Quote:
Originally Posted by 911nut
Sour grapes?
I've been a lifelong hockey player and coach. Got schooled many times by Canadian teams, even had one game I was winning stolen by the officials.
Let's face it: Canada doesn't like to lose to any other country and will do almost anything to prevent the "erosion" of their supremacy on the ice. Comments like the best team won, well, the team finally showed up in the nick of time and barely won. I guess that stings just a little.
As for my source about the shrinking hockey demographics, it's none other than cbc.ca/hockey. Do a search of the site and you will find it, around 3-4 years ago. Makes sense due to Canada's recent immigrant population.
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My favoruite image of Canadian hockey? All the first and second generation immigrants who've taken up the game -- Iginla is a good example. He won't be the last. No matter the size of the talent pool, or who takes up the sport -- there will always be Canadian talent.
Australia and New Zealand manage to field incredible rugby teams, despite the sport's growing popularity in countries with much larger populations. The Dominican Republic still fields exceptoinal baseball teams, despite the fact that other nations have larger populations. A "national" sport -- like hockey, or rugby, or baseball, or basketball is MORE than just the size of the talent pool. It's a collective conscience.