For the Hockey Fans

[Bigprairie1]

Ahhh, boxing day...and like clockwork, today marks the start of the IIHF World Junior Hockey tournament. As you hockey fans know this is where the best 17-18 year old hockey players in the world come together to compete.
For those of you aren't particular hockey fans (yet) its worth tuning in for a few minutes to watch how incredibly well these kids play hockey...remember they are only teenagers.
Here are a few recognizable names from the tournaments over the last few years: Sidney Crosby (Pens), Alex Ovechkin (Capitals), Patrick Kane (Chicago), Kessler (Boston), Evgeni Malkin (Pens), Dion Phaneuf (Flames)...the list goes on and on.
This year both Sweden and the U.S are highly rated going into this tournament and both will be working overtime to take away the title from Canada who has held it for the last 4 years.
Many of these kids have already been drafted and many will be. These are the best of the newest crop.
These is great hockey, international flavour, very quick, very skilled and fighting means immediate ejection....so check out a game if you get a chance over the next 1-2 weeks. Hopefully it won't disappoint.
....ok....let's bring it on!!
BP

 

[oops!]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

the hockey will be fantastic....pure hockey played the way it should be played........with a drive and desire to play.....no contracts....no long long season......no politics.......just raw....getter done hockey......YEE HAW !

two players from our local team.....(the one i keep screaming about) are playing........tyler myers....6 foot 7 defenceman.........and the scoring sensation......jamie benn.

benn leads.....(or did lead the whl in goals scored)........


waaaahoooooo......let the games begin !

 

[mphy98]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

what was that old joke? oh yeah, i once went to a fight and a hockey game broke out!

only been to one with the milwaukee admirals. will have to go again this year. but this sunday have to go to greenbay and watch our packers lose to the winless lions. no faith from the faithful this year. no special teams, no defence.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

If I can find it I will be watching and cheering on the good old USA!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

If I can find it I will be watching and cheering on the good old USA!

The U.S team has the highest amount of returning players from last years tournament. This means a slightly more experienced team....a good thing for sure as far as the U.S goes.
Those following the NHL are aware of Patrick Kane who is one of the leagues leading players curtainly burning it up in Chicago. He is a young, highly skilled U.S player fresh out of juniors...I think he played in the tournament last year? He was a very highly touted junior prospect and went pretty high in the draft to the Chicago Blackhawks as was Kessler from the Boston Bruins who played in the tournament 2 years ago I think.
By comparison Canada only has (2) players returning with tournament experience so they have there work cut out for them. The swedes have supposedly about a 1/2 dozen highly sought after draft picks playing in the tournament.
Regardless, win lose or draw it's great to see the drive put forth by these kids representing their countries. No big pay days....yet. As a matter of fact, their performance in this tournament can completely tip the scales in, or out of, their favour in the upcoming draft regardless of their respective junior careers. Slackers generally are quickly isolated and benched early.
Naturally I'll be cheering Canada on....but its all good!!
BP

 

[oops!]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

man......its 20 minits to go......i cant wait........DROP THE PUCK !

 

[bugman1964]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

We, here in Maine, have a large high school hockey tournament going on guring the Christmas vacation. 25 teams from Maine and 25 teams from other parts of New england and the Canadian maritimes. My daughter plays for a girls high school team and we spend a lot of time watching the boys state tournament. We also take in a few of the only QMJHL american based team games, the Mainiacs from good old Lewiston, Maine. Great hockey at that age group. Puck-in-ahy.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

Well, today went pretty much as planned starting with the U.S blow out over Germany at 8-2 and then followed by Canada over the Czechs by 8-1.
Bugman, one of my favourite things are the tournaments spanning the border and I'm not surprised that going on in Maine. As well, it's great to see how the northern U.S states get into the game not all unlike their Canadian neighbours.
Its got a long ways to go to ever get much traction down in the south and I wonder why that major dufus Gary Bettman keeps trying to push it in the south....confusing.
Regardless, a great day of hockey!! loved it.
BP

 

[oops!]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

i think the memorial cup going to the states was a big thing.

but the attendance in the whl down there is lousy....i mean really bad......portland....(a hockey team that isnt doing too well) is around 2000 people a night...

whats maine like?

 

[bugman1964]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

I don't understand it either, the whole hockey in the south thing that is. I am glad to see the B's doing well with a young team this year. One of the issues with the Portland Pirates (AHL) is that they keep changing their affilliation Washington, Anaheim, Philly, and now Buffalo. I think if they maintained affilliation with one parent club they may have greater success. Plus Buffalo being a division rival of the B's doesn't help the cause. I think the Mainiacs (QMJHL) are equal or slightly higher attendance wise compared to Portland with a much smaller building. Keep in mind hockey is a very popular here. For years the Black Bears have been a fixtutre in the frozen four and won a couple of NCAA championships. They are in Hockey East with other powerhouse collage teams, Such as BC, BU, New Hampsire, etc. Lots of great hockey here, although I doubt that it will ever get the following that the sport has north of the boarder. What is Maine like? We are the largest of the new england states with the smallest population. There is a beautiful coast, mountainous areas, many lakes great for ice fishing and open water fishing brook trout, salmon, lake trout, etc., we are very rural with lots of forested land and significant development in the southern part. Northern Maine is very similar to New Brunswick. We found it a great place to raise our children and to call it home. Girls hockey is catching on here. Out of my four children, my youngest daughter now a high school jr, is the only one to follow in my skates. She plays varsity hockey on her high school team and leads the team in scoring so far this year.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

but for some of us, we like backyard hockey.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

Juniors is the best hockey going. The only problem is Canada is a hockey nation and out talent is way deep and if we don't win gold we've lost. Just like other countreis and there sports.

AND if you think you have a team, you have to first play our Women's team to qualify

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

I had to smile last night during the game against the Czechs...12 of their players currently play in the Canadian Major Juniors...great stuff. They are fully aware that to make it now, they have to get experience on this side of the pond.
By the same token I'm always impressed at both the Canadian and U.S players travelling/living across the border to get their junior experience either in the Canadian Major Juniors or in the (Northern) U.S College leagues.
Clearly these are both putting out the highest caliber of talent....still boggles me that these kids are all teenagers with the speed and level of play they deliver.
....looking forward to tomorrow's game.
BP

 

[oops!]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

the canadians just won against kazicstan.....15-0

that kid that got the hat trick and won the game mvp.#24.....jamie benn.......thats our teams (kelowna rockets) scoring sensation.......i was shocked he was on the fourth line for the opener.......

i can only guess that pat quinn wanted a fast puck moving team.....benn's style is to out paitence the other players and wait till they make a mistake....then he kills em.

last year as a rookie......he was on top of the rookie points and goals....and was in the top 5 in the leauge over all.
he suffered an injury that took him out for the final 3 months....but he still finished second overall for the rookies....and in the top 10 for overall points in the league.

before the world jouniors training camp started.....he was leading the league for goals scored....and was in the top 5 for points.

i missed todays game.....got home from work just in time to see the flag being raised, and benn accept the award.....

cant wait for the big game.....usa vs canada....its gonna be a fantastic game

 

[oops!]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

but for some of us, we like backyard hockey.

wah hoo.....thats hockey.......20 below zero....(ferinheight) and your in the street or backyard with 20 other kids playing hockey......its so cold that you take a break just long enough to run in the house and your dad rubs your hands and feet to get some warmth in them.....your extremities are so cold you are crying because you actually feel physical searing pain as they start to warm up.

3 minits later you hear someone yell GAMES ON ! and you put your gloves back on ......and run outside........WAH.......FREEKIN.....HOO........drop the puck.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

We would do that in Anahim Lake. 20 below playing hockey on an out door rink. Every one in town would be there and the cops would ref the game.
That was hockey when i was a kid.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

I caught the full game this afternoon between Canada and NoAttackastan. Wow...a bit of a blow out. I really had to hand it to those Kazachastanies tho' in keeping their spirits and drive going. Thats a long way from home for these kids at Christmas time and they are now down something like 25 goals to zero in their first two games. Good 'em for playing hard!!
Their starting goalie (for the 1st 9 goals) was/is 5-8 and 128lbs, which is pretty small but he kept them in there a lot more than the score showed. I think he should have been one of the stars of the game.
Hopefully Kazachastan can keep developing their junior program further. Needless to say they need some more financial support so even to field a team is praise worthy.
More to come tomorrow with Canada vs Germany and I have to check in on the game tonight U.S vs the Czech's I think.
Oh, as for that pond hockey stuff....thats one of the things I miss the most about living back in Ontario was the seemingly endless drop in/free hockey....a great tradition that we are unable to fulfill out here in Victoria.
BP

 

[oops!]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

If I can find it I will be watching

to me.....that is one of the saddest statments ive heard in a long time

ticks me off that there is soooo much talent and the media chooses to ignore them........its proven that there is a market for it and the advertisers will support it..........so put it on !

 

[DaleT]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

to me.....that is one of the saddest statments ive heard in a long time

Yes, it is extremely sad, the only way we can get the games down here in the states is to pay for the NHL Network or find someplace that has it. Personally, I know of only one location that has it full time and one other that only gets it after the NFL regular season is over. Most bars/restaurants don't have the cable access to the programing because the costs are very prohibitive for multiple screens and then the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB networks are an additional subscription cost to the basic fees.

Having seen a number of games played on the other side of the river I wish we had better coverage here. One would think with the National Team Development Program located a short distance away in Ann Arbor the coverage would be there. At least we do have decent coverage of the NHL, OHL, and CCHA though.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: For the Hockey Fans

to me.....that is one of the saddest statments ive heard in a long time

Well I didn't find it yet, not even on ESPN to my knowledge.
Hockey can be the stepchild of sports down here which can be a bummer.