take days to play matches.

Along those lines, have you heard of this thing called television? (I’m fairly certain you’d howl if the Euros claimed that as their invention.) You don’t think TV, and its money, have anything to do with this?

Beyond that, if you’ve played 80 minutes of hockey or 120 minutes of soccer, you’ve had ample time to have a definitive winner identified. Any goal beyond that, while dramatic, is hardly a clear indication of the better team. It’s basically random azz chance at that point.

Not to mention the chance of injury going up as the players get tired, lose focus, are less able to protect themselves. It’s one thing to ask grown men being paid millions of dollars to play 90 or more minutes of high intensity hockey, it’s entirely another thing to ask unpaid kids to do it. As talented as the players are in the WJC, they’re still kids, who for the most part still aren’t playing hockey for a living, quite yet.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

it’s entirely another thing to ask unpaid kids to do it.

This just in: College players should be paid because they use playoff overtime rules.

[E.J. Smith]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

This just in: College players should be paid because they use playoff overtime rules.

This not just in: FlagDUDE reads at a 5th grade level.

The logic, which you've mangled, of course, is that college shouldn't play an unlimited number of overtime periods.

[Split-N]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

...So a game leading to a world championship is decided by a circus sideshow instead of by skating, shooting, stickhandling, passing, bodychecking, and all the other skills that comprise the game of hockey. I hope and pray the NCAA never stoops to this kind of nonsense to decide hockey championships.

It's bad manners to quote yourself. But for every rule there's an exception, and this is it. Without casting aspersions on the epic performances of players on both teams (even those from BU), winning a world championship by shootout is a little like doing business with a lady of the evening: It feels good but you feel a little dirty. (Not that I'd personally know anything about that .)

I'd go on to rant against the FIFA wannabes that run the IIHF but they're in a hurry to get back to the good life in Switzerland.

[St. Clown]

Re: World Juniors -- Anybody? Bueller?

Gang

North Americans have no objection to games lasting forever. None of the sports that started and are played here have a skills competition to end it. We like it and revel in marathon games.

Euros don't subscribe to our way of thinking and it shows in their championships are designed to fit in a set time slot.

Soccer champions are decided on PKs, too.

Hockey is a North American born sport, joe, and is played in North America.

Otherwise, I agree with the sentiment. It's an international tournament, and they're handling this the same way the Olympics does and the largest international sports org in the world does, FIFA, along with almost all - if not all - soccer leagues do. People need to just get over it. It's not how I'd like for a tournament winner to be declared, it's not how most people in the US and Canada want a game to end, but the sport doesn't revolve around what one or two nations want.

[joecct]

I’m trying to figure out what axe it is that you’re overreaching so desperately to grind. Is it just straight up Europhobia, or is it more than that? PKs and shoot out are hardly a European conspiracy against world sports. In England, in the FA Cup, if a match is tied they replay the entire match at a later date. Endurance sports are far more popular in Europe than they are here – x country skiing, cycling – Tour de France? 5 or 6 hour stages? Ring any bells? Haven’t even mentioned cricket where they can take days to play matches.

Along those lines, have you heard of this thing called television? (I’m fairly certain you’d howl if the Euros claimed that as their invention.) You don’t think TV, and its money, have anything to do with this?

Beyond that, if you’ve played 80 minutes of hockey or 120 minutes of soccer, you’ve had ample time to have a definitive winner identified. Any goal beyond that, while dramatic, is hardly a clear indication of the better team. It’s basically random azz chance at that point.

Not to mention the chance of injury going up as the players get tired, lose focus, are less able to protect themselves. It’s one thing to ask grown men being paid millions of dollars to play 90 or more minutes of high intensity hockey, it’s entirely another thing to ask unpaid kids to do it. As talented as the players are in the WJC, they’re still kids, who for the most part still aren’t playing hockey for a living, quite yet.

FA Cup final goes to PKs. T20 cricket goes to a SuperOver (ODIs and Tests play ties).

The point being the IIHF, being Eurocentric, has no trouble with GWS. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada want a playing conclusion and will play until it happens.