2016 Hockey World Cup Thread

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:13 am

Just bought tickets for the 2 warmup games at the Verizon Center. Maybe I am becoming numb to the price of sporting events but I thought the price for 2 nights of hockey like this were not too terrible (especially when compared to the ticket prices for meaningless soccer friendlies in the U.S. and regular season Caps tickets).

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 12:39 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:Just bought tickets for the 2 warmup games at the Verizon Center. Maybe I am becoming numb to the price of sporting events but I thought the price for 2 nights of hockey like this were not too terrible (especially when compared to the ticket prices for meaningless soccer friendlies in the U.S. and regular season Caps tickets).

Wrong Arena wlu!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Aug 23, 2016 9:54 am

http://www.tsn.ca/new-initiatives-to-be ... y-1.549181

Sports technology has come a long way since the last World Cup back in 2004 and this year’s iteration will feature plenty of innovation. Puck and player trackers, first unveiled at the 2015 NHL All-Star Game in Columbus, have been revamped and will be reintroduced for the event. Sensors will be slotted in pucks and in the back of sweaters to measure data point points such as speed, puck trajectory, acceleration, positioning, zone time and shot speed. There will even be pointers on the screen to identify who is on the ice during each shift.

Behind the bench, coaches will be given tablets with access to real-time video and highlights to assist with challenges and line adjustments. But perhaps the most dramatic alteration will be the digital-enhanced dasher boards. With four different feeds for English and French Canada, the United States and around the world, digital boards will be changed frequently throughout the game for various advertisers. And when a team scores, its country’s logo can be immediately projected behind them, adding an intriguing broadcast element. The boards can also be animated right up until puck drop. The example of dancing Tim Hortons coffee cups shown Wednesday was a bit startling.

This also marks the first appearance of marketing logos on sweaters. Each World Cup jersey worn on the ice during games will have a small SAP logo on each shoulder. Like everything else being rolled out for the tournament, the concept is just getting a trial run.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Aug 23, 2016 11:38 am

For SC: Canada announces Logan Couture will replace Jamie Benn due to injury

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:22 pm

degenerasian wrote:For SC: Canada announces Logan Couture will replace Jamie Benn due to injury

That's cool. Going to the Stanley Cup Finals seems to really have raised the profiles of Sharks' players.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:00 pm

North American team given numbers. I hope they can beat Russia.

Post by **brian** » Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:01 pm

Lotta talent (and potential talent) on that team.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Sep 08, 2016 9:53 pm

Do we all agree "Team N/A" winning would be the ultimate fuck-off to pretty much every old school way of thinking?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Sep 08, 2016 11:23 pm

mister d wrote:Do we all agree "Team N/A" winning would be the ultimate fuck-off to pretty much every old school way of thinking?

Not sure i'd go that far, but It would certainly help my bankroll.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 7:29 am

Headed to C-Bus for USA/Canada tonight. I'll let you guys know how hard we are going to USA this whole motherfucker when I get back.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 11:03 am

BSF21 wrote:Headed to C-Bus for USA/Canada tonight. I'll let you guys know how hard we are going to USA this whole motherfucker when I get back.

I am trying to get really excited about this event, but my over-arching thought is always, "I hope none of the guys on the Sharks get injured".

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 11:09 am

sancarlos wrote:
BSF21 wrote:Headed to C-Bus for USA/Canada tonight. I'll let you guys know how hard we are going to USA this whole motherfucker when I get back.
I am trying to get really excited about this event, but my over-arching thought is always, "I hope none of the guys on the Sharks get injured".

it's worse in the olympics though, which is what this tournament is replacing.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 1:54 pm

sancarlos wrote:I am trying to get really excited about this event, but my over-arching thought is always, "I hope none of the guys on the Sharks get injured".

Not excited for that reason and because it means nothing and then Miller decided to block a point shot with his hand.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:00 pm

was a good 'friendly'. This tournament is going to fun.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:39 pm

So wait, Canada and the us have their own teams, but here is also a North America team? As well as a Europe team from countries that couldn't field a full team? Wtf?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 5:48 pm

The kids team is getting scary good. 5-1 still in the first

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:53 pm

degenerasian wrote:was a good 'friendly'. This tournament is going to fun.

The US was very physical for a friendly against Canada. Brutal boarding and every time I looked the Canadian medical staff was helping some guy off the ice. Good if they play this style but bad for teams with lots of players who made the rosters.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:36 am

Just goes to show what a fucking tool Tortarella is and that anyone who ever liked or defended him is a piece of garbage.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 9:08 am

For any Bmore or DC based swamp folks. Can't make Wed game and will be more than happy to pass on my tixs for Team Sweeden v. Team Europe (7PM). PM if you want them (have an email out to some others).

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 9:20 am

mister d wrote:Just goes to show what a fucking tool Tortarella is and that anyone who ever liked or defended him is a piece of garbage.

I dont know. This is a real tournament and its going to be physical. There were lots of fights in 1996. NHL rules are different than Olympic rules.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 9:44 am

Real how? Its real in that it exists, but to what extent to players really care? Like would they rather a "World Cup of Hockey" ring/trophy/t-shirt and an 0-5 start the NHL season or a first round exist and a 5-0 season start in the NHL? I thought the risk might be the teams without the near-full roster of NHLers trying to get noticed but I forgot about the Torts factor (and what a relatively shitty roster USA put together).

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 10:02 am

If it's a best on best tournament it's real. Heck those World Championships every year get pretty chippy (as much as allowed under international rules)
It's not just the Americans. I fully expect Sweden, Finland and Russia to punch the NA kids in the face when the games get real. The two Sweden/Finland games over the weekend were rough too.

The players are 80% not going to the Olympics. This is the real tournament now and I'm glad they are going all out or else in the future, we got nothing.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:32 am

The 96 event was really fun. I vividly remember where I was watching the final (college party). Everyone was huddled around the TV cheering for the US. A good US showing could bring some attention.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:45 am

Man am I not seeing this. Who would watch the World Cup of Hockey that doesn't watch the NHL? Olympics, absolutely. This ... ?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:04 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:The 96 event was really fun. I vividly remember where I was watching the final (college party). Everyone was huddled around the TV cheering for the US. A good US showing could bring some attention.

It should have but the NHL missed it's chance. The US should have hosted the next World Cup in 2000 to build on that victory.
But instead they went to the Olympics on the other side of the World, the US lost in the quarterfinals shown on tape delay and all was lost.

It's difficult to reboot an event after so many years but if done right, A World Cup is way better than the Olympics where players are hurriedly put together, don't practice, and play not to lose cause that's the easy strategy to put together in a short period of time.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:51 pm

I vividly remember the Crosby goal. I have no idea anything that happened in the '96 World Cup and I had a lot more free time back then. This is bizarre.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:59 pm

A_B wrote:So wait, Canada and the us have their own teams, but here is also a North America team? As well as a Europe team from countries that couldn't field a full team? Wtf?

I understand the Team Europe concept, but what is the deal with Team NA? Is it just a youth team comprised of US and Canada players? A B team?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 1:39 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote:
A_B wrote:So wait, Canada and the us have their own teams, but here is also a North America team? As well as a Europe team from countries that couldn't field a full team? Wtf?
I understand the Team Europe concept, but what is the deal with Team NA? Is it just a youth team comprised of US and Canada players? A B team?

Yeah this is something hampering the event. If you want it to be a world cup, lets use real countries. The World Championships are just poorly timed, but a very cool event. Especially when you realize they have promotion and relegation like Davis Cup.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 2:43 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:
Steve of phpBB wrote:
A_B wrote:So wait, Canada and the us have their own teams, but here is also a North America team? As well as a Europe team from countries that couldn't field a full team? Wtf?
I understand the Team Europe concept, but what is the deal with Team NA? Is it just a youth team comprised of US and Canada players? A B team?
Yeah this is something hampering the event. If you want it to be a world cup, lets use real countries. The World Championships are just poorly timed, but a very cool event. Especially when you realize they have promotion and relegation like Davis Cup.

I wished the NHL moved it's season back 2 weeks. Then unless you made the Stanley Cup final you're available for the Worlds.
But the NHL just hates that tournament.

As for the NA team, the NHL fell in love with McDavid and Eichel and wanted them in their tournament.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:24 am

so went to the US v. Finland game. US came out fast and playing hard and then just coasted in the 2nd and 3rd. Did not get exciting again until Finland scored 2 late in the 3rd period (and the US had to kill off a 6-4 the last 2:00 of the game).

This was not the same intensity as the US v. Canada warm up game. Guys were not hitting at all. Players were not aggressive getting rebounds in front of the net and not after the goalie freeze scrums (face washes).

The U.S first and third goals were very pretty though.

Arena was 50 to 60 percent filled. Probably looked worse on TV because most of the empty seats were on the lower levels. The 400s were a tighter. However, the Verizon Center is almost sold out for every Caps game, so this felt very quiet.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Sep 17, 2016 2:10 pm

Its starting!

Those USA jerseys are sweet!

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Sep 17, 2016 3:05 pm

So is the old ESPN hockey night music!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:12 pm

But not the USA performance.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:36 am

Torts!

h/t (doesn't hold back on USA Hockey)

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 10:19 am

I think the US made a mistake of building a team to just beat (literally) Canada while forgetting about the other teams. Leaving Kessel and Tyler Johnson at home is crazy.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 11:12 am

Tortorella is nuts, and Dean Lombardi is nuts for hiring him to lead Team USA. Benching Byfuglien, arguably their best defenseman?

Good funny article on the subject, featuring Down Goes Brown (Sean McIndoe) and Dave Lozo.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 1:03 pm

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:24 pm

This is a good hockey game.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:30 pm

What a game. I want more of this.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:59 pm

govmentchedda wrote:What a game. I want more of this.

I hope this format stays forever. Who wants to see Switzerland.