Canada Ousted from World Championships

[jds 20]

Russia knocks Canada out of the World Championships again. http://www.thespec.com/sports/article/531305--kaigorodov-kovalchuk-score-late-as-russia-sends-canada-packing-with-2-1-win

Let all the complaining about lack of development begin. Regardless of the fact that many of the best Canadian and US players (USA ousted already) are still in the NHL playoffs.

Why not have this after the NHL is over? Hockey in July anyone?

[TeamHonda401 54]

That would make sense to push it to July, but the international community isn't going to change the date of their tourney just because we want them to. The counterpoint to that would be that they would want to put on the best tourney they could, using the best players. International committees are usually pretty bad when it comes to changing things for the better. My vote is for July hockey, but they probably aren't going to change a thing.

[jds 20]

That would make sense to push it to July, but the international community isn't going to change the date of their tourney just because we want them to. The counterpoint to that would be that they would want to put on the best tourney they could, using the best players. International committees are usually pretty bad when it comes to changing things for the better. My vote is for July hockey, but they probably aren't going to change a thing.

I also suspect the MHL players who make the playoff would be pretty exhausted by that point. The idea of a September tournament has been floated (remember the Summit Series in '72, Gretzky to Lemieux in 87 etc) but I doubt players would risk an injury that early in the NHL season. Besides, the us vs them mentality that drove the SUmmit Series doesn't exist anymore.

[TeamHonda401 54]

Almost every team is dealing with their B-group. Russia had a solid team, but that's because they have the best luck when it comes to getting NHLers to come over for a tourney. Plus they have KHL players that they can use if the NHLers don't work out. The USA is left with college skaters. Canada has a decent second group, but most teams aren't anywhere near as good if the tourney is during the NHL season. Kind of waters down the competition.

[shotty 7]

i dont think the timing of the tournament will change anything too much in terms of drawing more players. if they delay it until july, the guys who didnt make the playoffs will have been 3 months removed from competition and the ones who went deep into the playoffs will either want to celebrate their victory or relax after a long and/or grueling playoff run.

aside from that, most of these guys have begun their off ice work outs in july, in preparation for training camp.

[tro 4]

Never ever like to see CDN lose to Russia, still competition, and we say this every year, but with only 1 player on the big boy team, it holds as much weight to me as Canada losing one of those CHL vs Russia select games.

They need to bring back the World Cup ASAP! (Sochi 14, I think it will be a better team than Van 10, scary)

[iceNsteel 0]

Or we could just go back to having amateur players play in what is supposed to be an amateur tournament. Then it wouldn't matter for anyone if their top professional players were still tied up with the NHL post-season.

[raganblink 82]

i dont think the timing of the tournament will change anything too much in terms of drawing more players. if they delay it until july, the guys who didnt make the playoffs will have been 3 months removed from competition and the ones who went deep into the playoffs will either want to celebrate their victory or relax after a long and/or grueling playoff run.

aside from that, most of these guys have begun their off ice work outs in july, in preparation for training camp.

Exactly. Too much time off or too tired. It sucks but besides hosting this in January, its the best time of year, even if that means beat players from Canada and us and Sweden aren't there.

[jds 20]

The format is also crap. Russia loses to Germany, Czech Republic AND Finland and moves on. Canada loses one game, to Russia and is done.

[flaming_june 2]

That's just the nature of a tournament. Sad to see it's kovalchuk of all players who scores the winning goal again.

[jds 20]

That's just the nature of a tournament. Sad to see it's kovalchuk of all players who scores the winning goal again.

Gotta give him something since he has yet to play for a team in contention in the NHL.

[tro 4]

Bob Nicholson

"It's a few key players," Nicholson said Friday. "This team was good enough to win, but with one or two more players (it could have been different). You know what, Hockey Canada and Canada have been pretty good to those players through the under-18, the juniors and an Olympics Games.

"I thought they would have thought about that before refusing to come this year."

Well done, Bob! Number of guys didn't make the playoffs or we're out in the 1st could/should have played, couple goalies for sure.

[shotty 7]

i think it was burke that said "if you dont play on the WHC team, dont expect an invite to the olympic camp"

[hunterphfr 12]

Russia 12 guys on their team that played in the last Olympics, Canada had 1.

Pretty much sums it up. Still hurts to have come so close.