This year the tournament will be played in Sweden and Finland (Stockholm and Helsinki). Semifinals and the final will be played in Helsinki.
Tre Kronor (Sweden) are facing Norway tonight in Stockholm. Last year we actually lost against them (4-5 after penalties).
It's not often that happens. However I think we will win tonight. Earlier today Canada won against Slovakia with 3-2.

...and germany beats Italy 3:0

For most Canadian fans, this tournament is for players who's team didn't make the NHL playoffs or got knocked out in the first round. Regardless, Canada should be able to field a team that could win despite players like Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, etc. declining the invite.

Quote
DGA35
For most Canadian fans, this tournament is for players who's team didn't make the NHL playoffs or got knocked out in the first round. Regardless, Canada should be able to field a team that could win despite players like Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, etc. declining the invite.

I know, DGA35. It's a pity though that we have this situation. We should really have the best teams possible in the World Championships. I can't see why the NHL shouldn't finish in the spring like all the European leagues.

I remember back in the 70's when the early playoff rounds were best of 3. It would be impossible now to have the season shorter, which would mean less revenue and smaller paycheques. Playoffs are where teams make good money since you're not paying salaries and ticket prices are higher. Still, watching the Stanley Cup finals in June is a bit weird!
I live near Vancouver so interest in the Stanley Cup has obviously dropped significantly since the Canucks got knocked out in the first round. I'm a Blackhawks fan so I'm depressed, too!

Lots of bad publicity and vibes over the world championships here in Finland. Not the usual anti-ice hockey people, but mostly the ice hockey fans and the casual followers (lot of them, since ice hockey is the number one sports in Finland) that are mad and disappoited at the moment. The whole thing is over hyped, awfully orgnasized, tickets over-priced, the television rights suck..

The point is that since Finland won the title last year, and the games are now here (co-organized with Sweden), they are now sucking every possible cent out of it... the (total) television rights went to commercial channel that uses them as to sell their own product, which results that the 'avarage joe' not seeing the games; the tickets to the games are too expensive to normal hockey fans (and their families), and are sold mostly to bsusiness corporations (not unhearable here...). Last night when Finland played the opening game (against Belarus), the house was officially almost full, but actually about half of the seats empty. Plus the feeling in the hall sucked.

Yeah, maybe the Finnish ice hockey organazition gets its quick profits, but the sports will suffer in a long run. The recent success has seemingly gone to someone's head and have taken the form of piss. Plus the people in charge are so arrogant and full of themselves that they do their best to make people more and more angry.

As a terrible symbol how everything seem to suck more or less in every detail here, is the campaign they promote outside the ice hockey arena of Helsinki. They asked people to send them pictures of their faces to make this 'biggest team on earth' (the faces pasted to Finnish hockey uniforms), and they screwed up so bad that they got mass murderer Breivik's head there. (Check [www.iltalehti.fi])

- Doxa



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-05 11:51 by Doxa.

Pretty obvious we're gonna take this...

Quote
Come On
Pretty obvious we're gonna take this...

Then you´ll have to do better than a 3-1 win against Norway

----------------------------------------------------
[www.facebook.com]

Then you´ll have to do better than a 3-1 win against Norway

..and we did..last season it was 4-5 against Norway...


I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield...

Heard about the Breivik screw up, Doxa. That is beyond repair really. Someone must be hold accountable for that. We have had the same problems with unreasonable ticket prices here in Sweden. After heavy critisism the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation agreed today to lower the prices on many seats from 1 295 SEK (about 150 Euro) to 395 SEK (about 50 Euro).

Quote
Come On
Then you´ll have to do better than a 3-1 win against Norway

..and we did..last season it was 4-5 against Norway...

Was that better??

----------------------------------------------------
[www.facebook.com]

Today, Sweden-Czechia 4-1. Czechia looks lame this year. Canada-USA 4-5 (after extra time).

Today, Sweden-Czechia 4-1. Czechia looks lame this year

..or is it Sweden looking great?




I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield...

Quote
Stoneage
Heard about the Breivik screw up, Doxa. That is beyond repair really. Someone must be hold accountable for that. We have had the same problems with unreasonable ticket prices here in Sweden. After heavy critisism the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation agreed today to lower the prices on many seats from 1 295 SEK (about 150 Euro) to 395 SEK (about 50 Euro).

I need to say that you Swedes proved yourselves to be smarter than us once again, and dealt the whole thing much better. Finally some action took also place here and two Finnish games have some special offers (one ticket for a whole family, etc.), but the president of the Finnish Hockey Federation (Kalervo Kummola) is still as arrogant as ever and people are really campaigning against him, and want to get him sacked. But the man - who has been control of Finnish hockey some 30 years, and very known for his aggressive, dictator-like behavior - answers with power: people who were showing their protests by flags and banderolles in the audince yesterday and today were kicked out from the arena. Is this a free and open Western democracy? Anyway, the negative things around the games are getting much more publicity than the matches. Really bad PR for ice hockey.

Not even Finnish team plays very well, even though two tight wins (both 1:0) against Belarus and Slovakia.

- Doxa



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-07 00:02 by Doxa.

The TV coverage is horrible as the high shots make you feel like you are looking down from the ceiling.

Pretty funny as the USA-CAN game was only available in the US on tape delay and the feed was from a Canadian network. That should tell you how relevant this tournament is in the US.

Quick question: Sweden and Finland always have solid hockey teams. Why is it that Norway isn't able to field a quality hockey team? Ever??? Is everyone there on skis and not skates? If only Bjorndalen could play hockey...................

I have noticed the same thing about the TV production U. To much of a bird perspective. The Norway question is probably best answered by a Norwegian. But since they don't care about Ice Hockey they are probably not reading this thread. Skating (speed skating) is a national sport in Norway though as in Holland. Only second to skiing (cross-country) as far as I know. They have a couple of good hockey players though playing in the Swedish Elitserie.

Good game by Canada in their come from behind victory over Finland. Surprised to see some of the Finnish fans crying after the game. Expected Canada to beat Khazakstan today which they did 7-0.
Seems Canada does well in the prelim rounds but then in the single elimination playoffs, that's where we tend to choke. Hopefully we can win gold this year!

We (Sweden) will probably meet Canada in the semifinals, DGA35. If we win against Czechia in the quarters that is. Canada is always hard to beat whatever team they have.They are always very efficient in front of goal. Sweden will reinforce their team with Nicklas Bäckström who is available now since the Capitals lost against Rangers in the playoffs. If he agrees. I'm sure Canada will have some backups too. This tournament really begins when the quarterfinals takes off. It's a loss though for Sweden that we couldn't get Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers goalkeeper. A good goalkeeper makes a huge difference.

********For most Canadian fans, this tournament is for players who's team didn't make the NHL playoffs or got knocked out in the first round.*********


--------

yep, Stamkos (Rocket Richard trophy winner again this year) declined the invite; he played Jr A hockey in my town and went to the high school around the corner. my daughter who went there was supposed to invite him over for a dinner at my insistence but that never happened... yeah, 'get in line' is all she would say..

Congratulations to our dear neighbour, Norway. 12-4 against Germany. What an epic victory! Our other neighbour, Finland, lost though against USA, 0-5 was the score. Probable quarterfinals: Sweden-Czechia, Russia-Norway, Canada-Slovakia and Finland-USA.

I know, nobody cares but it's time for the quarterfinals. As I predicted they will be played like this:

In Helsingfors: Canada-Slovakia and Finland-USA
In Stockholm: Sweden-Czechia and Russia-Norway

I can't see Russia losing against Norway and Canada are clear favorites against Slovakia. Czechia hasn't impressed anyone so far so I think Sweden will win. But you never know! The real thriller will be host nation Finland against USA. Hard to predict. But I hope our neighbour in east prevails. The matches will be played on Thursday.

Even if nobody cares, here is the match order of today (all in CET):

12.00 - Helsinki - Canada - Slovakia
14.45 - Stockholm - Russia - Norway
17.30 - Helsinki - USA - Finland
20.14 - Stockholm - Sweden - Czechia

Heja Tre Kronor! Go Sweden!

I know, nobody cares, but congrats to Slovakia who won against Canada in the quarterfinal with 4-3. Satan - what a player!
Slovakia will meet the winner in the match between Sweden and Czechia later today. So, Canada out!

Go Puck!

Well, once again Canada finishes first in the round robin only to get knocked out in the quarterfinals! A team full of players who all play in the NHL, many all stars, and they still choke! I realize that it probably takes a while to get used to the bigger ice surface, but still.

Sweden failed miserably against Czechia. With 16 NHL-players on our team and on home ground in Stockholm we lost 3-4. The last goal only 29 seconds from full time.
Congratulations to Czechia then who played good when it counted the most. The semifinals will be Finland - Russia and Czechia - Slovakia.

Pretty poor showing by the U.S. Losing to Finland.

Back to the NHL playoffs, I"m sure the league is hoping for a Rangers/ Kings final, 2 biggest markets in the US. Would probably be good ratings. Devils/ Coyotes would probably draw low ratings.

It's not often a lion (Finland) beats a bear (Russia). But today seems to be a great day to do that.
Come on Finland, if you could defeat Stalins Army this will be no match! Go Doxa!

Finland didn't stand a chance against Russia and Slovakia won against Czechia. Slovakia is the big surprise in this tournament.
They knocked out both Canada and Czechia. So, the final will be Russia - Slovakia.