Ice Hockey WC-08 in Canada

[Happy Times]

Finnish team, defence being the biggest question mark, new guys taking the responsibility because of injuries by many of the usual names.
Bu we are probably going to get Saku Koivu from Montreal joining in and i think this team has potential, lot better than you might expect.:)


Goalies
32 Niklas Bäckström (Minnesota NHL)
35 Petri Vehanen (Lukko FIN)

Defence
4 Ville Koistinen (Nashville NHL)
6 Ossi Väänänen (Djurgården SWE)
7 Antti-Jussi Niemi (Frölunda SWE)
19 Mikko Luoma (HV 71 SWE)
21 Janne Niskala (Milwaukee AHL)
27 Mikko Jokela (Jokerit FIN)
33 Anssi Salmela (Tappara FIN)

Centers
9 Mikko Koivu (Minnesota NHL)
12 Olli Jokinen (Florida NHL)
23 Riku Hahl (Timrå SWE)
39 Niko Kapanen (Phoenix NHL)

Forwards
8 Teemu Selänne (Anaheim NHL)
15 Tuomo Ruutu (Carolina NHL)
16 Ville Peltonen (Florida NHL)
18 Hannes Hyvönen (Kärpät FIN)
20 Sean Bergenheim (NY Islanders NHL)
36 Jussi Jokinen (Tampa Bay NHL)
37 Mika Pyörälä (Timrå SWE)
38 Antti Pihlström (Milwaukee AHL)

[Dowly]

I have a good feeling about this year. :know: (Yeh yeh, I say it every year. :p)

Belarus gave a tight game against Sweden on Saturday. :yep: And the last night's game, USA-Slovenia was nice to watch as for the first period, Slovenia didnt gave up easily, very aggressive game with alot of slammer checks.

Other than that, not many that interesting games coming. Maybe Canada - USA tomorrows, but others should be pretty predictable.

[Spoon 11th]

Finnish team could have a few topless ice hookers in their line up to distract other players.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Canada's line-up is looking pretty good this year: http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/feature/?fid=11014

Hard to believe that this is the first time the IIHF has been held in Canada.
Should be an interesting game today against the U.S.


RDP

[PhantomLord]

:rock: After jumping into an early 2-0 lead, the Germans beat an undermanned Slovakian team with surprising ease, 4-2. :rock:

Oh.... if germany survives the preliminary round we´ll see if we can do it again against USA and Canada :rotfl:

[Happy Times]

Canada's line-up is looking pretty good this year: http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/feature/?fid=11014

Hard to believe that this is the first time the IIHF has been held in Canada.
Should be an interesting game today against the U.S.


RDP

Very exciting game, lots of emotion in the rink.:up:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Canada's line-up is looking pretty good this year: http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/feature/?fid=11014

Hard to believe that this is the first time the IIHF has been held in Canada.
Should be an interesting game today against the U.S.


RDP
Very exciting game, lots of emotion in the rink.:up:
Yeah, caught the highlights, the U.S. has a great team, nice rivalry with Canada. Wish I could get to Halifax to see some of the tournament, not going to happen though :oops:


RDP

[Dowly]

Very good game last night with USA - Canada! Hoping to see more games like that! :rock:

EDIT: Heeey, they finally found what's wrong with the bad picture quality on the broadcasts! It's the fricking Swedes at it again! :damn:

Link only in finnish:
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1528321

[Happy Times]

Very good game last night with USA - Canada! Hoping to see more games like that! :rock:

EDIT: Heeey, they finally found what's wrong with the bad picture quality on the broadcasts! It's the fricking Swedes at it again! :damn:

Link only in finnish:
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1528321

Yeah, i also tought if my eyesight had gotten worse.:lol:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Tough one against Norway, they played the trap to a science :yep:
http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/

Oh well, a win is a win. Germany tommorow, Finland on Monday. Should we wager a bet lads with regards to the latter.


RDP

[Dowly]

Holy fock! That Latvian goalie was good! The total was what, 65+ saves? So wrong he didnt get the best player of the team award! Without him, I'm sure the figures would've been more like 5-2 for us. Great game from Latvia! :yep:

[Happy Times]

Tough one against Norway, they played the trap to a science :yep:
http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/

Oh well, a win is a win. Germany tommorow, Finland on Monday. Should we wager a bet lads with regards to the latter.


RDP

Well Finland had a struggle against Latvia, if either plays as bad as they played in these games we wont see a close game. If both give their best, we might see the best hockey in the tournament.:hmm:

[nikimcbee]

http://www.rushockey.com/images/archive/players/great_five2.jpg

We Will bury you:up:

http://www.rushockey.com/images/archive/russia/kovalev_cup.jpg

[Happy Times]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lIZs1x-fyI&feature=related

:p

[Dowly]

Last night's came between Finland & USA was rather.. interesting to say the least. Some pretty unsportsman behviour from USA. I think it was 3 times they checked etc. a Finn with the whistle already being blown.

Oh well, we won. :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqNRsOWx5mA

[Fincuan]

Our first goal was especially :lol:
Gotta love those russian referees

(Anyone who didn't watch the match: It went in THROUGH the net and all the refs including the video guy somehow failed to see that even though it was dead obvious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4VVPYhZ-AE&feature=user)

[Happy Times]

I understood that the video judge had said "no goal" and the referee undstood or heard that as "a goal". And if the video referee was kicked out of tournament, the Russian referee should be kicked also, he ruined the game by whistling like a madman.
How much time was there in the entire game played 5vs5, both teams were hurt by this maniac.Salmela shouldn have fought if he wasnt going to give 100% into it, thats how you loose and get a bloody nose. Oh how i wish Jarkko Ruutu was in this team.:-?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbp_5Q1IhXw

[OneToughHerring]

If you look at the fight then it's clear that both guys got hits through. I'm sure Backes has a major headache today. :)

Personally I think Finland relies a bit too much on NHL - 'stars', almost all in team USA were young and not major stars, except maybe Halpern. Still they put up a good game, especially Esche (sp?).

[Happy Times]

If you look at the fight then it's clear that both guys got hits through. I'm sure Backes has a major headache today. :)

Personally I think Finland relies a bit too much on NHL - 'stars', almost all in team USA were young and not major stars, except maybe Halpern. Still they put up a good game, especially Esche (sp?).

You serious? He got maybe two proper hits in and Backes got over ten, Salmela got owned and a broken nose. But the reason might be that he didnt want to get that match penalty. I think Finland has a good mix of youth and experience in the team.

[ReallyDedPoet]

almost all in team USA were young and not major stars, except maybe Halpern. Still they put up a good game, especially Esche (sp?).
That's because the majority of the better players are younger for team USA. They have a real youth movement going.

World Championships aside, it is really the Olympics that showcase the best in the world, not everybody participates in the worlds, with the format that they have had since the 98' Olympics, all the top players are there.

Interesting tidbit concerning the Coach of Finland: Finland head coach and Wallaceburg, Ont. native Doug Shedden was recruited by Finnish general manager Jari Kurri.

Should be a good game today against Finland, good luck to the Finns here :up:


RDP

[OneToughHerring]

You serious? He got maybe two proper hits in and Backes got over ten, Salmela got owned and a broken nose. But the reason might be that he didnt want to get that match penalty. I think Finland has a good mix of youth and experience in the team.

I'd say it's more like 12 - 6 hits connected, with lots of flailing. Anyway, I'm not a big fan of fighting in hockey, the game is decided by who scores more goals according to the refs, the rest is just scenery.

[Happy Times]

Finnish legend, Antero "Quintessence of Finnish Ice Hockey" Mertaranta, has been noticed in North America.:up: :rock:

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/the-danny-gallivan-of-finland/?scp=1-b&sq=mertaranta&st=nyt

[Dowly]

Finnish legend, Antero "Quintessence of Finnish Ice Hockey" Mertaranta, has been noticed in North America.:up: :rock:

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/the-danny-gallivan-of-finland/?scp=1-b&sq=mertaranta&st=nyt

It just wouldnt be the same with out Mertsi. :up: I'd love to have an small 'mertaCam' screen on the top corner through the game. :rotfl:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice compliment, Gallivan was a great announcer ^^^ :yep:

Nice win yesterday for Canada, Finland is never easy to play against:IIHF Results (http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=237566&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main)


RDP

[nikimcbee]

Nice compliment, Gallivan was a great announcer ^^^ :yep:

Nice win yesterday for Canada, Finland is never easy to play against:IIHF Results (http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=237566&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main)


RDP

Thanks for posting a link to the results:up: . I live in the wrong part to follow hockey.:roll: All they care about is track:roll: . Regional sports only.

I looked at ESPN and I couldn't find any covereage.

[Dowly]

F*CK!

Stupid ******* sports! Can anyone name even one team that has made as much mistakes as team Finland in the past 5 years? For 4 years or so, they've used the same fracking tactic of putting the puck to the end and hoping there's someone to take it, IT DOESNT WORK!!!! Nobody else uses it as much! Ditch the whole ******* team and get new batch of players. Start from the bottom and train them, I dont care. The guys we have now cant do crap! 60% of the passes end up to the other team.

Now, I hope Sweden will be against us in the bronze game and there'd be a HUGE fight. Preferably the whole team + the coaches. I want some satisfaction from this tournament. :-?

F*CKING F*CK! :damn:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice compliment, Gallivan was a great announcer ^^^ :yep:

Nice win yesterday for Canada, Finland is never easy to play against:IIHF Results (http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=237566&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main)


RDP
Thanks for posting a link to the results:up: . I live in the wrong part to follow hockey.:roll: All they care about is track:roll: . Regional sports only.

I looked at ESPN and I couldn't find any covereage.

No problem :yep::up: You can get live feeds at that site as well.


RDP

[OneToughHerring]

Oh well. Here's to beating Sweden in the bronze game. :rock:

[Fincuan]

For 4 years or so, they've used the same fracking tactic of putting the puck to the end and hoping there's someone to take it, IT DOESNT WORK!!!!

It just might work, but they definitely need more players like Antti "Pillu" Pihlström to do the job. Hands down the most energetic guy on the team, the leader in +/- and all this without any penalty minutes. A huge :up: to him for the entire tournament.

Canda ftw, Sweden to the bronze game :lol:

[Dowly]

For 4 years or so, they've used the same fracking tactic of putting the puck to the end and hoping there's someone to take it, IT DOESNT WORK!!!!
It just might work...

Like I said, 4 or so years they've used it. Team Finland is the only one to use it that much. IT DOESNT WORK! You can see it any game you watch. :nope:

[Tchocky]

It never works.

THankfully the game moves fast, so stupidity doesn't always get cought.

[ReallyDedPoet]

they've used the same fracking tactic of putting the puck to the end and hoping there's someone to take it, IT DOESNT WORK!!!!
It's a tough style to play on the smaller North American ice surface.

Second intermission, Canada 5-Sweden 3 :D


RDP

[OneToughHerring]

Sweden it is then. :D

[Dowly]

Sweden it is then. :D

Aye. http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/Finnish_Ferret/mmltk20052ye.gif

[nikimcbee]

What is this?:hmm:
http://news.sport-express.ru/online/ntext/23/nl236399.html

[nikimcbee]

they've used the same fracking tactic of putting the puck to the end and hoping there's someone to take it, IT DOESNT WORK!!!!
It's a tough style to play on the smaller North American ice surface.

Second intermission, Canada 5-Sweden 3 :D


RDP

Yes, the Euro-style of hockey has a tough time on the smaller rink. It's more suited for goon-style hockey. By the time you get down to the puck, your skaters are beat too pieces:roll: . I like Euro-hockey more.

[Fincuan]

What is this?:hmm:
http://news.sport-express.ru/online/ntext/23/nl236399.html

:hmm:

Care to elaborate a little? It seems to be a recap of the Russia - Finland match, but my russian is a little rusty and running it through Google Translate resulted in this :rotfl: after the first paragraph. Here's (http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.sport-express.ru%2Fonline%2Fntext%2F23%2Fnl236399.html&hl=fi&ie=UTF8&sl=ru&tl=fi) the finnish translation. Anyone who knows finnish should sit tight before reading and remember that I warned you :lol:

[nikimcbee]

What is this?:hmm:
http://news.sport-express.ru/online/ntext/23/nl236399.html

:hmm:

Care to elaborate a little? It seems to be a recap of the Russia - Finland match, but my russian is a little rusty and running it through Google Translate resulted in this :rotfl: after the first paragraph. Here's (http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.sport-express.ru%2Fonline%2Fntext%2F23%2Fnl236399.html&hl=fi&ie=UTF8&sl=ru&tl=fi) the finnish translation. Anyone who knows finnish should sit tight before reading and remember that I warned you :lol:

Pulls pin, counts to three, throws...

Here's the short version:

Russia 4 Finland nil

Awaits Finnish hockey hooligan masses.:rotfl:

[ReallyDedPoet]

they've used the same fracking tactic of putting the puck to the end and hoping there's someone to take it, IT DOESNT WORK!!!!
It's a tough style to play on the smaller North American ice surface.

Second intermission, Canada 5-Sweden 3 :D


RDP
Yes, the Euro-style of hockey has a tough time on the smaller rink. It's more suited for goon-style hockey. By the time you get down to the puck, your skaters are beat too pieces:roll: . I like Euro-hockey more.
I like this combination: some smash-mouth; lot's of skill and finish with plenty of heart :yep:

Canada and Russia again eh'


RDP

[nikimcbee]

http://www.russianhockey.us/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000752

These guys ( http://www.russianjerseys.com/01rnat.html ) had a great link to an article why Eastern European hockey is better than Canadian style hockey (written by Canadians mind you):lol: , but I couldn't find the link.

It was basically how Europeans could out skate Canadians, because most of the good Canadian skaters (in youth hockey)are sick of being bashed around by the goon players, so they drop out of the game.

I'm still surprised the US can never field a good team. I guess we broke the mold in 1980.:roll:

[ReallyDedPoet]

It was basically how Europeans could out skate Canadians, because most of the good Canadian skaters (in youth hockey)are sick of being bashed around by the goon players, so they drop out of the game.

For a good pulse on World Hockey you need to look no further than the Annual World Junior Championships, how the various teams do there ( all the young stars are present ). In that tournament, Canada's results speak for themselves. So the Canadian brand of hockey is still going strong.

Yeah, the US peaked with the 96' World Cup, but they did make it to the finals in the 2002 Olympics. They are currently re-building and should be fine in the next few years.

Should be a good game on Sunday :yep:


RDP

[nikimcbee]

It was basically how Europeans could out skate Canadians, because most of the good Canadian skaters (in youth hockey)are sick of being bashed around by the goon players, so they drop out of the game.

For a good pulse on World Hockey you need to look no further than the Annual World Junior Championships, how the various teams do there ( all the young stars are present ). In that tournament, Canada's results speak for themselves. So the Canadian brand of hockey is still going strong.

Yeah, the US peaked with the 96' World Cup, but they did make it to the finals in the 2002 Olympics. They are currently re-building and should be fine in the next few years.

Should be a good game on Sunday :yep:


RDP

I don't follow it too closely, but it has been interesting to follow Russian hockey since the demise of the Soviet sports system.

Atleast the US has women's hockey to dominate the world.:roll:

[ReallyDedPoet]

It was basically how Europeans could out skate Canadians, because most of the good Canadian skaters (in youth hockey)are sick of being bashed around by the goon players, so they drop out of the game.

For a good pulse on World Hockey you need to look no further than the Annual World Junior Championships, how the various teams do there ( all the young stars are present ). In that tournament, Canada's results speak for themselves. So the Canadian brand of hockey is still going strong.

Yeah, the US peaked with the 96' World Cup, but they did make it to the finals in the 2002 Olympics. They are currently re-building and should be fine in the next few years.

Should be a good game on Sunday :yep:


RDP
I don't follow it too closely, but it has been interesting to follow Russian hockey since the demise of the Soviet sports system.

Atleast the US has women's hockey to dominate the world.:roll:

Yeah, they have done well. There have been some good match ups with Canada over the years, be it in the World Championships or the Olympics, it goes back and forth.


RDP

[ReallyDedPoet]

Congrats to the Russians for their 5-4 win over Canada yesterday. The game was ours to be had as we were up 4-2, but let it slip away. That's hockey for ya'. As we all like to say, there's always next year.

Can't wait until the 2010 Winter Olympics :rock:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1c/Vancouver_2010_logo.svg/220px-Vancouver_2010_logo.svg.png
RDP