World Junior Hockey Championship
 

Ah, hockey to quench the hockey thirst. Canada is the favorite to win, just look at the roster. Best team on paper hands down, now it's gotta be up to the players to win it all.

What are your thoughts, opinions, predictions?

I hope Canada wins. It's been seven years since we've won the tournament and we're due. The Canadian roster is jam-packed: Crosby, Bergeron, Getzlaf, Ladd, Phaneuf ... it's their strongest team in years. Good to see lots of WHL players on there as well. But with the NHL lockout, these guys have a lot of pressure on them as the whole country is watching them even closer then before.

Gold: Canada
Silver: United States
Bronze: Czech Republic

Game is over and Canada won 7-2 over a Mediocre slovak team. The Bergeron - Crosby - Perry line had a combined 8 points. Good way to start off the tournament if you ask me.

wasnt it 7-3?

yes, crosby was just amazing to watch, that kid is gonna be special.

Damn, why won't they show Hockey on TV out here in California???

the USA games are on ESPN, next game is today (monday) at 9 eastern. ESPN 2 that is

Canada plays Sweden today do they not?

I'm excited for that game.

Sweden is usually a strong opponent and they beat Germany 6-0 yesterday. Granted, it was Germany, but it should still be good.

7-1 as i type this, damn..... :-)

8-1 final. Canada outshot them something like 45-17. Sweden's not a powerhouse but they're no slouch either and it's amazing to watch Canada literally skate circles around them. There's just so much talent on that team. Better be careful not to jinx them ...

*knocks on wood*

what a beating.... Bring on the real teams

Whoo hoo, found it. 2-0 US right now! Thanks man, now I can get my hockey fix somewhere other than the local rink! :thumbsup:

Canada vs Russia will be an absolute blast to watch. Can't wait to see Phaneuf smash Ovechkin.

USA is starting to blow out the swiss, they let the swiss score two quick goals and then have scored three un answered goals... swiss goalie needs to be changed me thinks. So does the USA goalie now.. its 3-5 usa.. 4 -5, think i jinxxed them but montoya has let in two goals he should of easily stopped.

4-6 usa now.. too many goals in the third

8-9 goals scored in the third....And people say there is not enough scoring in hockey, HA!
SOme good talent out there, too bad it wasn't in the nets too. Most of those shots were stoppable. Except that powerplay goal short side upstairs. Man what a shot.

Montoya is one of the best goalies in the tournament IMO. Plus the rules are different than NHL so it opens up the game to much more scoring than in the NHL.

Yeah, the first goals he let in i don't think he could of done anything to stop. But the next two, were two he should of stopped, one he just looked like he wasn't awake, and the second one again looked like he was slow getting his 5 hole shut..

also is there a rule that makes 17 yearolds wear full face shields? i noticed all the 17 yearolds were wearing them.

Under international hockey rules, all players under 18 have to wear a full face mask.

Yes, did you see how the Swedish goalies stick came and hit Crosby right in the neck/chin area? If he wasn't wearing that shield... Besides Crosby is the next great one so he has to protect himself as best he can.

Through three games, Canada: 24 goals for, 4 Goals against

when will we see some real competition? Hopefully soon... watching blowout hockey isn't much fun

i was hopeing canada and the USA would get to play before the finals but i guess i will have to wait.

Finlad is suposedly going to be Canada's best competition so far. But I bet Canada will just steamroll them anyway. Go Crosby!

Don't count your chickens before they hatch... Czechs and Ruskies might have something to say about you just walking into the finals.

Same with finland on our side

Czechs have nothing special, only russia could stop it, but they will have to fight their way to the semis as the USA will get the by there as well as canada. Not that we haven't beaten russia already though.

It all boils down to who has the better team on the day the game is played. It doesn't matter who has beat who how many times in the past. The team with the desire and the heart to win on the day the game is played is all that matters.

We all remember Belarus beating Sweden at the 2002 Olympics right? This shot of Salo having the puck bounce off his head.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/oly...en_belarus_ap/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/oly...salo_ap-01.jpg

That reminds me of the Swedish goalie who got a slapshot off the helmet the other night. They've amended the rule so when a goalie gets hit in the mask the play is automatically stopped.

usa vs belarus is on in an hour btw, espn 2 9:30, wednesday.

guess i did speak too soon, usa loses to belarus 5-3

as a canucks fan i had very mixed feelings.

on one hand, it is the USA losing... on the other hand that's the Canucks draft choice in net there....

Oh, like it matters. If things keep going the way they are, we'll never see the NHL until these draftees are into their 30's. :mad:

no need to remind me of that small detail

Well, I am lucky enough that the WJC came to my school's rink and I am watching every game in person! :thumbsup:

The USA looks absolutely horrible. They played well against the Russians, but have not been good since. That Belarus game was terrible. Neither goalie has played well and the defense is way to small.

Canada should runaway with this tournament, but the Russians may give them a run for their money.

I am really impressed with the Swiss team. They are one of those teams that I thought would suck every game like Germany, but they play well as a team and never give up. I really like watching them play.

the USA game isn't on tv tonight here, college basketball is way bigger i guess.

ugh 8-0 Canada in the 3rd! This HAS to be the most dominating performance in a round robin at the international level ever.

Bring on the Semis!

The canadians are playing well, lets hope they can keep it up.


Anybody out there watching the Spengler Cup? Some decent hockey being played there. Seemed strange seeing Nash, Thornton, and St. Louis playing for Davos against the Canadians but I guess they did stick with their club teams

anyone know where there is an online broadcast (radio or video) of the USA game tonight?

No idea, I've been looking for the same thing, only for Canadian games.

Where can one see the Spengler Cup? Television or internet wise that is.

Sportsnet has been brodcasting the Canadian Spengler Cup games, not too sure internet wise, but I'm still checking

aw USA lost again, suposidly the czech goalie stood on his head, only let one in on 39 shots.

Yeah he was AMAZING. Some really great stops. The US just don't have it together this year, and Montoya letting in all these soft goals does not help.

so i was thinking about this yesterday, and if the USA wins their quarterfinal, they play canada in the Semis... sounds like a mini miracle on ice lol.

you wish... although that WOULD be in tents

hurm i must of read epns thing wrong, seems the czech republic will be playing canada tommrow night, and sweden or usa against russia.

Czehcs played that game very well. Good PP kill, but Olesz could possibly be hurt when he blocked the shot in the first period. Although it may only be a bruise like they said. Canada will beat the Czechs although it won't be a blowout like we're used to.

looks like it will be USA and russia tommrow, should be anohter good game too.

Canada vs. Russia for the gold on Tuesday.

I only saw the Canadian game and they smothered the Czechs, outshooting them 42-11. I haven't seen the Russians play so I'm not too sure how we stack up, but I do know Ovechkin and Malkin are ones to watch.

Go Canada!

Canada will rollover the Russians.

The Russians try to be too flashy. They have the skill for it, but the Canadians will break up there fancy plays with ease. Their defense also seems weak and the goalie doesn't look very solid in the two games I have seen him in. The Russians will also dive and lay dead on the ice if they are hit. Tonight (against the U.S.) the ref fell for their antics. Hopefully the U.S. ref, the only one I think that has been decent, will get the gold medal game.

Finally a classic game. Of course in the end it will go to Canada as per usual or Canada - Russia games. Russians will be crushed by one they call Dion Phaneuf!

5-3 Canada, Pierre McGuire's Monster will be Phaneuf for two consecutive games

Go Canada! I'm sad that it's coming to an end. Gretz said that he thinks the lockout will last 2 seasons and this probably will be it for Hockey on TV for some time.

sniff, so sad

CANADA WINS

http://www.saskabush.com/2001/0725/i..._oh_canada.jpg

Haven't had a chance to watch the games this year, but have been keeping informed with the TSN live scoreboard thingy. I thought it was broken for a bit there in the second, the goals just kept adding up! Ah.....sweet sweet victory...
Yay Canada!

WOO!

It was pretty amazing watching Canada dominate the entire tournament and it's always good to see Canada win. Only two returning players next year, so we'll see a bunch of these players on NHL teams whenever hockey starts up again ...

i heard about the two returning, but isn't one of them crosby? he won't be eligible for the nhl anyway, so why won't he return?

I guess the Russians learned that it was a hockey game... not a diving competition

Canada dominated, plain and simple... that was a beating for the ages.

I was joking around my frnends who support Russia saying that Ovechkin was a robot during the tournament. Then after the finals all I said was "Robots don't cry".

That, my friend, is cruel :thumbsup:

Although, I WILL be rubbing this in the face of all my Russian friends I have back in Burnaby

Crosby will return along with defenceman Cam Barker.

Is it possibly he can play if there is a season next uhh season?

If there is a deal hammered out before June when the draft is supposed to be held, then the new CBA will decide what to do with all the prospects born in '87 (including Crosby).

If a deal can't be done before June, then it gets a little messy. The current CBA states that a draft must be held every year in June (pdf link), so who gets the rights to Crosby come July? Sidney will want to become an unrestricted free agent, but the NHL would want the next CBA to determine his fate. Possibly another legal battle on the NHL's hands ...

i think there actaully has to be a season this year for him to be drafted, if there isn't he won't be eligible till there is a season. (in order for there to be a draft order)

"With only Crosby and defenseman Danny Syvret around to build next year's team in Vancouver, Hockey Canada will in some ways be starting from scratch in defending its gold." - from espn.com

and i read somewhere else there were two more.. this is confusing.


Oh, and team usa is going to own next year. heh

Russia vs. Czechs/USA next year for gold IMO. Yeah I also heard that Crosby will want to push for UFA. Salary cap would hten be tested haha.