U.S. Advances to World Juniors Final

[bush_cheney2004]

Just noticed this tonight on the CBC sports page....it seems that the U.S. has defeated Canada's "Dream Team" in a World Juniors semi-final game. Canada had dominated its pool at 4-0, but came out flat against the underdog American team in the medal round. Canada will play Russia for bronze on Saturday.

In a year with no NHL commitments, Canada was suppose to have the best chances in years from a group of under 20 players. This international tournament is not such a big deal in the U.S., but excuses are flying in Canadian sports media, from poor coaching to a dying dedication to the game because of the very high cost to train and compete. Still, many Canadian players (male and female) do get scholarships to American schools, something not done in Canada ?

Feeding their young to the NHL machine leaves many players without a degree or a professional contract in hockey. Maybe they can make it up by coaching for $200/day clinics in a sport where price is no object.

Why is Canada losing its hockey edge? Are other nations just catching up....and passing Canada by?

[Shakeyhands]

One bad day at the rink doesn't a lost edge make. Compare 4-0 to 2-2...

[Guest]

Rink?

Oh, he's talking about ICE hockey...

[Boges]

I find it amusing that an American checks out the CBC.

[Black Dog]

Just noticed this tonight on the CBC sports page....it seems that the U.S. has defeated Canada's "Dream Team" in a World Juniors semi-final game. Canada had dominated its pool at 4-0, but came out flat against the underdog American team in the medal round. Canada will play Russia for bronze on Saturday.

In a year with no NHL commitments, Canada was suppose to have the best chances in years from a group of under 20 players. This international tournament is not such a big deal in the U.S., but excuses are flying in Canadian sports media, from poor coaching to a dying dedication to the game because of the very high cost to train and compete. Still, many Canadian players (male and female) do get scholarships to American schools, something not done in Canada ?

Feeding their young to the NHL machine leaves many players without a degree or a professional contract in hockey. Maybe they can make it up by coaching for $200/day clinics in a sport where price is no object.

Why is Canada losing its hockey edge? Are other nations just catching up....and passing Canada by?

Obvious troll is obvious. Canada has won a WJC medal in every event for the past 14 years. Hardly what you'd expect from a nation is supposed decline. I could go on, but again, there's no point in talking about this with someone who, like the vast majority of his countrymen, neither knows nor cares about the sport.

[Boges]

There is some sentiment that the US is increasingly passing Canada in the Junior ranks.

Hockey is a very expensive sport to play for parents, especially at an elite level. It's becoming a sport on the rich can play. That'll hurt Canada in the future.

I'm not sure how USA Hockey works but when you consider how hey develop athletes in the other major pro sports and considering their population advantage, Canada does have to do something to better foster better hockey talent talent.

[Guest American Woman]

Rink?

Oh, he's talking about ICE hockey...

I find it amusing that an American checks out the CBC.

Why? CBC has some good programming. "Arctic Air" comes to mind. Weren't you the one who told me about it? Maybe not ......

[Boges]

Why? CBC has some good programming. "Arctic Air" comes to mind. Weren't you the one who told me about it? Maybe not ......

No that would not have been me. Arctic Air has a main character that has been in several big budget US films. I still don't watch it. There's a CanCon show out called Bomb Girls that's really good. It's on Global on Wednesdays.

[Guest American Woman]

Hockey is a very expensive sport to play for parents, especially at an elite level. It's becoming a sport on the rich can play.

That's true in the States, too - it's an expensive sport for kids to be involved in.

[Guest American Woman]

No that would not have been me. Arctic Air has a main character that has been in several big budget US films. I still don't watch it. There's a CanCon show out called Bomb Girls that's really good. It's on Global on Wednesdays.

I did a search for Bomb Girls on my system, and it doesn't look as if I get it. I think CBC is the only Canadian channel that we get.

[Black Dog]

There is some sentiment that the US is increasingly passing Canada in the Junior ranks.

Hockey is a very expensive sport to play for parents, especially at an elite level. It's becoming a sport on the rich can play. That'll hurt Canada in the future.

I'm not sure how USA Hockey works but when you consider how hey develop athletes in the other major pro sports and considering their population advantage, Canada does have to do something to better foster better hockey talent talent.

This might be true, but I'm not sure who out there (outside of Don Cherry) actually believes Canada owns the game of hockey anymore.That hasn't been the case for decades. The Americans have simply finally joined the top tier of hockey nations along with Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Czechs, Slovaks and Canadians. Big deal. Unlike most of those other countries, though, Americans at large don't really give a crap. Hockey in the States is and will always be a niche sport, so in terms of popular interest and cultural impact, hockey will always be Canada's game.

[bush_cheney2004]

I find it amusing that an American checks out the CBC.

Why? There is always lots of American content on the CBC site. Sometimes the Canadian comments complain that headlines focus too much on the United States.

[bush_cheney2004]

There is some sentiment that the US is increasingly passing Canada in the Junior ranks.

The U.S. doesn't have the same kind of "Juniors" mentality. NCAA collegiate hockey has its own following for domestic competition and conference/national championships.

Hockey is a very expensive sport to play for parents, especially at an elite level. It's becoming a sport on the rich can play. That'll hurt Canada in the future.

Yes...very expensive. I live in a "3Ms" state, so "ice" hockey is all around me and supported by public investment into facilities and outdoor rinks. We even have pond hockey tournaments.

I'm not sure how USA Hockey works but when you consider how hey develop athletes in the other major pro sports and considering their population advantage, Canada does have to do something to better foster better hockey talent talent.

Canada may be a victim of its own hype, adding unnecesary pressure to teams in high stakes competiton. U.S. interest is growing in non-traditional states. Title IX laws made field and ice hockey higher priorities for female participation in high schools and colleges.

Edited January 4, 2013 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest American Woman]

Hockey is big where I live, too - in fact, according to this site - http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/ - "the Copper Country, in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula, is considered the Birthplace of Organized Professional Ice Hockey and Home of the World's First All Professional Ice Hockey Team!" Polls show ice hockey to be as popular as basketball in the U.S.

Edited January 4, 2013 by American Woman

[bush_cheney2004]

Yes, as Michigan is one of the "3M's".....Minnesota, Michigan, and Massachusetts. These were the traditional U.S. states where serious hockey player development could match kids from Canada.

[Guest American Woman]

I wondered what the "3M's" were.

[Guest Manny]

Hockey is a great sport which I love playing every week. It's too bad that Team Canada didn't advance, but to this Canadian its no big deal. That's their problem, they have to get their team together. Any team must eventually lose some time, even if they are the top seed. and in a one-game elimination round, that's the way she goes.

Sorry I doubt you'll see or hear a great deal of moaning over this. Had you not started a thread, no one else would have.

There's plenty of people who couldnt care less about hockey in Canada. Lots didn't even know the tournament was on. Just another sport.

[bush_cheney2004]

Sorry I doubt you'll see or hear a great deal of moaning over this. Had you not started a thread, no one else would have.

Any desired moaning can be found in the CBC reader comments. I think a lot of people are off peak because of the NHL lockout.

There's plenty of people who couldnt care less about hockey in Canada. Lots didn't even know the tournament was on. Just another sport.

This is even more true in the USA. Most Americans don't know (or care) that their team is in the finals.

[Boges]

Canada won the Spengler Cup last week so SUCK IT!!!

[bush_cheney2004]

Canada won the Spengler Cup last week so SUCK IT!!!

You want me to suck a Spengler Cup ?

[Boges]

. . . yes

[guyser]

The loss was a disappointment for what was supposed to be sure thing Gold medal final chance.

So much for sure things.

The US team peaked at the right time, the Canucks decided to mail it in at the worst possible time. It is becoming a habit in these tourneys .The US team was fast as blazes and played a great team game. They got hot at the right time. So about the only thing that can be said is Congrats and good luck in the Gold Medal game.

But I think we will ever be known as "Hockey is our Game" I cant argue with that, but I have to note it means we are at the centre of it (we are), not that we own the game (we dont and havent for eons now)

Canada is known as hockey country.

The US is known as baseball/basketball country.

We all know that neither own any of the games. But in a tourney both countries are always at or near the top and will always (foreseeable future anyhow) be at or near the top.(respective sports that is)

Soccer is much the same, at least for me...Italy , Brazil, Spain, France, Germany are always at or near the top and it is no surprise when they win. But they do not always win.

USA Hockey has actually taken a step backwards, the Under20 programme based in Michigan has not turned out what they thought they would.

The sport has become expensive, especially in the major cities. But dont forget that most of our stars have always come from small towns and little burgs out there in the hinterland. Hope they can keep on producing them or we are really in trouble.

The rest of the world has caught up in hockey. Some still have a ways to go. Does anyone recall the swiss teams from a short while ago? Russia was lucky to beat them in a shootout. Whoda thunk it?

No one should assume we will win Gold anymore. We should assume, and demand, that our players be at the top or near it, but wins will become increasingly more difficult to get.

[Black Dog]

Not sure how much of a narrative you can really craft out of a tournament as short as this. The shorter the tournament, the greater chance of random events, errors etc playing a larger impact on the outcome. If the medal rounds were best of three or five or seven, Canada would probably be vying for the top spot more often than not. It's not "our game" but we are still much much much better at it than anyone except maybe the Russians.

[Guest American Woman]

The loss was a disappointment for what was supposed to be sure thing Gold medal final chance.

So much for sure things.

Olympic contenders have found the same thing - they can perform a routine flawlessly 99.999% of the time, but sometimes the slip-up happens during the Games, and the result is the loss of the Gold, at best.

The US team peaked at the right time, the Canucks decided to mail it in at the worst possible time. It is becoming a habit in these tourneys .The US team was fast as blazes and played a great team game. They got hot at the right time. So about the only thing that can be said is Congrats and good luck in the Gold Medal game.

Thank you.

But I think we will ever be known as "Hockey is our Game" I cant argue with that, but I have to note it means we are at the centre of it (we are), not that we own the game (we dont and havent for eons now)

Oh, yeah, you're going to be connected with it - and of course Canada is known as a land of ice and snow (it is, you know ), so it's only natural; yet LA took the Stanley Cup last year, so it is a sport that is becoming a bit more universal. So really, no one "owns" the game, as you said.

Canada is known as hockey country.

The US is known as baseball/basketball country.

Football is actually the star attraction - and of course there's baseball, but I think the glory days of baseball are in the past. As for basketball, polls show that Americans like hockey as much as they like basketball.

At any rate, there are several countries that are good at hockey - and like you said, Canada and the U.S. will be among the top contenders in most instances. Makes for a good, friendly rivalry, right? I think hockey is my favorite Olympic sport.

[Guest Manny]

Thank you.

Are you a representative of that team?