Just curious, how popular is hockey in Denmark right now? Like is it the 2nd biggest sport after football? --For the US, good news that both Jimmy Howard and Justin Abdelkader have accepted invitations to play.
Jimmy Howard? The human empty net? Ugh. I wonder if we could get anybody else between the pipes. Not expecting much from this tourney, but it would be nice to at least make the quarterfinals. Also, good on Italy for earning promotion after being relegated in 2010. They're probably going back down to Division I after this, but it's good to see them back in the top flight of ice hockey.
As to be expected Crosby declined to play citing he wants to train and get ready for full season next year
Hockey is a very small sport i Denmark, though still fairly popular on TV, so I guess it depend a bit on how you look at it... or in other words, there are sports ppl are much more interested in doing themselves and then sport that perhaps do a bit better on TV.. Of course soccer is the by far the biggest sport no matter if you look at registered players or numbers of TV viewers... Team Handball was invented in Denmark (in it's modern form as it is played today), so this is obviously the 2nd most popular sport after Soccer, when you look at the number of clubs and TV viewers, though there are actually more Danes playing Golf, but I don't really believe most of them think of Golf as a sport as such, but just something they do it in their spare time in weekends to relax, keep fit and get the chance to meet some good friends.... Badminton is also one of the bigger sports just as cycling, swimming, sailing sports, or in other words the kind of sports that generally keep you fit, but you don't actually have to get deeper involved in, by playing tournaments or actually playing for a club. When we talk about registered players then the likes of Badminton, swimming, sailing sports, Tennis each attract in the area of 70,000 to 100,000 ppl... then we got sports like cycling, Boxing, Volleyball, Basketball, table tennis, that each attract 10,000 to 20,000 and then finally the likes of Hockey, American Football, Roller Skates, Pétanque and Rugby (2.000 to 4,000 ), with Rugby being the smallest of them, though there surely are smaller and more obscure sports.... On TV, it is mainly Soccer, Team Handball and cycling dominating.... I guess followed by Tennis, Golf, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, American Football, swimming, basketball and Volleyball, in that order I think. .
I think Schneider would have been the ideal #1 with Quick still involved in the NHL, but I guess Corey declined? Anyway, I'm not gonna complain too much about Howard -- he wasn't great down the stretch but should do OK in front of a surprisingly solid US defense IMO. I think it's the right decision from Sidney. Canada should still have plenty of firepower in this tournament offensively, and hopefully Sid has a healthy 2012-13 and is ready to go for Sochi 2014. Very cool, thanks for the reply. I look forward to watching more Danish players hopefully come over to the NHL.
Boston out I wonder if team Canada will be knocking on Tyler Segin's door to come play as for a kid many project to be in the mix for 2014 and he needs to get some experience on big ice.
Paging Tim Thomas. Tim Thomas the US Hockey white courtesy telephone. Your country needs you, Mr. Thomas.
It is the liberal European elites with their fancy single payer health care systems that really bother Thomas most, after all. Plus, he'll be able to get lots of sun when he stumps as "Tim the Goalkeeper" for Ron Paul.
Seguin and Vlasic might join Canada. The forward group of Canada looks ********ing insane. Sharp-Getzlaf-Perry Benn-Tavares-skinner Ladd-RNH-Eberle Kane-O'Reilly-Purcell
I know. 2014, Canada will be so powerful up front...but young...very young..might not have enough veteran leadership.
One thing I've never understood is why Canada doesn't do better in this tournament. Best on best the US can compete with Canada's best 20 players as shown in 2010. But as soon as the US loses two or three players the gap grows and only gets wider and wider. Canada are so deep that they could probably field 3 teams that would be top 5 or 6 in terms of talent. I guess it comes down to adjusting to Europe or something. Both Canada and the US have struggled relatively outside North America.
Last couple of years the issue for me was they sent out very inexperience squads, a lot of young talent on the teams but for many of them lack experience and those players who were suppose to be the experienced player simply were poor. Also very poor goaltending (Chris Mason/Chad Johnson 2010 and Steve Bernier/James Riemier 2011) From 2003-2009 Canada played in final 6 years winning 3 times so in the past decade we have has good success in the competition. Like the look of this group, if Bouwmeester and Phaneuf can play like they have in the past when Canada won this competition alongside Subban and Keith I really like our chances, especially with the great fire power we have and Ward in goal.
Canada lost Subban who went back to Montreal after suffering a injury during a game vs Swiss. I was hoping to see what he could offer on the big ice and would think he would play a big role with the team. Don't know if they are going to call on someone else to replace him or might play Ryan Murray who is already training with the team.
According to John Lu,: Jamie Benn - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry Alex Burrows - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle Jeff Skinner - John Tavares - Patrick Sharp Evander Kane - Ryan O'Reilly - Andrew Ladd / Teddy Purcell Methot - Dion Phaneuf Duncan Keith - M E Vlasic Jay Bouwmeester - Luke Schenn Ward Dubnyk Hackett
Jack Johnson named US captain. Hopefully this time around will be better than his last Worlds as captain (2010).
The team is better, but honestly making the quarterfinals is about what this team should expect. EDIT: just saw you meant 2010. That team was a complete joke anyway.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hock...rld-championships-us-medal-chances/54737964/1 Kevin Allen sort of breaks down the roster with 5 reasons the US could medal.
USA showed some of that good offence with a 7-2 win vs France. Canada starting off vs Slovakia which should be a good game to start out in terms of competitiveness as there tends to be some easy games from the start.