Eastside's Hockey Elite Collide

So, I've been reading online a lot of people treating the semi-final between Canada and the USA as if it were the Gold Medal game. This is one the main reason why I'm getting annoyed with this tournament. Being Canadian, I watch TSN, and even when a Canadian screws up it was a "gritty performance" despite a Russian or god forbid a Swiss player, making a great play against the Canadians. I expect this from fans, but it just seems like analysts and commentators minimalize the achievements of all the other countries (except for the USA - after all, they play the same style so they get the same respect.)

Now, as I mentioned, I am Canadian and I usually head to a bar to whoop it up for the gold medal game. But, running the risk of starting a fight, I think I'll have a beer or two and watch this one at home and simply enjoying the games - I'll simply cheer for whoever I think wants it more whether it's Canada or Russia in the gold game; Sweden or the USA in the bronze game. Pretty much any other competition in the world I will cheer for Canada and to hell with everyone else, but when it comes to the juniors, I feel most Canadians reach a new low in how disrespectful they are of other countries. This sentiment began during the last world juniors where I saw a physical Swiss team plant Canadians into the boards, only to have the Canadian players retaliate with a hack to the ankles - acting as if because they're Canadian hockey players, they should never be touched by a lowly Swiss player. Perhaps it's because these players are all heavily scouted and know they're going to the NHL, they feel entitled... I'm not sure.

It should be known that all of my friends act as I described above. Quote from a friend that epitomizes this from last year: "What makes these guys (Swiss) think they can play with Canada?" (or something like that, lol)

Sorry about that (if you chose to read it) I just needed to get that rant out of my system. I don't know what it's like for the rest of you, or you hockey fans in the US. Let me know, maybe I'm just a cynical person surrounded by douchey hockey-patriot Canadians

I actually agree with you. It seems like the five straight golds have gotten to Canada's heads and the WJC are ours to lose, no chance for anyone else. Then again, is there anything we dominate in aside from ice hockey?

Maybe the fans are just showing blind patriotism, but I wouldn't mind seeing Russia win just to shut up all the jackass Canadian fans. With that being said, I'd still like to see Avs prospect Tyson Barrie continue to beast.

They're 17-18 year old kids, at least some of whom are probably not the most well adjusted teenagers knowing that they've got a good shot of being a millionaire pro sports player in the next few years. But as for the fans, meh, I haven't really heard or seen anything particularly offensive by pro sports standards. I don't really get why one would feel so emotionally attached to this competition anyways, other than by listening to Don Cherry and his bizarre fixation on beautiful young boys.

SharksGM wrote:They're 17-18 year old kids, at least some of whom are probably not the most well adjusted teenagers knowing that they've got a good shot of being a millionaire pro sports player in the next few years. But as for the fans, meh, I haven't really heard or seen anything particularly offensive by pro sports standards. I don't really get why one would feel so emotionally attached to this competition anyways, other than by listening to Don Cherry and his bizarre fixation on beautiful young boys.

I think Pierre McGuire is the one who gets on my nerves the most. I remember watching a Russian go end to end, undress a Canadian defender and almost score... what does Pierre ask for a replay of at the break? A Canadian winning a faceoff. Are you kidding me? Show me that amazing end to end rush. Doesn't matter what country that guy is from, I want to see good hockey.

CapsGM wrote: Then again, is there anything we dominate in aside from ice hockey?

Curling
Lacrosse
Speed Skating

Canada 4 Russia 3 OT

TorontoGM wrote:

CapsGM wrote: Then again, is there anything we dominate in aside from ice hockey?

Curling
Lacrosse
Speed Skating?

If the Olympics taught us anything, we're pretty damn good at freestyle moguls as well

Bobsledding too, we had a tie for medals with Germany. Our female gold medal winners were pretty cute too haha

FlamesGM wrote:

SharksGM wrote:They're 17-18 year old kids, at least some of whom are probably not the most well adjusted teenagers knowing that they've got a good shot of being a millionaire pro sports player in the next few years. But as for the fans, meh, I haven't really heard or seen anything particularly offensive by pro sports standards. I don't really get why one would feel so emotionally attached to this competition anyways, other than by listening to Don Cherry and his bizarre fixation on beautiful young boys.

I think Pierre McGuire is the one who gets on my nerves the most. I remember watching a Russian go end to end, undress a Canadian defender and almost score... what does Pierre ask for a replay of at the break? A Canadian winning a faceoff. Are you kidding me? Show me that amazing end to end rush. Doesn't matter what country that guy is from, I want to see good hockey.

CapsGM wrote: Then again, is there anything we dominate in aside from ice hockey?

TorontoGM wrote:Curling
Lacrosse
Speed Skating?

FlamesGM wrote:If the Olympics taught us anything, we're pretty damn good at freestyle moguls as well

Don't forget stoned snowboarding!

FlamesGM wrote:I think Pierre McGuire is the one who gets on my nerves the most. I remember watching a Russian go end to end, undress a Canadian defender and almost score... what does Pierre ask for a replay of at the break? A Canadian winning a faceoff. Are you kidding me? Show me that amazing end to end rush. Doesn't matter what country that guy is from, I want to see good hockey.

Christ, don't even get me started with that imbecile Maguire. There isn't anyone in sports broadcasting I would rather see beaten within an inch of his life.

FlamesGM wrote:I think Pierre McGuire is the one who gets on my nerves the most. I remember watching a Russian go end to end, undress a Canadian defender and almost score... what does Pierre ask for a replay of at the break? A Canadian winning a faceoff. Are you kidding me? Show me that amazing end to end rush. Doesn't matter what country that guy is from, I want to see good hockey.

Despite being incredibly annoying and probably autistic, McGuire is one of the best in the business. That tells you something about the business of sports journalism more so than McGuire.

Pierre knows what hes talking about but it doesnt mean he aint annoying as FUCK. Now Mike Milbury, he knows JACK SHIT and is completely retarded.

TorontoGM wrote:Pierre knows what hes talking about but it doesnt mean he aint annoying as FUCK. Now Mike Milbury, he knows JACK SHIT and is completely retarded.

Agreed. A buddy of mine is an intern at the Hockey Hall of Fame (somehow - don't ask) and met Pierre. Apparently he's a great guy but "loves hockey too much" was the exact quote my friend gave me, lol

Pierre jerks off to the world juniors.

I think Pierre is awesome, how can you hate on someone that genuinely loves hockey so much?

CAN 5 RUS 2 obv

How clever of me to post so many times in this thread without making an actual prediction!

Oh well, Pierre still sucks. I can hate on him because he's annoying and obviously socially impaired no matter how passionate he is about big bodies and active sticks.

SharksGM wrote:How clever of me to post so many times in this thread without making an actual prediction!

Oh well, Pierre still sucks. I can hate on him because he's annoying and obviously socially impaired no matter how passionate he is about big bodies and active sticks.

He was mighty silent at the end of the game.

Biggest letdown of life. FUCKING DISGRACE

Possibly the best comeback I've ever witnessed. Two goals in 11 seconds to start it off? Absolutely unreal. I'm just glad it was an entertaining game. When it was 3-0 heading into the third I was worried the Russians would fold, but I was quite wrong indeed. Congrats to the Russians, the habitual comeback team of the tournament.

The only reason why Russia won is because the Canadians decided to stop playing after 3-0. Coming from a guy that watched every Russian game and that hates McGuire/biased canadian hockey fans.

I see nobody predicted "choke".

Canada for some reason completely gassed in the 3rd period. There was no jump in their stride, they thought they could just coast back to a 3-0 lead. Their celebrations made me sick, but credit to Russia for battling and battling and being the better team in the 3rd. Amazing that they play 20 minutes of hockey and score 5 goals for the win.

As for Pierre Maguire, I completely disliked him, would never watch any hockey on TSN if he was there, but when the NHL draft came to Vancouver, I talked to him a couple times, and he really is a nice guy, so changed my view on him a lot. The one thing that was "Pierre" like, was I was talking to him pre-draft, and wanted to know his "monster" of the draft, someone we may not be aware of, and the answer he gave me was Erik Johnson. Thanks Pierre! That was the 2006 draft too where Jonathan Toews was picked 3rd, and Jordan Staal 2nd, Nicklas Backstrom 4th, all more impact players than Erik Johnson.

Also later in the first round, Chris Stewart, Semyon Varlamov, and Claude Giroux were all picked, all 3 are developing into pretty solid players.

Milan Lucic, Jamie McBain, and Steve Mason were all also taken in rounds 2-3.

they are kids, that's the reason. i know Canada has to go through some sort of national self flagellation every time they don't dominate a hockey game (let alone win), but seriously they were the best team by miles in terms of talent, system, coaching, etc etc etc. nobody else was even close, their heads just got so huge five feet from the finish line, that they blew a hammy once that ball got rolling downhill (yes, more mixed metaphors).

it happens in sports...to people and teams a lot more experienced than a U20 side, btw. don't sweat it my friends from up north.