The history of best-versus-the-best hockey competition

[reno cool]

they should have similar tournament every year. Just not always in Canada and nhl rules/officials.

international hockey: it's not as good as it should be but what else I'm gonna watch?

 

[Mudcat]

Incredible finish. Holy shit. I almost went through the roof with both those goals.

I'd have to say Yerp actually played better - overall - for the whole final - both games. But what the hell - I can think of times Canada outplayed someone and lost - but this may be the first time for the reverse. ALTHOUGH, they weren't outplayed by a huge dramatic margin - and the wins had a lot to do with the skilled Canadian forwards knowing how to finish, and not just a bunch of lucky bounces.

And the goalie.

Extremely proud and pleased in any case.

 

[reno cool]

yep, I'm not pleased, but I'll agree with your assessment. ..I mean I'll agree that the Canadian goalie played well and that Europe played better overall. Kind of a shame they blew it like that. No doubt in my mind that Europe was at least the 2nd best team.

That Carey is a confident sob. I was intrigued by the way he refused to cover the puck towards the end there on several occasions. And the way he caught the puck off the ground a couple times earlier.

I learned that you can pressure the Canadians effectively and their defense is not impenetrable. But you have to pressure them the whole game. Hopefully the other coaches would have learned something by next tournament.

 

[Blitty]

Congratulations Canadian fans.

The players won that cup for you. You should be very proud

Now most of them will go and spend the rest of their lives in America.

 

[Matty]

they should have similar tournament every year. Just not always in Canada and nhl rules/officials.

international hockey: it's not as good as it should be but what else I'm gonna watch?

A better way to split the teams next year: have an Ontario team, a Quebec team and a rest-of-Canada team fight it out before joining the main competition.

 

[Matty]

For example, an all-Quebec team would've looked something like this:

C
Mike Ribeiro
Paul Stastny (was born in QC)
Patrice Bergeron
Derick Brassard

LW
Jonathan Drouin
David Perron
Jonathan Huberdeau
Anthony Duclair

RW
Jason Pominville
PA Parenteau
Steve Bernier
Alex Burrows

D
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Franois Beauchemin
Kris Letang
Jason Demers
David Savard
Simon Desprs

G
Corey Crawford
Roberto Luongo
Marc-Andre Fleury

Prolly have no shot at winning it all, but the tourney would've been a lot more competitive.

 

[Mudcat]

Meanwhile here's the updated thing. I guess I'll call them Team Europe even though Team Rest-of-Europe would be more accurate, and my personal preference would be Team Yerple.




1976 Canada Cup
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: Czechoslovakia

1981 Canada Cup
Winner: Soviet Union
Runner-up: Canada

1984 Canada Cup
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: Sweden

1987 Canada Cup
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: Soviet Union

1991 Canada Cup
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: USA

1996 World Cup:
Winner: USA
Runner-up: Canada

1998 Olympics (Nagano)
Winner: Czech Republic
Runner-up: Russia

2002 Olympics (Salt Lake City)
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: USA

2006 Olympics (Turin)
Winner: Sweden
Runner-up: Finland

2010 Olympics (Vancouver)
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: USA

2014 Olympics (Sochi)
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: Sweden


2016 World Cup (Toronto)
Winner: Canada
Runner-up: Europe

 

[roguejuror]

A better way to split the teams next year

this will be yearly?

 

[Matty]

No no, my bad. Should've said next time.

 

[MrMonkey]

Now most of them will go and spend the rest of their lives in America.

Most of the Broad Street Bullies from the Flyers heyday do live in S Jersey!

 

[PuckOff]

Europe playing some great hockey right now. I wonder if it's because they're not burdened by all the national pressures, perhaps they got some good coaching. No excuse for Russia/Sweden/Czechia to not show similar skill.

Canadian coach!!!

That was a boring series.

 

[PuckOff]

There is little hitting in this tournament and almost none tonight. Very sketchy.

It was so unwatchable last night that I tuned out with 8 minutes left in the 3rd.

 

[PuckOff]

Europe started sitting back too much. bad news. plus the refs aren't helping. god forbid they call something on that wanker Crosby

Ya they sat back in the neutral zone and played the trap instead of playing real hockey.

 

[reno cool]

but Pucky, don't you think Europe worked those boys pretty good through most of the games? Considering that the only country with any pedigree(?) in that group is Slovakia (part of Czechoslovakia) that was pretty significant. You got Germans and Norwegians and whoever showing that they can compete better than the stick up their ass Swedes/Russia/Finland etc. Canada looked pretty fortunate to win.

I mean I wouldn't call the series boring. Maybe my expectations have changed

 

[Matty]

It was so unwatchable last night that I tuned out with 8 minutes left in the 3rd.

That Marchand goal was sweet, but yeah, I had to force myself to keep watching it. Really disappointing tournament IMO. Hard not to see it as a marketing gimmick. I don't think the players were giving it their all, not even close.

 

[reno cool]

On a side note, espn should never be allowed near hockey again.

They actually did a 10 minute interview with Bettman in the middle of play in the 2nd period no respect for the game. I suppose it must be way too hard to learn the players name and do a decent play by play.
Dumbamericans should only be allowed to work baseball/ football since there so much downtime you can constantly talk about irrelevant nonsense without taking away from the game.

 

[Mudcat]

Ultra-smooth afterglow mode here.

 

[Matty]

Poster Mudcat, you're easily impressed. That was figure skating.