Winter Olympics

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 2:10 pm

https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/895349845334134789

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:35 am

Well NBC is not pleased with the Olympic decision by the NHL. The television network has announced they will go dark with NHL coverage across all platforms between February 7th and 26th, the dates during the Olympic Games. During this time last season, NBC aired 20 games over that period.

I am sure NBC will get better ratings showing taped speed skating, ice dancing, luge, and such...oh and Olympic Hockey

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:35 am

Nigerian Women qualify for bobsled.
3 Mexicans will ski in Korea.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 2:42 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:Nigerian Women qualify for bobsled.

This picture makes me smile.

Here's the thing though - there have been other strange countries in the bobsled competition and every Olympics there are sledders even with established Winter Sports countries who have only recently picked up the sport. I get the feeling that all you need in bobsled is someone with incredible strong legs, a couple of passengers and a very skilled driver.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 2:58 pm

Pruitt wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:Nigerian Women qualify for bobsled.

This picture makes me smile.

Here's the thing though - there have been other strange countries in the bobsled competition and every Olympics there are sledders even with established Winter Sports countries who have only recently picked up the sport. I get the feeling that all you need in bobsled is someone with incredible strong legs, a couple of passengers and a very skilled driver.

Exactly. I think the skills you need, especially for the middle two (in 4-person) are pretty easy for athletes to pick up.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:03 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote:
Pruitt wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:Nigerian Women qualify for bobsled.

This picture makes me smile.

Here's the thing though - there have been other strange countries in the bobsled competition and every Olympics there are sledders even with established Winter Sports countries who have only recently picked up the sport. I get the feeling that all you need in bobsled is someone with incredible strong legs, a couple of passengers and a very skilled driver.

Exactly. I think the skills you need, especially for the middle two (in 4-person) are pretty easy for athletes to pick up.

If you did not see it, recently NBC had a TV reality show type thing for US Olympic identification. Took 100 athletes and had them compete for chances are bobsled, skeleton (head first luge), rugby, and track cycling. Bobsled is known for recruiting college athletes (there is a former Cornell lax player who is in the bobsled program). US Cycling has been finding track sprinters and BMX racers in all kinds of other sports.
http://www.nbcsports.com/video/scouting ... ic-hopeful

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:16 pm

There's also always been a lot of cross-over between cycling and distance speed skating.

All of this reminds me, there's some bobsled and skeleton World Cup action this weekend at Park City.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 10:28 pm

yay Shuster

Post by **brian** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 1:42 pm

Russia barred from participating in 2018 Winter Olympics as punishment for doping.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 1:48 pm

Well I know it was settled but mean Ovi and friends are not missing out in the same way had the NHL allowed them to go. For Hockey will they bring in another team? The schedule was announced back in September.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 1:50 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:Well I know it was settled but mean Ovi and friends are not missing out in the same way had the NHL allowed them to go. For Hockey will they bring in another team? The schedule was announced back in September.

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
If Russia sends a hockey team to the Pyeongchang Games -- still an if -- it will play under Olympic flag/anthem.

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Team Russia will be called "OAR" -- Olympic Athlete from Russia.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 1:51 pm

Wait ESPN is saying they will compete but as a Jam Band from Montgomery Co. Maryland (O.A.R.)
http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id ... ympic-flag

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:46 pm

I suspect no athlete will compete under the OAR, or else they’ll be hit with an oar and tossed into the Caspian Sea.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:48 pm

really beginning to think that the Russians are not always acting on the level

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 3:26 pm

Rex wrote:really beginning to think that the Russians are not always acting on the level

I never get tired of this cover from the 70s.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:55 pm

Classic!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 6:46 pm

There is only one solution

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:03 am

OAR announced it's hockey team
Forwards: Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Kalinin, Nikita Gusev, Vadim Shipachyov, Ilya Kablukov, Evgeny Ketov, Sergei Plotnikov, Sergei Shirokov (all SKA Saint Petersburg), Kirill Kaprizov, Valery Nichushkin, Ivan Telegin, Sergei Andronov, Maxim Shalunov, Mikhail Grigorenko (all CSKA Moscow).
Defensemen: Anton Belov, Slava Voynov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Dinar Khafizullin, Yegor Yakovlev (all SKA Saint Petersburg), Bogdan Kiselevich, Nikita Nesterov, Alexei Marchenko (all CSKA Moscow), Ilya Lyubushkin (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl).
Goalies: Vasily Koshechkin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Ilya Sorokin (CSKA Moscow), Igor Shestyorkin (SKA Saint Petersburg).

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:24 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:OAR announced it's hockey team
Forwards: Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Kalinin, Nikita Gusev, Vadim Shipachyov, Ilya Kablukov, Evgeny Ketov, Sergei Plotnikov, Sergei Shirokov (all SKA Saint Petersburg), Kirill Kaprizov, Valery Nichushkin, Ivan Telegin, Sergei Andronov, Maxim Shalunov, Mikhail Grigorenko (all CSKA Moscow).
Defensemen: Anton Belov, Slava Voynov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Dinar Khafizullin, Yegor Yakovlev (all SKA Saint Petersburg), Bogdan Kiselevich, Nikita Nesterov, Alexei Marchenko (all CSKA Moscow), Ilya Lyubushkin (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl).
Goalies: Vasily Koshechkin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Ilya Sorokin (CSKA Moscow), Igor Shestyorkin (SKA Saint Petersburg).

That's a lot of offensive firepower. If their defense is any good, that's the gold medal right there. As they're playing against Canadian/American kids and Czech/Swede/Finn B-leaguers.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:11 am

Yeah, but could they beat these guys?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:09 am

US team trains in Salt Lake and Lake Placid....the sleds are in LA?
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/07/usa-bob ... -loom.html

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:11 am

maybe it won't matter....Why would you even say that even if it was true?
https://deadspin.com/nikki-haley-its-an ... thursdayAM

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:13 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:US team trains in Salt Lake and Lake Placid....the sleds are in LA?
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/07/usa-bob ... -loom.html

Fiasco.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:29 am

Is this because Russia has been banned and Trump is being told by Putin that US can't now come?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:43 am

cool story
https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-ski-ju ... 1513178902

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:53 am

So USA's roster (with 2 more goalies to be added)

Forwards
Mark Arcobello, SC Bern (NLA)
Chris Bourque, Hershey (AHL)
Bobby Butler, Milwaukee (AHL)
Ryan Donato, Harvard University (NCAA)
Brian Gionta, n/a
Jordan Greenway, Boston University (NCAA)
Chad Kolarik, Adler Mannheim (DEL)
Broc Little, HC Davos (NLA)
John McCarthy, San Jose (AHL)
Brian O’Neill, Jokerit (KHL)
Garrett Roe, EV Zug (NLA)
Jim Slater, Fribourg-Gotteron (NLA)
Ryan Stoa, Spartak Moskva (KHL)
Troy Terry, University of Denver (NCAA)

Defensemen
Chad Billins, Linkoping HC (SHL)
Jonathon Blum, Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)
Will Borgen, St. Cloud State University (NCAA)
Matt Gilroy, Jokerit (KHL)
Ryan Gunderson, Brynas IF (SHL)
Bobby Sanguinetti, HC Lugano (NLA)
Noah Welch, Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)
James Wisniewski, EC Kassel Huskies (DEL2)

Goalies
Ryan Zapolski, Jokerit (KHL)

There will be two more goaltenders added to the roster “later in January,” according to USA Hockey.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:08 am

Ryan wrote:I think they should go the other way and make it all retired stars

wlu_lax6 wrote:Brian Gionta, n/a

Close enough

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:33 am

Ryan wrote:
Ryan wrote:I think they should go the other way and make it all retired stars

wlu_lax6 wrote:Brian Gionta, n/a

Close enough

Chris Bourque's 51 NHL games between 07-09 don't count huh?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 3:45 pm

Quite a difference in quality between the USA team and the Russian team, sad to say.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 3:55 pm

Russia is going to run away with the medal count in an olympics they aren't technically in.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 5:24 pm

I have bet a few dollars on South Korea to win gold in men's hockey at 500/1
It won't happen but it's still fun.

Realistically as we get closer if I see odds for Korea to medal or to win a game or two I could bet more on that.
This is proper national team playing at home against much weaker teams. I watched some of Korea's games last year as they qualified for the 2018 World Championships and they are lightning fast and very skilled.

Jim Paek is their coach.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:16 pm

Brian Gionta, man I used to watch him play in college! That was like 16 years ago, crazy to think he could be in the Olympics at this age. Are the Euro-based Americans guys who suck, and couldn't make it to the NHL?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:31 pm

The Sybian wrote:...Are the Euro-based Americans guys who suck, and couldn't make it to the NHL?

By and large - yes. Wisniewski was a solid NHL defenseman until he tore up his knee a couple years ago.

A lot of them had good success in college/juniors/minor leagues, but didn’t make it in The Show. Slater and Welch are old guys who played in the NHL.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:54 pm

Arcobello is a stat guy darling, not in a future Star way but in a “this guy should have an NHL role” way. Not sure if it’s his size that’s the issue or what. Sanguinetti is a former Rangers 1st rounder out of NJ.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Jan 08, 2018 1:29 pm

Pita Taufatofua (shirtless oiled up Tonga taekwondo athlete from the last summer games) could qualify for the winter games in cross country skiing. He needed a result in Poland this past weekend to get it. Love this loop hole.

SI wrote:Qualification points earned in roller-ski races can be applied for cross-country skiing and Taufatofua nearly qualified on that basis alone. But with no more roller-ski races on the schedule and the Olympics looming, Taufatofua needs to perform well in one last race on snow in order to qualify.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Jan 08, 2018 1:38 pm

Also since he qualified for another Olympics....I am posting this one....and realzing that it as been >10 years since unknown passed.
http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/20 ... sued_f.htm

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:48 pm

Looks like Canada went strongly for the "recently waived out of the NHL" route for their team.

GOALIES
Justin Peters, Blyth, Ont. (Europe)
Kevin Poulin, Montreal (Europe)
Ben Scrivens, Spruce Grove, Alta. (KHL)

DEFENCEMEN
Stefan Elliott, Vancouver (Europe)
Chay Genoway, Morden, Man. (KHL)
Cody Goloubef, Oakville, Ont. (AHL)
Marc-Andre Gragnani, L'Ile-Bizard, Que. (KHL)
Chris Lee, MacTier, Ont. (KHL)
Maxim Noreau, Montreal (Europe)
Mat Robinson, Calgary (KHL)
Karl Stollery, Camrose, Alta. (KHL)

FORWARDS
Rene Bourque, Lac La Biche, Alta. (Europe)
Gilbert Brule, Edmonton (KHL)
Andrew Ebbett, Vernon, B.C. (Europe)
Quinton Howden, Oakbank, Man. (KHL)
Chris Kelly, Toronto (AHL)
Rob Klinkhammer, Lethbridge, Alta. (KHL)
Brandon Kozun, Calgary (KHL)
Maxim Lapierre, Brossard, Que. (Europe)
Eric O'Dell, Ottawa (KHL)
Mason Raymond, Cochrane, Alta. (Europe)
Derek Roy, Rockland, Ont. (Europe)
Christian Thomas, Toronto (AHL)
Linden Vey, Wakaw, Sask. (KHL)
Wojtek Wolski, Toronto (KHL)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:36 pm

We should play "guess which olympian will get a contract post-olympics".

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:30 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 08, 2018 1:29 pm Pita Taufatofua (shirtless oiled up Tonga taekwondo athlete from the last summer games) could qualify for the winter games in cross country skiing. He needed a result in Poland this past weekend to get it. Love this loop hole.

SI wrote:Qualification points earned in roller-ski races can be applied for cross-country skiing and Taufatofua nearly qualified on that basis alone. But with no more roller-ski races on the schedule and the Olympics looming, Taufatofua needs to perform well in one last race on snow in order to qualify.

Got a qualification time in the last chance he had. So Tonga to the Winter Olympics if we can raise the money to go.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jan 24, 2018 9:44 am

This is like 2 weeks away, huh? I miss caring.