Hockey

[Rich76_911s]

It got 10 degrees colder down here last night when all of Canada blew that big sigh of relief. They weren't exactly "lucky" to have won, but it sure could have easily gone the other way.

I just would have prefered the equipment manager scoring the game winning goal instead of Crosby. I can't stand that guy, nor can I stand the lovefest so many have for him.

Take this lovefest for example. I bet these guys have a sidney blowup doll they hug all night long.



All that said congrats to our Northern Brothers. Now I hope Pronger and Richards can come back to the NHL and get the Flyers back into contention.

[cmccuist]

The worst take I've heard about this match and tournament - and it's been repeated by many - is that the US would've been blown out without Miller. Please. And the Oilers would've sucked w/o Gretzky back in the day. And the Bulls would'nt have made the playoffs without Jordan and Nicklaus wouldn't have won all those tournaments if he wasn't Jack freekin' Nicklaus.

The Canadians won the tournament fair and square - just look up at the scoreboard. To be sure, Canada was loaded with 7 captains and 3 sure-fire hall of famers - Broudeuour, Crosby and Neidemayer. HOWEVER! The US went into thier barn with a hot goalie and a dozen or so role players and kneed them right in the groin! To their credit, those Canucks got right against Germany, pounded Russia and proceeded to remember they were Canada.

But the gold medal game was a power play goal away from causing a soverign, hockey-loving nation to commit collective suicide!!! Great win Canada! But you HAD to have it. The US didn't back down and were your equals until that gimmicky 4 on 4 overtime.

Great tournament. I really enjoyed almost all of it!

[911nut]

Originally Posted by cmccuist

The worst take I've heard about this match and tournament - and it's been repeated by many - is that the US would've been blown out without Miller. Please. And the Oilers would've sucked w/o Gretzky back in the day. And the Bulls would'nt have made the playoffs without Jordan and Nicklaus wouldn't have won all those tournaments if he wasn't Jack freekin' Nicklaus.


But the gold medal game was a power play goal away from causing a soverign, hockey-loving nation to commit collective suicide!!! Great win Canada! But you HAD to have it. The US didn't back down and were your equals until that gimmicky 4 on 4 overtime.

Great tournament. I really enjoyed almost all of it!

+1
As I recall, Miller didn't score any goals. He needed the rest of the team for that.
If the O.T. was 5 on 5 there might have been a different outcome.
As for Crosby, well there isn't anything he can do to rehabilitate his image in the Detroit area. I have it on good authority that he was not held in the highest regard by his peers as he came up through youth hockey. Big surprise there!
Having play the game most of my life, my feeling is that while Canada invented the game, it really belongs to all of us who have come to love it. Kind of makes us all part Canadian. I know that when I meet Canadians I immediately talk to them about hockey (for the southern Ontario Canadians the opening question is : Red Wings or Leafs? Seems to be a 50/50 split).

[ZOO]

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.

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.

[911nut]

Originally Posted by ZOOMiata

My favoruite image of Canadian hockey? All the first 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.

Zoo, you may be right. Time will tell.
Look at the changing demographics of baseball in the U.S over the last 30 years. The potential talent pool was siphoned off by soccer, football and yes, hockey.
As I said, ten years out will tell the tale.

[Bill Douglas]

Hockey? New Zealand are the world champs. Oh you guys mean Ice Hockey.

We don't even play that as we don't get ice.