The US lost to Canada 6-4 last night in a pretty entertaining game. The US now gets Slovakia in the quarterfinals, Sweden if they win, and a potential final game against Canada.
A couple thoughts on the game last night...
1. I think I figured out how somebody scores like 250 points every year in the OHL. Tom McCollum was absolutely brutal for the US. Through the first two periods, every Canadian shot had one of three results, listed in order of frequency.
a. Missed the net
b. Goal
c. Save, with McCollum immediately looking over his shoulder and surprised not to see the puck in the net.
2. The US team must be pretty ugly to look at because a lot of those tough guys in red wouldn't touch them if they could see the US player's face.
3. Was this game played in Canada? That was not readily apparent to me.
4. The US had a terrible game defensively. Maybe one or two out of their seven defensemen played well last night.
5. I wouldn't be optimistic about a rematch in the final with Canada--though getting a win over Sweden would be an accomplishment in itself. Even if the US plays equally with them, the crowd could play a huge role, as well as the usual BS that comes with playing on the hosts' soil, like top players getting sucker-punched with no recourse and so on.
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I think the Canadian were worried if they got in an Americans face they'd get a stick in the face. You forgot to mention that class act in your notes. If you have the guts to stick a guy in the face at least be on the ice, not hiding on the bench.
Also, I know you were watching through American eyes, but there was just as many cheap shots coming from the USA players.
that guy de la roverre on canada was a goon. i can't tell you how upset i am that fairchild is on the team. he couldn't do anything all night it was just so noticeable. the us didn't hit wiht the ferocity, granted sometimes may be it was over the line, the canadians did. teh canadians were so much more charged i thought. the forwards are just so quick for canada, and the us's size was neutralized by how incredibly well, and big, the d man were on the canadian side. if canada doesn't win i will be extremely shocked. also, why can't van riemsdyk become a little more mean.
and the score was 7-4 i believe, really 5-4, but two empty netters.
All I hope is Tavares gets a slobberknocker in a U.S. rematch. Anyone see him do the "Kessel" ear cup to the U.S. bench after his second goal. Then after the third goal he gives a cheap shot to van Riemsdyk. He reminds me a lot of Ilya Kovalchuck when he was younger. Totally arrogant classless prick.
If Canada gets a penalty for the sucker punch, then a U.S. kid gets a penalty for sucker slash while sticking out his blade while sitting on the bench. Another obvious missed call was after the whistle early in the first when a Canadian player skated up to an American and knocked him into the boards right by the American bench in front of an official. I believe it was right after the 3rd goal. It was well after the whistle and the Canadian player clearly skated in with the intent of hitting after the whistle. Just a minute before they called an after the whistle cross-check, but then let that go. Inconsistent.
....and yes, the U.S. goalie is brutal. It's hard to imagine he's the best they could come up with for this tournament.
Shattenkirk and especially Kessel should not have been on this team.
7-4 my friend! US was brutal on defense, and they were never the same after the chicken taunt by Jimmy Hayes. They deserved to be outscored 7-1 after leading 3-0.
They have no sack to play with CA.
Schroeder dissapeared while Tavarass was the best player by far with 4 ticks.
Correction:
The US lost 7-4, not 6-4 as your headline claims.
quote: "Even if the US plays equally with them, the crowd could play a huge role, as well as the usual BS that comes with playing on the hosts' soil, like top players getting sucker-punched with no recourse and so on."
What was your excuse when the tournament was played in Grand Forks? Top players getting sucker-punched? You mean just after the US player (who was seated on the bench) high-sticked a Canadian player in the face? You know, when the Canadians were taunting your bench in retaliation after Jimmy Hayes did the same just minutes earlier?
Are you inferring that the Russian ref favored Canada, or that the rest of the IIHF Euro on & off ice officials (read as neutral) were a part of some vast conspiracy to cause the US to lose?
The better team won a tough, hard fought battle. Man up and admit it. If Canada had dressed the 8 other junior eligible 18/19 year old products of the Hockey Canada system who are currently playing in the NHL, and the 2 prospects who were injured during camp (Tyrell/Cuma), the score would not have been quite so flattering to the US. FYI, no other nation lost more than one eligible player to the NHL. You were smoked by our B team, in essence.
At least you got one thing right, No. 4. Defensively the USA was bad. If McCollum is such a bad goalie, why is he representing his country and drafted in the first round by ummm.....the Detroit Red Wings. If the goalie was as bad as you make him out to be, why not rant about the "no personality" coach that builds this team? Watch a game as a hockey fan and not through your red, white and blue glasses and you would see a different game. The officials were brutal, period. Both teams suffered through the striped ones' inabilities. Maybe you missed the stick to the face of a Canadian player from the USA bench? Don't hate the players hate the game! The USA had a 3 goal lead and couldn't hold it for half a period. This lost goes way beyond the ref's, and the "big bad" Canadians. As a footnote, is anybody else completely ill after listening to this joke called Starman. This guy just loves to hear himself ramble. I love when he spends half a shift telling the viewers what the coaches should be doing and what the players are thinking while on the ice. A word of advice to Mr. Starman, add a few words of color and then shut up.
The U.S. lost because of its ridiculous adherence to taking as many NCAA players as they can. The best players from the U.S. last night were from the CHL. They were the only one's who had the b@lls to play physically with Canada.
Face it, the NCAA is for pretty boys and hockey is a tough man's game....as Canada showed last night.
two things.
1) USA had a 3-0 lead and choked it up.
2) the USNDTP model has produced 1 World Junior gold medal. is it not obvious USAH's ideas are not working?
Canada is the only nation that concentrates all its resources into the sport. They should probably be winning these games by 25 goals, anything less than that is a complete failure.
Furthermore, do you think the bully that is Hockey Canada, TSN, RDS, etc. would tolerate anything but a clear road to the finals for the home team?
These groups work by intimidation and have the $ to do it. Without Canadian money things would be different.
Actually, the same WWF has been staged in the NHL. Have you ever noticed how Canadian team happen to get pushed through to the stanley cup finals every year. Cleary they are not the best teams, on or off the ice. The bulk of revenue comes from the big Canadian markets and that is what is doing the talking.
As I was watching the game, I was so upset that the USA did not take Petrecki. The guy is a cement wall, they could have used him to rough up some of the more aggressive canadians. kessel and fairchild were useless. idk why the usa doesn't take more guys who did not go throuhg the NTDP either.
"Canada is the only nation that concentrates all its resources into the sport."
yeah like spending 3 million a year on a small select group in order to gain international glory....except that group rarely wins...OOOOPS gosh darn it I was talking about the US NTDP....sorry.
McDonough was by far and away the worst defenseman for the US v. Canada.
The Canadian player that got the stick to the face looked like an Argentinian soccer player the way he went down. He intentionally brushed the stick and then went down like he got shot. Clearly a dive.
From what I seen of the infamous stick in the face, the blade of the stick lightly tapped the half shield of the Canadian player. Of course, the guy goes down like he had been shot. Just what one can expect by a bunch of fakers and divers.
What about Della rovere, charges the US player, checks him face first into the boards from behind with clear intent to injure and gets 2 minutes?
Gee, sounds fair to me. How pathetic.
So skating into a stationary stick is slashing now?
It was obvious one team came to goon it up and one team came to play Hockey. The fact Canada has so much talent and still requires cheap shots to win is a testament to the fear Canada has of how close everybody is getting talent-wise.
To hear checking from behind, hitting after the whistle, and sucker punches described as toughness instead of the actions of a bunch of pussies says it all.
As far as NCAA vs. Major Juniors if you think the play of McCollum and Blum were anything but severely sub-par you need to watch more Hockey. The only difference between Blum and McDonagh was that goals resulted from McDonagh's mistakes. Blum made just as many if not more terrible decisions they didn't end up costing his team through luck or support from teammates.
all of you sound like a bunch of whining kids saying "she started it"; what's sad is that both sides are becoming more punkish; more like footballs' TO's touchdown celebrations; in the old days, the class players in sports (Payton in football; Gretzky in hockey)just barely celebrated after a score (in the words of Payton after a touchdown "act like you've been there before"); hockey players generally have so much more class than their counterparts in other sports; why must they skate past the other team's bench; are they degenerating to the trash talking status of an ocho cinco; if they are, that's a sad statement about the greatest sport on earth; both sides are guilty of this bull-crap; oh wait "they started it"; let's grow up here; it was a well played game; ostensibly a 5-4 game (two EN's); as an american; we should know (and accept) that the Canadian system will always produce more great hockey players; the reason for that is simple; the best canadian athletes play hockey; most of the best american athletes play football and basketball; hockey is still a distant second (or third)place to Friday night football; nothing against the american boys who play hockey, but the simple fact is that our best athletes waist away playing a game that ends in high school.
this is a good us team, but canada's talent pool year in and year out is just so deep and rich. canada is still the best hockey nation in teh world and no one can doubt that, btu the USA is close. i think they may make it to teh finals for a rematch. the us is a veteran team who now got their first taste of a butt whooping, and i mean canada really physically outmanned them. if the two do play in the finals, is that correct?, then i think it may be a different outcome.
12:23 - what are you smoking? (I am not Canadian BTW). USA spends millions of dollars on a handful of politically connected kids (not the best overall players), and sends them to Ann Arbor for a year or two or three with the hope that the US can produce a Sidney Crosby. Never happens and never will happen because USA Hockey never gets the best US players in its pipeline. Contrast that the Canada where, if you have game you have a chance of advancing whether you come from a small town in SK or a large city such as Calgary or Vancouver. The Canadian hockey system is vastly superior to ours and this is why we get our ass kicked.
Excuses, excuses, excuses...
You are an Idiot
The US should get a rematch with Canada, if both teams play to their potential. No sense bitching and moaning about who is on the team. We have to deal with the roster the way it is.
There would be nothing better than beating Canada on their home ice and shutting all those dumb*** fans up.
There is no prouder time to be a Canadian than when the US gets it handed to them so bad, that they are virtually accusing us of being a 'bully', and are certain that there is a conspiracy theory.
- Kennedy Magic Bullet
- No moon landing
- TSN is dictating the World Junior Championship
Canada should win by 25 goals? Is that kind of like how the USA shoudl march through the World Baseball Classic, or Olympic Baseball (Cuba has 11 million people...total).
Methinks that Canada is doing AOK.
Chris, I can't help bu feel sorry for you, with your insecurities, it must really hurt when that knife keeps turning, and turning, and turning....
Bottom line, Canada was a better team in the third period, I felt our D was soft at times but if you dont skate the third period it's all moot, a time out at the 7:40 mark would have been a good idea, bush leauge
Canada is the only nation that concentrates all its resources into the sport.
What does Sweden and the other Euro Winter nations do.
They should probably be winning these games by 25 goals, anything less than that is a complete failure.
Oh really, suck it up dude.
Furthermore, do you think the bully that is Hockey Canada, TSN, RDS, etc. would tolerate anything but a clear road to the finals for the home team?
You lost me on this one.
These groups work by intimidation and have the $ to do it. Without Canadian money things would be different.
Hockey Canada is very strong and uses their resources to continue building power house sytems.
Actually, the same WWF has been staged in the NHL. Have you ever noticed how Canadian team happen to get pushed through to the stanley cup finals every year.
Are you including the stretch from 92/93 until present with no Canadian Cup winners. Or the 12 years since 92/93 until Calgary got back to the final 12 years since the last Canuck team.
John Carlson the 1st round pick of Washington should be in this tournament on the US defence.
Could they ever use his rocket and blazing speed.
USA Hockey is clueless...end the USDTP experiemtn now...
Loss to the Slovakians??
Out of the Tournament, NO MEDAL!!!
I can't wait for your excuses..MJ Goalies, homer refs, loud anti USA crowds.
GREAT WORK TEAM USA!!!!
"Canada is the only nation that concentrates all its resources into the sport. They should probably be winning these games by 25 goals, anything less than that is a complete failure".
Look first of all, hockey is probaly one one the only sports we exel at. And as far as concentrating all our resources into this sport, The US hockey development program puts more funds into it's program than Hockey Canada. And to accuse broadcasting stations of putting some sort of fix in! Where are all your American Broadcast companies to show this event? So to state a point, are we to believe that American broadcast companies have a say in the outcomes of international sports venues that they only carry, and that feature american teams? Come on! Relax it was an amazing game to watch. Just sorry that your guys wont be there to give us a rematch. Peace and Happy New Year.
10:22...You are an idiot...watch the tape closely, he clearly stuck his stick out from the bench.
7:35..I agree. The NCAA should make players wear half shields instead of masks, and allow kids to drop the gloves. The USHL allows kids to fight, but the next level up you can't?? Stupid.
RR...What did Hoeffel add to the squad?
well I agree with the original comment that McCollum looked like crap. And if it was to get any worse, we had to watch his display against slovakia. I mean come on Rolston, what the hell are you thinking. Are you not putting what is best for the team. Slovakia scored three goals on seven shots, and they were all brutal goals. Apparently Unice is a piece of crap according to the coaching staff, why even have him on the team if you were not going to use the kid. I am so sick and tired of Canada kicking our ass year after year cause we either can not get the right personal or the right staff, or both on the ice.
McDonough and McCollum both suck.
Hey Chris,how about that goaltender from Slovakia eh? By the way HE PLAYS IN THE OHL!!!!!
Boy, are you college boys pretty crappy.
How the hell was McCollum a first round pick? He was brutal when it mattered most. Also, why wasn't he pulled?
Let's see....
Another resounding victory for USC in the Rose Bowl....yep!
Another abysmal season for the Detroit Lions...affirmative!
Another offseason spending spree for the NY Yankess...you bet!
And...oh yeah...another atrocious peformance by Team USA in the junior tournament!! What a joke. Yeah, I know hockey is a fringe sport in the US. And I know our best athletes tend to gravitate towards other sports. And maybe our coaches aren't the best...blah, blah, blah. But what the FU**?? I cannot believe our teams can't bo better at this tournament. Last I checked our roster was stocked with draft picks. What gives????
if the usndtp can't win world U20 gold medals one of two things is true.
1) usa does not have the talent to win or
2) the ndtp system is broken.
given that america has the second largest number of players in the NHL behind canada, i have to believe the ndtp system is broken.
yet these idiots at usah are about to set up mini ndtp satalites in 36 regions of america because they think the NDTP model is working.
please, someone save american hockey from those who are ruling it.
can't wait to read the bloggers' remarks about how bad the goaltending in the OHL is after the Slovakian's display. Janus plays for Erie by the way. The USA has a whole lot of Swedish and no Finnish. When will usa hockey wake up and start to reorganize from the top down. The players are in the system to allow this team to succeed, however the coaches and powers to be have to start taking some heat over these terrible results.
Anon 7:17-- Hoeffel looked ok. Did a good job killing penalties. Got a couple of points. I'd take him over Bowman, Wahl, Tangradi, Johnson and Rust.
The NTDP model is broken and the coaches they have running it are not even the best American coaches in the profession. How do we as a hockey body (players, parents, coaches) in the US get the powers at USA Hockey ousted and get some real hockey people (not politicians) in there?
Nick Petrecki, John Carlson, ect. ect....All players that did not go through the NTDP - so they don't get on the WJ 20 team. This is how USA Hockey and the NTDP pressure kids into going to the NTDP - by telling them they'll never play in the World Junior tournament. Canada picks their best team - the US picks their best "political" team.
Canada kicks your a@s year after year because they are better period. Having Scotty Bowman would not have helped you. Canada was more talented...end of story...quit your whining.
As for the author of this blog...are you kidding me? What league do you think the Slovak goalie plays in? I'll give you a clue (seeing how you can't even buy one!)...its the OHL!
Nick Petrecki, John Carlson, ect. ect....All players that did not go through the NTDP - so they don't get on the WJ 20 team. This is how USA Hockey and the NTDP pressure kids into going to the NTDP - by telling them they'll never play in the World Junior tournament. Canada picks their best team - the US picks their best "political" team.
I like that comment, but at hte same time, and this is for everyone, I believe the NTDP works. They don't get the best kids all the time due to politics and no one can deny that. However, the NTDP has built exposure for American hockey players, all go D1 or major junior and many are picked in the draft. A si.com article stated they think its time to pick a coach who isn't American. Idk if that is true, but it is time to evaluate the coaching. The USA had the talent. JVR, Wilson, and Schroeder are or are going to be top 10 picks. The goaltending was not the best, but McCollum actually is an ok goaltender, the Red Wings thought that he was a first round pick lets let that speak for itself. The NTDP works and the players get better and better, that is what is closing the gap wiht Canada. The USA however needs to reevaluate the coaching, perticularly Rolston who couldn't control his players, and start to really see how to put the WJHC debacles behind them and move forward.
If the NTDP is working - how can you explain one gold medal at the World Juniors? The NTDP was set-up to make USA Hockey better at the INTERNATIONAL LEVEL - and that is clearly NOT working. The US U-18's and U-17's medal consistently because they play together as a team (for the most part) all season long while other federations players do not. But when it comes to winning, or even medaling in the big tournaments (World Juniors, World Championships, Olympics) the US is clearly behind. We need change in leadership at the USA Hockey level!!!
Want Ad:
New blood and leadership wanted at USA Hockey. Must not be a rejected college coach (Tabrum, Martell, ect.) and your top initiative must not be making coaches wear helmets on the ice.
difference between canada and the pampered americans...........canada finds a way to win with 5 seconds left against the russians when down one goal...........who is the ndtp playing against in the 10th place game while canada plays the swedes for their 5th straight gold medal?
hynes vs hartsburg......rolston vs quinn......ogrean vs nicolson.......boys vs men lol
Had a chance to go to the games up here in Ottawa. The Big Line of Wilson, Shader, and VanRymdyk was awful. Shader and VanRymiesdyk looked like they had Harry Potter's invisibility cloak on. All their points came on the PP. Huge defensive liability and took shifts that were way too long. That being said, Wilson was the best on this line and should make a good pro. Hayes goal on the 5 on 3 was pretty sweet. O'Brien's goal vs. Canada was a bomb. O'Brien, Tangraddi, Hayes and Johnson were the US team's best players 5 on 5. The Michigan players played well. Rust and Palushaj showed signs of being able to compete at the next level. The US Defense and McCollum were awful. Blum and Cole were OK, and by far the best of a very average group. Why was Wheeler on the team and killing a penalty? His penalty to put the US down 5 on 3 cost the US the game. USA Hockey learn from Canada and their Program of Excellence. 1) Hire a coach whose sole job is to coach the World Junior Team with no ties to the USNTDP. 2) Stop slobbing the NCAA's knob. AJ Jenks, Collin Long, etc. should have been on the team, not Kristo or Hoffel and the slew of other cage wearing heroes. The best players need to be invited no matter where they play. Canada has one NCAA Dman. 3) Get rid of the USNTDP. Put those kids in the USHL to make that league better or even better the CHL so they get quality coaching and know how important this tournament is.
Side note Canada beats Russia in a Shoot Out. Someone will beat them, but it will not be the US Team in the forseeable future.
My two cents worth:
1) The Canadian players play this tournament like it means everything to them, as all of Canada is watching, whereas the US players are not playing in front of the same type of audience. Very few people in the US population care or even know that this tournament exists! Players, coaches and US staff care but that's it! Big difference in attitude about going down to block a shot between Canada and US Players; Canadians think "I've got to do this for my country" while US players think twice (future NHL careers more important then World Juniors to them). Nobody in the US is watching anyway!
2) US needs to improve its coaching staff and who is selecting the team...Why can't someone like Peter Laviolette coach and select the team?
3) Canadians need to relax a little...they treat this tournament like its the most importatnt thing going on in the world....Get out of fantasy world and understand its a hockey tournament of "boys" under age 20 for crying out loud its not that important!
4) Brutal (unfair) comment by Chris about CHL goaltending using McCollum's bad tournament when Janus beat the US almost singlehandedly and plays in the same league as McCollum.
5) US ran into a hot Slovak goalie...its happens in single elimination hockey...that's why very few leagues have single elimination.
6) USNTDP has made the mistake over the past several years of promoting only a few "Superstars" (Kane, Kessel, Johnson, Mueller, etc.) who have gone on to the NHL instead of building a "Team" for the World Junior tournament, which its mission statement suggests is its primary goal.
The NTDP chooses 20 skaters and focuses on 4-5 players.Then their bench is not deep enough for s---! No wonder they bail to Canadian Major programs who in the the world wants to be treated like that.At one point their supposed to the top players in the USA then their disregarded.
Anonymous said...
My two cents worth:
Hey my friend since you think this is not important in many Americans eyes but only for the Canadians let me state something. Last night's game like the USA/ Canada game was loaded in one area of seating with about 20 NHL guys with pens & paper. If the Yanks were letting up on the play and taking it easy since no one in the USA cares how do you think the GM's and Scouts will feel.
Ridiculous statements abound.
This is the biggest stage in the world for players at the NHL doorstep.
No stanima for these premadonnas of the NCAA.
Simontempler...I know you're from London, Ontario so don't try to say you know what goes on in US hockey land. I'm a former US player and coached in the US system and I do know what I am talking about. But you know everything, just like your continuous stupid comments on the London Knights forum! There is just not the same passion for this tournament by the US players as the Canadian players and the results show it! I'm not saying Canada isn't better than the US; I'm just saying that we're dealing with a different commitment level.
Anon @ 2:06 makes some good points (#6) and some inane ones (#1). The most accurate one is that Rolston et al treat the ntDp like the nt(SHOWCASE)p. It's supposed to be about developing american(Maxwell is as american as a yugo; lived in Florida for all of 2 years) talent, not showcasing a select few, AND winning int'l tournaments ! that's why they won't win the u18 tourney in Fargo. Year in and year out, they pull this herb brooks bullshit and backdoor some kid who'se devoted 2 years to the program in favor of a newcomer; doesn't do much for team morale, but every herbie wannabee thinks it will be the magic trick. the best thing that usa hockey has going for it is the ushl, not the ntdp; they should either fix the ntdp (by expanding it to minnesota) or drop it entirely, and just draw from college and juniors for tournaments.
For the US Developmental program to be successful the US must finish higher than 5th place. They can finish fifth without it.
Maybe the USHL IS the answer. Develop more players and make it into the best junior league in North America.
Major Junior in Canada develops the top 10% of the players to play in the NHL.
Where are the other 90% playing and what are they doing when they are 25 years old?
Nick Petrecki, John Carlson, "All players that did not go through the NTDP - so they don't get on the WJ 20 team. This is how USA Hockey and the NTDP pressure kids into going to the NTDP - by telling them they'll never play in the World Junior tournament. Canada picks their best team - the US picks their best "political" team."
Many great comments. Chris... I know you are a college guy but the sad truth is there are 17 year olds playing major junior who could have improved this US team. To be specific there are seven 17 year olds and four 18 year olds in the OHL who are better than many of the NTDP and college kids who made this squad. They face down Tavares,Hall,Ellis and all the Canadian boys who educated our boys day in and day out in the CHL grind. The CHL guys they did pick are not character or skill guys and were NTDP lackeys. The NTDP has been a huge failure and plays an NAHL and USHL schedule while we have 91 and 92's (16 & 17 year olds) playing 20+ minutes a night against the best 19 and 20 year old players in the world. Don't forget they practice every day with them as well. Many of these 16 and 17 year olds never got a sniff at the NTDP camp or system and then walked onto a CHL team's roster and now play significant roles.John Carlson would have been EASILY the best D-Man on the US team.Lord knows they needed the help. Where was he? Oh yeah,he plays in the OHL for the London Knights. The NTDP has coaching,scouting and vision deficiencies. BTW you would be right in assuming I have a relative who never got a sniff at the USA program. Thank God he wasn't asked into the program because he would have gone to Ann Arbor instead of the CHL where he will be developed.A Bruins scout asked his assistant coach, "Where is this kid from"? He's at least a mid round draft pick".He was busy wasting his time in the US developemental system is where he was.BTW Chris, He's got a TON of college money coming if the "show" doesn't work out.I don't mean state school tuition and board either. Thank the Lord the NTDP is completely clueless.
Ontario Just won thier 2nd U17 WHC, with ALL OHL Players...they have gone undefeated the last two years....
This year they beat Pacific 5-1 in the Gold Medal Game. Pacific beat the USA U17 in OT.
The Canadian teams were together for 11 days. The NTDP, which is together all year should win this tournament EVERY year..but it doesn't..
Oh by the way, for those of you ripping Tangradi for his performance in the
world Jr.s, he was sent home by Belleville to rest his injured groin. My guess he sucked it up and didn't complain about his injury and played at less than 100%. So now you can rip on him for living a dream instead of crying about a nagging injury and possibly being out of the lineup.
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