No More World Cup of Hockey?

[ItalianSpartan 0]

TSN is running an article saying that the future of the World Cup is in doubt. Basically, Saskin is saying no because of the Olympics. I can see his point, a tournament every two years maybe is too much, but I would hate to see the tournament dropped. I was at the championship game in 2004, and it was amazing. I know the Canada Cup's were even better. IMO, the NHL should not participate in the Olympics after Vancouver and hold the World Cup tournament every 2-4 years. As for the Olympics, I think the World Junior's should take the NHL's place. The WJC is a great tournament, and the Olympics could be substituted for it every 4 years. I remember in 1992 and 1994, the US really didn't have much of a shot for a high medal. Now they are on par with the rest of the world, so there shouldn't be a loss of American interest due to poor talent. The NHL wouldn't have to deal with the travel and risk of injuries to its players.

[hockechamp14 0]

I think the olympics would be sort of boring. Correct me if I'm wrong, but what kind of ametuers from any other country could take on a team of NCAA all stars playing together? Unless of course the canadians would send thier major junior kids, but that would be a big mismatch when considering age. I don't know enough about ametuer hockey in the other countries, but I think the professionals bring a better story and more drama now that it isn't "everyone against the soviets" like it used to be.

[SR27 0]

Because the WC´s interesting games are played in North America and don´t get the attention that the Olympics do. I doubt the NHL wants to drop that advertising/publicity stage the Olympics provide.

[ItalianSpartan 0]

I wasn't suggesting just any amateurs, it would be the exact same rosters from the WJC and it would be the exact same tournament as the WJC. In the early'90's, Canada, Sweden, Russia, and the Czechs were strong. Now the US can compete with them on the junior level. I know the NHL is seriously considering pulling out after the 2010 Olympics. The IIHF is going to pursue them, but from the article, the NHL isn't as excited about the Olympics as it was back in the late '90's.

[Quintin 16]

What happened to an intercontinental championship? Y'know, that thing that the Stanley Cup Winner plays against Europe's best team or something like that?

[hockechamp14 0]

I wasn't suggesting just any amateurs, it would be the exact same rosters from the WJC and it would be the exact same tournament as the WJC. In the early'90's, Canada, Sweden, Russia, and the Czechs were strong. Now the US can compete with them on the junior level. I know the NHL is seriously considering pulling out after the 2010 Olympics. The IIHF is going to pursue them, but from the article, the NHL isn't as excited about the Olympics as it was back in the late '90's.

how can you put an age restriction on the olympics? it's against the spirit of the games.

[Chadd 916]

I wasn't suggesting just any amateurs, it would be the exact same rosters from the WJC and it would be the exact same tournament as the WJC. In the early'90's, Canada, Sweden, Russia, and the Czechs were strong. Now the US can compete with them on the junior level. I know the NHL is seriously considering pulling out after the 2010 Olympics. The IIHF is going to pursue them, but from the article, the NHL isn't as excited about the Olympics as it was back in the late '90's.

how can you put an age restriction on the olympics? it's against the spirit of the games.

Doesn't Olympic soccer have an age restriction?

[ItalianSpartan 0]

There is no age restriction, it's just the prevention of professional players on the roster.

[Fletch 219]

I think they should scrap the "world cup" and go back to calling it the "Canada Cup."

[hockechamp14 0]

There is no age restriction, it's just the prevention of professional players on the roster.

So if it was the same roster as the WJC, would they let chris bourque play? there's too many things that are messed up to make it a junior tournament.

[ItalianSpartan 0]

There might be some changes, such as a limit on number of games played in the NHL, that would allow a Cam Barker to play. That being said, I don't forsee it happening. As far as the Canada Cup, I agree to that too. The newest WCH trophy is/was hideous, I would prefer the old format and recreate the tradition under the Canada Cup.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

There is no age restriction, it's just the prevention of professional players on the roster.

Most teams send their U-23s.

I like it how it used to be. The other countries can field rosters from their professional leagues. Just leave the NHL out of it. There aren't any "heroes" that can develop when they are there...eg 1992 and Ray LeBlanc...we already expect the best out of the NHLers.

[Fury of One 6]

Personally, I'd rather not see NHL players in the Olympics. There'll never be another miracle on ice like in the 1980 Olympics. I'd say keep the WCOH, pitting the world's best players against each other every 2 or 4 years and let amatuers play in the Olympics.

[hockechamp14 0]

Personally, I'd rather not see NHL players in the Olympics. There'll never be another miracle on ice like in the 1980 Olympics. I'd say keep the WCOH, pitting the world's best players against each other every 2 or 4 years and let amatuers play in the Olympics.

There will never be a miracle again because no country runs thier ametuer through olympic system well enough to be a favorite for 50+ years. Not because there are professionals in the olympics.

[MDE3 0]

The reason that there are professionals in the Olympics was that Russia for years fielded teams of Soviet Army soldiers who were dedicated hockey players and essentially were paid to play...they were given their ranks in the Soviet Army but their duties were to practice hockey year round. Everyone else in the world agreed that the Soviets were fielding "professionals", and the lobbying efforts to change the amateur requirements went on for years. For years this was a bitter pill to swallow for Canada who had been the world power in hockey previous to the Soviets.....This is where the Canada Cup evolved from...having "their best" play our best" to prove that our NHL talent could compete with the Soviets....it was not the resounding re-afirmation of Canadian Hockey superiority that was hoped for, but did lead to some great competition, and eventually to Soviet bloc players becoming NHL'ers.

Because of this Canada boycotted hockey in the Olympics for many years in protest..then finally the OC let the NHL players participate so that the games were then "fair" to all countries who could now use their very best players..as such it did become a sport where the best contested...more or less.

By no longer allowing NHL players to play you would encourage similar scenario's to what was seen previously....and of course the occasional "Miracle". Dedicated teams would then be chosen of non NHL players and these players would be "secluded" in practice for months on end..where effectively their "job" was to play hockey...hence you get back to the definition of "professionals" playing in the Olympics again.

[Chadd 916]

The reason that there are professionals in the Olympics was that Russia fielded teams of soviet Army soldiers who were dedicated hockey players and essentiallly were paid to play...they were given their ranks in the Soviet Army but their duties were to practice hockey year round.

Because of this Canada boycotted hockey in the Olympics for many years in protest..then finally the OC let the NHL players participate so that the games were then "fair" to all countries who could now use their very best players..as such it did become a sport where the best contested...more or less.

By no longer allowing NHL players to play you would encourage scenario's as were seen previously.

The IOC also saw the ratings that they got from the Basketball dream team and higher ratings means higher rights fees.

[MDE3 0]

The reason that there are professionals in the Olympics was that Russia fielded teams of soviet Army soldiers who were dedicated hockey players and essentiallly were paid to play...they were given their ranks in the Soviet Army but their duties were to practice hockey year round.

Because of this Canada boycotted hockey in the Olympics for many years in protest..then finally the OC let the NHL players participate so that the games were then "fair" to all countries who could now use their very best players..as such it did become a sport where the best contested...more or less.

By no longer allowing NHL players to play you would encourage scenario's as were seen previously.

The IOC also saw the ratings that they got from the Basketball dream team and higher ratings means higher rights fees.

Cannot dispute that....strange how the IOC was so "pure" in it's exacting requirements for athletes for so many years, but did not seem to require the same standards from it's own....once eveyone figured out how much there was to make.

[Nick23 0]

Doesn't Olympic soccer have an age restriction?

I think its that you can only have 2 players over the age of 21, the rest must be under, correct me if i am wrong

[SR27 0]

Doesn't Olympic soccer have an age restriction?

I think its that you can only have 2 players over the age of 21, the rest must be under, correct me if i am wrong

Basically what JR said is correct. Maximum age is up to 23 years with the exception that every olympic team can add up to 5 players that are above that age but those are only eligle if they 1) have not played in the regular national team and 2) are not playing in the highest national championship of any member country of the FIFA. I think the under 23 guys may also not have played above a certain of games for the senior national team but am not 100% about that.