World Cup of Hockey
 

Noticed there wasn't a thread for the Coupe du Monde, so I thought I'd start one, post any opinions about the tournament, or who you think will take the title. Personally I know the Canadians are going to win the whole show this year, they took the Americans 2-1 last night a good start. :thumbsup:

http://wch2004.com/

here's the tournament standing's page:
http://wch2004.com/standings/index.html

I was just about to do the same thing, thanks for starting this one Jay.

The game was great last night, good to see Mario starting some shit in front of the net. Maybe he's not so old.

Rumour has it that the second goal CAN scored should have been called back as the puck was up in the mesh and the refs missed it. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I am looking for a Canada vs Finland final. I wanna see Iggy charge the Kipper :)

I only got to watch the 3rd period of last nights game, but it was still fun to watch

even if those jerseys were butt fucking ugly

Bite your tounge man!

Those gold jerseys are the best thing the world has EVER SEEN!

I'm going to buy one right now.

I watched some of the game last night on ESPN. They've got Jeremy Roenick doing some sort of color comentary/sideline reporting stuff. God it was annoying! He just kept saying stupid shit for no reason it seemed.

As for the game, I was only half-assed watching. I wonder if ESPN will carry any other games (that the US isn't in).

Oh hell. I forgot I canceled my cable last night. ESPN will be gone in a few days :(


Oh yeah.... LOVED how there were no names on the back of the Canadian players. All said "Canada." Sure, makes it harder to know who the players are, but says something for team unity.

Good game, hate the new jersey. Good to see Mario playing with some intensity.

I watched bits and pieces of the game. I also could not stand the commentary by Roenick. I just hope this isn't the only hockey we'll get to see this year.

Every time my American hockey team loses, a Sox fan is born.

So far ESPN has shown every game through the first 2 days. Finland v Czech Rebublic and Sweeden v Germany were both played in Europe. The games were brodcast live so they're on in the morning here.

Jagr and the Czechs arn't doing anything good so far against the sweeds.Like the way team Canada played last night.

It was just so nice to be able to watch Hockey again, I honestly couldn't care less who wins. And I believe it is on at 1:00 and 7:00 Eastern everyday on ESPN 2. I was kinda disappointed that Maltby and Draper were healthy scratches last night, though. Those 2 always seem to shine during tournament play.

if you want to look like an asshat, that's your business ;)

The moment the first game came on the air, I raised my hands towards the TV screen, not unlike someone would with a camp fire on a cool fall evening. Damn it feels good to watch hockey again.

What...addiction...no, not me.

Can not wait to get home and watch this.
Going back home to Canada for two weeks. Had to lie to the principal to get back in time to watch the finals. (why, yes, I need to be home a week before the wedding. Yes, Canadian custom. Please forgive my absence...duty calls, I have to do very important things with the groom...) Yes, very important things involve drinking beer in front of a big-ass screen, hockey takes precendence over weddings. The groom understands, he'll be watching with me...

I missed hockey so much, I just didn't know how much.

Canada was stellar vs USA. I really was shocked at how well Esche played, I know he has talent but he really stepped it up for that game. Having to follow Richter is pretty damn big. I was stoked to see Mario out there thinking he was Clubber Lang. How about Tommy Salo?? That guy needs to forget catching and just swat at the puck with his trapper, that guy wouldnt be able to catch a turd underneath an elephant!. Anyway I've got the games on the tivo and am about to watch tonights games.

GO USA!

Fine then, here's me looking like an asshat. See if I care
:cool:

<img src="http://telusplanet.net/public/markus_e/images/markanada.jpg">
Go Canada!

Ouch. It might not have shown in the final score, but the Americans got their asses handed to them tonight by the Russians. The audience didn't sound like it was much help either. It's bad when, at times, the only thing the mics could pick up were the players swearing on the ice.

Sweden - Canada in the final with Sweden winning of course :D

--jaded

Damn I want one of those jerseys. Can I look like an asshat too?

<--- off to be rejected by the wife

A Canucks fan talking about people looking like "asshats" in certain uniforms. Judging by the past history of Canuck uniforms, no real need for you to say anything. :D

Watch out for Sweden to be the darkhorses, they have a really good team. I think the US'll get bronze, they have an alright team, but all of the guys are so old... Maybe we'll get our juniors to play and win something.

You know, I like the old style jerseys. They were a bit of an eyesore at first, but you begin to appreciate them once you realize they have a history.

Besides, I've seen uglier.

man the US looked weak last night... no fire at all....

I just wish they played more games, and that more teams were taking part... oh well... its still quality hockey

I'd love to see more games too, as for more teams I don't think it would work as well as you might think. Other than Belarus (who just got lucky in Salt Lake), who else could field a competitive team?

Darkhorses? Sweden's team is stacked. If they had a decent goalie they'd be the gold medal favorites..as it is they're probably the 2nd, maaybe 3rd best team..I'd hardley call that being a darkhorse..

Canada vs Finland is my prediction. Finland is looking awesome. Canada is of course my team.

Good game tonight. Considering everyone was ready to put the final nail into Team Russia's coffin, they played a good game. Unfortunately, it was those two odd man rushes they allowed that really did them in.

I'm rooting for USA but they are a big underdog against almost every nation, they probably wont win :(

Those Batallion uniforms are terrible. When I played in Flint Mich. our pre season uniforms were Marine camoflage, with bright orange socks and blue pants, gloves and helmet. We looked like a rebel military or something just terrible

FINALLY! Jay and I have something to disagree about! I was getting worried there for a bit when we were both bashing USA basketball. Ah, but hockey puts us both on the sides we should be. It's good feeling to know that we'll soon be arguing whether Cloutier truly does suck. That is, assuming we have an NHL season.

Any how, I really don't think Team USA has much of a chance in this tourney with DiPietro between the pipes and Smolinski being allowed on the ice, but I will be standing behind this team and cheering them on. Speaking as a loyal team USA hockey fan, I think USA fans in general are more comfortable being the underdog than going in as the favorite.

Canada will win this thing, although I think Russia would have given them a run for their money with Khabibulin in the net.

I'll still try to have some sort of faith in USA, even though it looks like they're not even trying to play...other than Esche and DiPietro I am not impressed with anyones effort. Canada,Russia and Finland on the other have impressed me with great break outs, nice cycling and some fancy ass goals. I'm gonna agree with Matteo and go with Canada and Finland in the final with the great white north taking it all.

Canada will win the World cup of Hockey. They have dominated. Brodeur is one of the best goalies in hockey and has been very solid.

Umm...Khabibulin isn't playing. He's one of those Russian players who refused to play on Team Russia (along with Sergei Federov and a couple of others) because they were angry with how the Russian Hockey Federation was running things. Right now, their best bet is that goaltender who will be the subing for Anaheim.

It's all about goaltenders. Brodeur is the best in the tournament. IF Canada doesn't win, and that's a long shot, then Finland is next in line.

I think Kiprusoff would probably take offense to that statement about the best goaltenders, lemans, but being a Detroit fan, after last years playoffs, I'm with ya all the way :)

Its Ilya Bryzgalov, and he definitely did a hell of a job against the US. He is one of my favorites in Eastside Hockey Manager :)

Right. I think you misunderstood what I was saying. IF Khabibulin had played in the tourney, things would have been a lot different.

USA 4
Russia 2

On to the semifinals for the USA!

So thats what happens when Tkachuk stops being a goon and actually plays hockey. And thank god Brett Hull took off. I'm sure with this, and his recent comments about hockey in general, the Yotes can't wait for him to get there and boost that locker room moral.

and the final was 5-3 US. Kovalchuk scored on the power play with about 6 minutes left after Leetch carved up a Rusky with his stick for a double minor. Then Tkachuk got his 4th on an empty netter with about a minute left.

Yup, I misunderstood. Apparently, those reading comprehension classes aren't paying off yet.

Canada beats up Slovakia 5-0. That was a beating. Brodeur is a star and Canada will roll over the competition.

Sakic, Lemieux, and Iginla on a line together is about as good as it gets.

:thumbsup: wow thats Hockey!!

Did anyone honestly expect canada to lose to slovakia though? they were atrocious

No, nobody expected it at all..but you never know when Marty is going to start looking like Chico did in his later years in the swamp. You have to admit that Brodeur is the best goalie in the game right now...just look at his accomplishments over the past years. If he keeps playing at that level Canada will stomp all over everyone. Anyway, here is to hoping USA can keep the momentum and stick it to those cromulent Finns! Then we'll have a showdown indeed.

I have my fingers X'd for the USA vs Finland game tomorrow. More than anything I can't wait to see Canada vs Finland in the finals, just to see if Iggy can score on his buddy Kipper.

While Brodeur has been rock solid, some of the young Canadian defensman have really stepped up, too. Bouwmeester, Hannan, and Regehr have all played really well over the course of the tournament, helping to keep the quality shots on Marty to a minimum.

As for the US, as long as Tkatchuk keeps his head outta his ass, and Esche holds up, I think it should definitley be a Canada/US final. Their defense has gotten better, and the new team combination seems to have added the jump they needed to actually compete, instead of getting ran out of the tournament.

Vincent Lecavalier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what an AWESOME game! It was probably the first time in the entire tournament where I was actually anxious for Team Canada. I kind of feel bad for thinking this way now, but after seeing the way the Czechs were playing in the third period and the start of the OT, I thought that was pretty much it for Canada.

Shit, I almost had a heart attack over that game. I think Canada was caught a little off gaurd after so many easy games like the last one over Slovakia, then to have a team really put the pressure on them the whole game...

Good game.

I still hate Vinny L though.

(Yes, I'm still bitter. Who cares :P)

OH CANADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



wooooooohoooooooooo...............



*we were lucky*

weren't you the one who was telling us Vancouver fans to get over it, stop being bitter, and cheer for Calgary because they were the last Canadian team?

Isn't this basically the exact same situation?

;) ;)

Not sure. Was I? I don't recall saying that, but maybe I could have.
In any case, I never really expected people from say, Edmonton to cheer. I may be a Canadian first, but rivalries are pretty hard to set aside. :)

Brodeur likely to play tonite against the Finns. http://www.wch04.com/countries/can/notebook091304.html

Awesome, this is going to be the best game of the year. Of course I want Canada to win (and I expect them to), but Finland has been awesome and I am more looking forward to a great game of hockey.

Man this is gonna be sweet. Two of my favorite goalies in a epic game. I got the Tivo all set up, I just hope the wife don't switch channels like she did last game. I really gotta spring for that RF splitter. :)

And I agree about Vinny. There is just something about him that pisses me off. I've said before sombody needs to hit that guy with a sack full of doorknobs.

Thank you Mario. You made this series something special.

The rest of the team was also awesome, but Mario's behind the back pass reception was oustanding.

Now that was great hockey! Makes you wonder if there where less teams in the NHL therefore more good players in each team what a better show it would make

You have to hand it to the Finns. If there was a team I was willing to watching Team Canada lose to, it was the Finnish Team. They have a lot of spirit, that team does. It's too bad Kipper let in that softie. I bet he's banging his head over that one.

And how about Lecavlier winning MVP? Not bad for a guy who wasn't even supposed to be there. He should remember to thank Yzerman for recommending him to Gretzky.

Some interesting notes:

- Team Canada was the first team to ever win the Canada/World Cup without losing a single game.
- Canada never trailed once during any of their games
- Brodeur got Team Canada's first ever shutout in the World Cup tournament against Slovakia last week

i knew it all along.............great fuckin' hockey.......




.....and we're on top once again.........



WooooooooooooooooooHooooooooooooooooo............

It was almost unfair... how stacked our team was.... I almost feel bad for the other teams

almost.

BUT NOT!!!

GO CANADA!!!!!!

Great games.
Canada dominated. :cool:
Better and more interesting than regular NHL.

yeah sure canada was very good, but had anyone exspected anything else, with canadian judges and hotell firealarms that goes of all night ;) :) :D

btw waht do u think of the NHL strikes and of that stuff, we in Sweden gets a very intresting league because of all the NHL players that get home and play in all clubs, and som american players that come to Sweden to play

i even heard that Swedish League is going to be aired in the US/Canada dont know for sure wich country it was or maybee both :)