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2014 Four Nations Cup

Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

Cali said:
I just think that the U.S. holds a distinct advantage in the 18 - 24 age bracket and that will carry them for a while. As much as Canada is criticized for hanging on to the veterans, they have been the backbone for the last 6-8 years. That can't last. The young guns on U.S are just too strong in my opinion
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This is a view that I have shared for some time, but I am beginning to question it. US dominance always seems to be just around the corner but I'm doubtful. Part of the problem is that people underestimate the amount of Canadian talent that does not go NCAA.
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

hab said:
This is a view that I have shared for some time, but I am beginning to question it. US dominance always seems to be just around the corner but I'm doubtful. Part of the problem is that people underestimate the amount of Canadian talent that does not go NCAA.
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There are only a very few national calibre players who do not go NCAA (generally only Francophone players who would find difficulty Clearing). The only notable recent example would be Daoust, who is currently injured and not playing anyway.
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

Cali said:
I just think that the U.S. holds a distinct advantage in the 18 - 24 age bracket and that will carry them for a while. As much as Canada is criticized for hanging on to the veterans, they have been the backbone for the last 6-8 years. That can't last. The young guns on U.S are just too strong in my opinion
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Though debatable, I'm not sure the stats would necessarily bear that out. You are talking the 90-96 age groups. In the U18 championships during the period these kids played at that level, Canada won 3 and USA won 3...with Canada winning 3 of the last four within that timeframe. That does not suggest a distinct advantage.

The challenge for the US in the 4 Nations as I see it is that the bulk of their roster is distinctly younger than that of Canada, although both rosters are devoid of the real long-time vets. At the same time most of the US team was competing internationally at U18, most of the Canadian roster was competing at U22. That's a lot more international (and NCAA) experience to overcome, regardless of talent.

87s USA 2 Canada 0
88s USA 1 Canada 2
89s USA 2 Canada 4
90s USA 0 Canada 5
91s USA 2 Canada 2
92s USA 3 Canada 5
93s USA 5 Canada 1
94s USA 6 Canada 2
95s USA 1 Canada 2
96s USA 1 Canada 0
 
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Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

Trillium said:
The challenge for the US in the 4 Nations as I see it is that the bulk of their roster is distinctly younger than that of Canada, although both rosters are devoid of the real long-time vets. At the same time most of the US team was competing internationally at U18, most of the Canadian roster was competing at U22. That's a lot more international (and NCAA) experience to overcome, regardless of talent.
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It may be different for the Canadians, but I've always felt that the optimum for a US player is if she can complete her senior year of NCAA hockey and then go straight into an Olympic year. Outside of the centralization with the national team during an Olympic year, the NCAA season seems to offer the best environment for a US player to develop. The talent level may be better with the few post-grad, senior teams, but there isn't the same consistency with off-ice workouts as a group and the same rosters showing up from game to game. So people like Carpenter, Skarupa, Coyne, Pelkey, Brandt, and Cameranesi may be young, but I don't think they'll necessarily be better in six years. More experienced, sure, but perhaps not as sharp, depending on what post-grad playing opportunities exist for them.
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

ARM said:
It may be different for the Canadians, but I've always felt that the optimum for a US player is if she can complete her senior year of NCAA hockey and then go straight into an Olympic year. Outside of the centralization with the national team during an Olympic year, the NCAA season seems to offer the best environment for a US player to develop. The talent level may be better with the few post-grad, senior teams, but there isn't the same consistency with off-ice workouts as a group and the same rosters showing up from game to game. So people like Carpenter, Skarupa, Coyne, Pelkey, Brandt, and Cameranesi may be young, but I don't think they'll necessarily be better in six years. More experienced, sure, but perhaps not as sharp, depending on what post-grad playing opportunities exist for them.
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Don't disagree. But 21 Players from the Canadian roster are/were either still playing NCAA or were centralized for the Olympics last year...and the others were cuts from centralization camp. So it's not like they're unaccustomed to recent high level training.
 
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Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

US up 3-0 on Finland after two.

Knight, Skarupa, and Cameranesi with the goals
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

Pfalzer makes it 4-0 midway through third
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

M. Lam puts up the fifth US goal, three minutes left
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

Pfalzer was better than I remember her being in other times I have seen her play, I thought she looked very good. Both Carpenter and Skarupa were as advertised, big time top players. And I don't think my opinion of Skarupa was affected in any way by her line mates, Brandt and Cameranesi.

Keller seemed poised and active the first couple of times I noticed her, on the point I think it was on the power play. Good offensive skills. Then she went to the boards in the defensive zone, found her way to behind the net blocked, turned back up ice and slid a soft backhand out into the slot where there were absolutely zero USA players. A very bad rookie mistake but not a fatal one, Finland did have a player in the slot but Schaus was equal to the task.

Didn't notice the other one enough to form an opinion.

My opinion is that they are all good players, well worthy of pulling on the USA sweater.

The presumably unbiased media present at the game voted Cameranesi as USA most valuable though based on a goal and an assist.
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

ManBehindTheCurtain said:
Pfalzer was better than I remember her being in other times I have seen her play, I thought she looked very good. Both Carpenter and Skarupa were as advertised, big time top players. And I don't think my opinion of Skarupa was affected in any way by her line mates, Brandt and Cameranesi.

Keller seemed poised and active the first couple of times I noticed her, on the point I think it was on the power play. Good offensive skills. Then she went to the boards in the defensive zone, found her way to behind the net blocked, turned back up ice and slid a soft backhand out into the slot where there were absolutely zero USA players. A very bad rookie mistake but not a fatal one, Finland did have a player in the slot but Schaus was equal to the task.

Didn't notice the other one enough to form an opinion.

My opinion is that they are all good players, well worthy of pulling on the USA sweater.

The presumably unbiased media present at the game voted Cameranesi as USA most valuable though based on a goal and an assist.
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Please save your accolades for after tomorrows game. You can't judge to much by tonight's game. Canadians as always will be bringing the intensity. All in all it was a good start for the US.
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

TonyTheTiger20 said:
Starting at about the halfway though last year Pfalzer became the best defensemen to ever put on a BC jersey. I mean it was like Popeye taking spinach.
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Isn't that about the time she got healthy? The game is harder when people aren't 100% or thereabouts.
 
Re: 2014 Four Nations Cup

ARM said:
Isn't that about the time she got healthy? The game is harder when people aren't 100% or thereabouts.
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Yes, but I was comparing to previous seasons. She was always a good player but midway through last year she was just sensational. She's only better this year.
 
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