The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Let's also consider that for the NFL and NBA, they call it "World Champions", and of course with MLB the "World Series", when only clubs within the USA (and Canada) are involved, and the sport is played in many other locations.

Let's also remember that in those 3 as well as the NHL, it is widely accepted that those are the best leagues in their respective sports throughout the world. The closest thing to any of them has to be Japanese Baseball.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Let's also consider that for the NFL and NBA, they call it "World Champions", and of course with MLB the "World Series", when only clubs within the USA (and Canada) are involved, and the sport is played in many other locations.

That's a whole different topic...

 

[SoCalSiouxFan]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Agreed. USA lost because they had less talented players and coaches. The result - Canada had a great game plan and executed on it flawlessly. Last year was a special year, seems even more so now. The USA was somehow able to crack the mystique for a year (in Canada, no less), this year was back to normal. The U18 wins are nice and I can see those happening more frequently, but U20 and Olympics, less so (despite coming incredibly close in Vancouver).

Difference between last year and this year was Dean Blais. There is no secret to Canada's game plan they play a very physical game. The US did not have the right coach, the right players, and was not prepared to play Canadian style hockey. It was plainly obvious on the ice. The Canadians physically dominated.

Last year Dean Blais was quoted as saying he would select the right players (for his style of play, a physical style of play) and not necessarily the best players. Last years team was prepared to beat Canada at their own game by playing a Canadian style of play. This years team looked like they were not prepared or were not capable of physically dominating the Canadians.

The US may have had talented players and coaches but perhaps they did not have the right players and coaches to beat team Canada this year.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Remember too our miracle team didn't compete against the canadians because they didn't send a team.... Olympic rulers declared their amateurs (mj) professionals.

Also, Massachusetts hosted the wjc maybe 15yrs ago'ish. Games were all played in marlboro. The new England sports complex. Couple rinks. Many have a standing rail 40ft up for moms and dads to view their squirts. That's where it was held.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Let's also remember that in those 3 as well as the NHL, it is widely accepted that those are the best leagues in their respective sports throughout the world. The closest thing to any of them has to be Japanese Baseball.

The Japanese game is played so differently it is kind of hard to compare the two. Depends on what part of the game you enjoy more.

 

[BoomGoestheDynamite]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

http://www.iihf.com/de/iihf-home/countries/united-states.html

474,592 total

119,706 male
61,602 female
293,274 junior

http://www.iihf.com/de/iihf-home/countries/canada.html

577,077 total
17,519 male (?)
85,624 female
472,978 junior

http://www.iihf.com/de/iihf-home/countries/russia.html

53,280 total
2,014 male
308 female
50,980 junior


I think we'll survive.

Whats stunning about those numbers is how few players are in Slovakia. Their national teams keep getting worse and worse and I wonder if theres some feedback effect with fewer kids going into the game. It can't all be a post Cold War symptom as the Czechs have maintained a relatively large number of players. Perhaps the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia never really cared for the game?

At this rate I could certainly see the Swiss displacing the Slovaks soon, if they haven't already.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Difference between last year and this year was Dean Blais. There is no secret to Canada's game plan they play a very physical game. The US did not have the right coach, the right players, and was not prepared to play Canadian style hockey. It was plainly obvious on the ice. The Canadians physically dominated.

Last year Dean Blais was quoted as saying he would select the right players (for his style of play, a physical style of play) and not necessarily the best players. Last years team was prepared to beat Canada at their own game by playing a Canadian style of play. This years team looked like they were not prepared or were not capable of physically dominating the Canadians.

The US may have had talented players and coaches but perhaps they did not have the right players and coaches to beat team Canada this year.

I don't see how anyone could think the Yale coach was the right pick for this team...his style doesn't suite this tournament at all...notice the 2 coaches that have won gold for the USA...Dean Blais and Mike Eaves.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

At this rate I could certainly see the Swiss displacing the Slovaks soon, if they haven't already.

I think they already have at the Junior level.

 

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

I don't see how anyone could think the Yale coach was the right pick for this team...his style doesn't suite this tournament at all...notice the 2 coaches that have won gold for the USA...Dean Blais and Mike Eaves.

Yes. And it's not that it's only WCHA coaches that can get it done (ahem, Sandelin), it's just that it takes a certain type of coach to be successful at this kind of event, and those two coaches happened to be that type of coach.

I fully expect Osiecki to be the head coach of this team in one of the next few years. Someone from UW or tOSU (in their limited exposure to him) might be able to tell me if that's good or bad.

 

[BoomGoestheDynamite]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Let's also consider that for the NFL and NBA, they call it "World Champions", and of course with MLB the "World Series", when only clubs within the USA (and Canada) are involved, and the sport is played in many other locations.

From what I understand, at least in regards to the "World" Series, the origin of the name had nothing to do with crowing a champion of the globe. The series between the National and American leagues was sponsored or widely publicized by a newspaper with World in the title. The name stuck

 

[co14ers]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

From what I understand, at least in regards to the "World" Series, the origin of the name had nothing to do with crowing a champion of the globe. The series between the National and American leagues was sponsored or widely publicized by a newspaper with World in the title. The name stuck

http://www.snopes.com/business/names/worldseries.asp

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

The Japanese game is played so differently it is kind of hard to compare the two. Depends on what part of the game you enjoy more.

The cheerleaders!

 

[jmhusker]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Remember too our miracle team didn't compete against the canadians because they didn't send a team.... Olympic rulers declared their amateurs (mj) professionals.

Also, Massachusetts hosted the wjc maybe 15yrs ago'ish. Games were all played in marlboro. The new England sports complex. Couple rinks. Many have a standing rail 40ft up for moms and dads to view their squirts. That's where it was held.

Doubt the Canadians were better than USSR. As far as Boston goes, you are misremembering - I saw some of the games at Matthews arena. Perhaps you were thinking of a U18 tournament?

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Remember too our miracle team didn't compete against the canadians because they didn't send a team.... Olympic rulers declared their amateurs (mj) professionals.

Not exactly true. Hockey Canada did send an "amateur" team in 1980 to Lake Placid. They did not play the USA because they were not in the USA's group, but they did lose to the Soviets, 6-4 in group play -- Canada led 3-1 early, but the Soviets came roaring back. Canada did not send teams to Olympic play in 1972 or 1976 over the Soviets pro issue, which, I think, is where you were going with your comments.

 

[jnacc]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Difference between last year and this year was Dean Blais. There is no secret to Canada's game plan they play a very physical game. The US did not have the right coach, the right players, and was not prepared to play Canadian style hockey. It was plainly obvious on the ice. The Canadians physically dominated.

Last year Dean Blais was quoted as saying he would select the right players (for his style of play, a physical style of play) and not necessarily the best players. Last years team was prepared to beat Canada at their own game by playing a Canadian style of play. This years team looked like they were not prepared or were not capable of physically dominating the Canadians.

The US may have had talented players and coaches but perhaps they did not have the right players and coaches to beat team Canada this year.

Who would you have replaced from this year's team? The truth of the matter, I believe, is that perhaps this year the U.S. did not have the talent to play against teams like Canada and Sweden and be successful.

I suppose we'll know more on Weds when we play the Swedes.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Who would you have replaced from this year's team? The truth of the matter, I believe, is that perhaps this year the U.S. did not have the talent to play against teams like Canada and Sweden and be successful.

I suppose we'll know more on Weds when we play the Swedes.

I do believe the US was not helped by its schedule, the styles of the the teams in the US group just didn't help when you compare them to the likes of Canada, Sweden and Russia.

 

[Vulcanized Rubber]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

The legend grows!! You guys talk like last years team was extra special. I don't think it was. It was a typical US team that played typical US hockey. I watched them live twice and I saw a very fast team that transitioned quickly and often caught the other team out of position but then never mounted any sustained pressure either. No board play, no cycling, no putting the puck deep and grinding it out. They hit and forechecked but never really battled for the puck. To me it was similar hockey to many US college games I've seen in upstate NY.

In the first game last year Team USA blew a lead just as they did the previous year. Then in the gold medal game you were badly outplayed but Canada's luck ran out with terrible goaltending and a coach in way over his head. You guys won in overtime. Canada played your game and as individuals relying on superior talent and almost got away with it. There was no way Canada's brainthrust were going to make that mistake this year. Time to buckle down as we did in '06 and treat you guys like the Russians and make you play the game looking at your own end of the rink all night.

 

[Hockeypuck]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Whats stunning about those numbers is how few players are in Slovakia. Their national teams keep getting worse and worse and I wonder if theres some feedback effect with fewer kids going into the game. It can't all be a post Cold War symptom as the Czechs have maintained a relatively large number of players. Perhaps the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia never really cared for the game?

At this rate I could certainly see the Swiss displacing the Slovaks soon, if they haven't already.

Slovakia finished 4th in the 2010 Olympics that was ahead of the Czechs, Swedes, and Russians and they beat the Swedes and Russians. I'm really not sure how you could say they are getting worse and worse when a year ago they had probably their best performance by a national team?

 

[CLS]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

Doubt the Canadians were better than USSR. As far as Boston goes, you are misremembering - I saw some of the games at Matthews arena. Perhaps you were thinking of a U18 tournament?

Some of the games were at NESC Marlboro, and some at Matthews. The one marquee game -- US/Canada -- was played at the DCU Center, called the Centrum then. I was a volunteer at Matthews, and as a US hockey fan, I was absolutely embarrassed by the "crowds".

A lot of youth hockey teams from Canada signed up for holiday tournaments in the Boston area so they could attend the Canada games.

As for Buffalo, from all appearances calling it a "home" game is like calling a US - Mexico soccer game in El Paso or Los Angeles a "home" game for the US.

 

[bothman]

Re: The WJC Thread. USA! USA! USA!

The legend grows!! You guys talk like last years team was extra special. I don't think it was. It was a typical US team that played typical US hockey. I watched them live twice and I saw a very fast team that transitioned quickly and often caught the other team out of position but then never mounted any sustained pressure either. No board play, no cycling, no putting the puck deep and grinding it out. They hit and forechecked but never really battled for the puck. To me it was similar hockey to many US college games I've seen in upstate NY.

In the first game last year Team USA blew a lead just as they did the previous year. Then in the gold medal game you were badly outplayed but Canada's luck ran out with terrible goaltending and a coach in way over his head. You guys won in overtime. Canada played your game and as individuals relying on superior talent and almost got away with it. There was no way Canada's brainthrust were going to make that mistake this year. Time to buckle down as we did in '06 and treat you guys like the Russians and make you play the game looking at your own end of the rink all night.

I think the biggest difference was the US defense. No puck movers (Cam Fowler) and generally a slow and ill-positioned unit that couldn't knock Canda off the puck, break out of its zone with any purpose, and no one that could run the powerplay and get shots from the point to the net. Not sure who also was under consideration, but there were some guys (faulk in particular) that had no business being on this team.