World Cup of Hockey

[Anthony]

There has not been much buzz about this. We are in a group with both Canada and Russia, so I think it does not too good to get into the medal round.

[SABuffalo786]

Whatever. It should be an ass-load of fun. Wish I was back home. Could've made the drive to Toronto for some of the games.

[kwik1980]

Czech Republic national team coach Ivan Hlinka died at the age of 54 early this morning in the Cezch Republic. Hlinka suffered serious injuries in a car crash outside of Prague late Sunday night, and passed away in a hospital.

As a player, Hlinka won 2 Olympic medals (one silver, one bronze), and 3 World Championship titles for Czechoslovakia. As a coach, he guided the Czech national team to the 1998 Olympic gold medal, and the 1999 World Championship. He also coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to the 1999-2000 Eastern Conference Finals in his one full season at the healm there. He was fired after the team started 0-4 in the 2000-1 season.

There has been no announcement as of yet as to who will replace Hlinka at the World Cup. The Czechs open the tournament August 30, at Finland.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=95069

[SABuffalo786]

USA beats Canada 2-1 in Columbus exhibition. http://tsn.ca/world_cup_hockey/news_story.asp?id=96022

[CyphaPSU]

It's good to see the USA team come out with a convincing win against Canada, but it was only the very first exhibition. Both teams will be doing a lot of chemistry-building before they meet again for real on the 31st.

There was a pretty surprizing result from across the Pond: Germany tied Russia in an exhibition 3:3. Russia is in the same group with the USA.

[DoyleG]

A lot of the top Russian players are pulling out of the toruney. Don't think they will be that much of a threat.

[Chowderhead]

Last night in Ottawa:

Canada 3, US 1.

[SABuffalo786]

Yeah, all the Canadians on TSN were all congratulating each other on already winning the World Cup after one Exhibition win in Ottawa. :rolleyes:


One more week. And then a REAL international tournament can begin. Stupid Olympics....

[SABuffalo786]

So does anyone plan on going to the games?


Any Columbus people go to USA-Canada? Ottawa people, go to the return leg?


Anyone in Philly got tickets for the games there?

[Daniel from Montréal]

Yeah, all the Canadians on TSN were all congratulating each other on already winning the World Cup after one Exhibition win in Ottawa. :rolleyes:


One more week. And then a REAL international tournament can begin. Stupid Olympics....
I've got tickets to Canada-Slovakia in Montréal. The Slovakian forwards look to be the most potent and I can't wait to see them in action.

I have friends going to Canada-USA (you had to buy tickets to both games so we split them): that one's gonna get raucous and maybe a bit nasty (the SSB will most probably get booed somewhat and we'll get another mini-scandal).

[MassachusettsRef]

There has not been much buzz about this. We are in a group with both Canada and Russia, so I think it does not too good to get into the medal round.Actually, this is one of those systems where everyone makes the "medal round". The round robin games are merely played for seeds. Quarterfinal matches are intergroup rematches (1 v 4, 2 v 3), and then the semifinals are crossovers. So, a US-Canada final is possible (as is US-Russia, Canada-Russia, Czech-Sweden, etc.). The way I read the schedule, US and Canada both are guaranteed home ice in the quarters and semis unless they draw each other.

I'd say the chances for the US look decent, but, like any tournament of this sort, goaltending is the key. And, since this is on the heels of the offseason (or, possibly just the beginning of a really long offseason), it becomes even more of a question mark because we don't know who's in form and who's not. If either Conklin or DiPietro steps up, the US should do well. Same goes for the Czechs with Vokoun or Cechmanek. Winning the European group is important, because it probably means you get to face Germany in Round 2.

Other than that, the first round is just for fun, because aside from Germany, on paper, everyone can beat everyone in this tournament. Canada/Finland might be the biggest talent discrepancy, but can anyone be sure Kiprusoff wouldn't steal a game from the Canadians?

My picks, just for fun:

North American Group
1Canada
2USA
3Slovakia
4Russia Federation

European Group
1Czech Republic
2Sweden
3Finland
4Germany

Quarterfinals
Canada - Russian Federation 4:2
USA - Slovakia 5:3
Czech Republic - Germany 4:0
Sweden - Finland 3:4

Semifinals
Canada - Finland 3:1
USA - Czech Republic 2:1

Final
Canada- USA 2:3

[canzano55]

Final
Canada- USA 2:3 Ummm, I dont think so. But thats a nice imagination you got there.

[MassachusettsRef]

Ummm, I dont think so. But thats a nice imagination you got there.Like I said, just for fun. I do think Canada has the strongest team, and will beat the US in group play. But it's not out of the realm of possibility to think these two teams would split if they played twice (considering it just happened).

A US-Canada final is what I'd like to see, but truth be told, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Czechs might somehow rain on that parade. I honestly don't think Russia or Sweden will be that big of a factor, and that Finland might very well be the surprise team--with the NHL experience it's gained, that roster is a lot stronger than it's been in past international competitions. Slovakia will be fun to watch, but I'm not sure their goaltending will hold up.

[Daniel from Montréal]

Anyone can beat anyone, including the Germans.

Let me refer you to:
1996 WCH: Germany 6 - 1 Czech Republic
2002 SLC: Belarus 4 - 3 Sweden

As well as tight results such as Canada 3 - 2 Germany in 2002.

I'll pick the Slovaks as dark horse semi-finalists.

[SABuffalo786]

Ummm, I dont think so. But thats a nice imagination you got there.



What's so far fetched about it? We both drew a home and home in the past week, and to me that means the teams are pretty even.


That gold medal in 2002 really went to your head, eh?

[canzano55]

That gold medal in 2002 really went to your head, eh? Yeah it did, but can you blame me? Wayne has brought players this year like St. Louis (Tampa) and his teamate the incredibly talented Lecavalier. With talent like that being brought in (Stanley Cup Champs), that should mean that Canada has the very best in the world, shouldn't it? Sure guys like SuperMario are getting old and not to mention he still has trouble bending over and tying on his skates, but he can still make you look like a jackass cause he's that good!

Other Stars:

Iginla, Sakic, Brad Richards, Heatley, Niedermayer, Draper, Ryan Smith, Marleu, Thornton, Ed Jovanovski, Shane Doane, and ofocurse insanely talented Golies in Theodore (Habs) Luongo (Panthers) and Brodeur (Devils).

With all this great talent there are still some notable stars left out:

Paul Korea, Bertuzzi, Roberts, Brian McCabe, Pronger, MacInnis, Blake...need I go on.

Regardless there's enough talent to put together 2 Gold Medal squads.

[LaxBandit]

So does anyone plan on going to the games?
Any Columbus people go to USA-Canada? Ottawa people, go to the return leg? Anyone in Philly got tickets for the games there?

LB: No games in Philadelphia this time around. Aside from the two exhibition games in Columbus, the only USA city to be hosting games is St. Paul who is hosting United States-Russia and United States-Slovakia, a quarterfinal-featuring the United States and a semifinal-featuring the United States should they advance there.

A couple of my internet co-horts are attending the United States-Canada game in Montreal next Tuesday and Russia-Canada in Toronto on Sept 4.

A person who comes into my workplace works for USA Hockey in some capacity (he was an off-ice official for the NCAA Frozen Four that were played here in Buffalo in 2003.) bought a few packages for the games in Toronto. (A few weeks ago, he asked if I was interested in tickets for the Russia-Slovakia game on Sept 5 or a quarterfinal on Sept 8. Gotta save my cash right now.)

LB...

[SABuffalo786]

A person who comes into my workplace works for USA Hockey in some capacity (he was an off-ice official for the NCAA Frozen Four that were played here in Buffalo in 2003.) bought a few packages for the games in Toronto. (A few weeks ago, he asked if I was interested in tickets for the Russia-Slovakia game on Sept 5 or a quarterfinal on Sept 8. Gotta save my cash right now.)

LB...


Lucky. I'd have definitley tried to get tickets for the Toronto games if I was still back home.

[LaxBandit]

Lucky. I'd have definitley tried to get tickets for the Toronto games if I was still back home.

Opps! The way I posted it sounded like I was saving my cash to attend at least one of the two games. No, I can't afford to attend the games and need to save my cash for other sports events etc. I forget what the exact price he told me but it was definiately more than $100 US and thats definiately more than I could afford to pay right now-especially for a Russia-Slovakia game.

United States won their final tuneup over Russia 2-0 on goals by Brett Hull and John-Michaels Liles (???). Liles was in Europe when he got the call to replace to Hal Gill (???) who broke a foot in the game in Ottawa. Liles caught a flight to Columbus, arriving just in time for pre-game warmups. He scored on first shift-14:55 into the 1st period. Sharing the shutout were Rick DiPetro and Robert Esche.

LB...

[SectionX]

Like I said, just for fun. I do think Canada has the strongest team, and will beat the US in group play. But it's not out of the realm of possibility to think these two teams would split if they played twice (considering it just happened).

A US-Canada final is what I'd like to see, but truth be told, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Czechs might somehow rain on that parade. I honestly don't think Russia or Sweden will be that big of a factor, and that Finland might very well be the surprise team--with the NHL experience it's gained, that roster is a lot stronger than it's been in past international competitions. Slovakia will be fun to watch, but I'm not sure their goaltending will hold up.


Umm sweden is ranked as the 2nd most dangerous team after Canada. We have more NHL stars and experience than the Finnish team. We even have 4 NHL captains in our squad so I dont know what you are talking about.

http://www.tsn.ca/world_cup_hockey/feature.asp?fid=9879

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. USA
4. CZECH
5. RUSSIA
6. Finland
7. Slovakia
8. Germany