****Official Canada vs United States Gold Medal Hockey thread ****

[The_Doctor10]

I know there's a Winter Olympics thread, but this is the premiere event of the Olympics, and it's the matchup VANOC hoped they'd get when they spent how many billions of dollars to get the Games. NBC wanted this, and there's a chance that the American viewing audience of this game surpasses the population of Canada. It deserves it's own chuffing thread for ****s sake!

To analyze the game some, Ryan Miller could very well be his generation's Mike Richter... the dude plays lights out in big games. Meanwhile, Canada's throwing Roberto Luongo in net who seems more likely to follow Russia's Evgeni Nabokov and Finland's Miikka Kiprusoff as high-profile tenders who have completely shit the bed when it mattered most. Personally, Luongo has been average at best, though better than Fatso Brodeur, which isn't saying much. It boggles my mind that Marc-Andre Fleury, Canada's most prolific big-game goalie of the past 2 years, did not see one second of ice time, as he's probably the best-suited to take on the Americans.

For the US team... there was a lot of shit heaped at the feet of GM Brian Burke after he picked his team... picking Komisarek, Drury, Langenbrunner among others led to his being raked across the coals by many in the hockey world. Injuries prevented Komisarek from making the trip to Vancouver and that was probably a blessing as he likely would've lost America a game or two on his own.

We can debate forward matchups in perpetuity... Canada has a more skilled group, but you can't undersell how well the US forwards have played as a group.

Regardless this should be one for the ages, and hopefully it does a lot for the popularity of hockey in the United States. Though I'm still gonna say 4-3 Canada.

Good luck ladies and gents!

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Yes. I played hockey from the time I was 4 years old until I grew tired of it in my late teens. It's undoubtedly the sport I'm best at, but I haven't played it for years. That goes for most people who live there...the best athletes play it.

That seems crazy to me. We don't even have one high school hockey team in Missouri I don't think. I'm sure the weather plays a big part in it. I suppose this is the reason we never get to see much of you Canucks in the summer games I suppose. You're wasting all that talent on ice skating events.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

That seems crazy to me. We don't even have one high school hockey team in Missouri I don't think. I'm sure the weather plays a big part in it. I suppose this is the reason we never get to see much of you Canucks in the summer games I suppose. You're wasting all that talent on ice skating events.

Not surprisingly, it's much more popular in areas where you could conceivably do the sport outside. There are a lot of K-12 hockey teams around here.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

That seems crazy to me. We don't even have one high school hockey team in Missouri I don't think. I'm sure the weather plays a big part in it. I suppose this is the reason we never get to see much of you Canucks in the summer games I suppose. You're wasting all that talent on ice skating events.

Indeed. A lot of it has to do with funding as well, though. Canada doesn't put much money into their summer sports. However, oddly, the two family members of mine that have been in the Olympics for Canada were both in summer sports (discus and rowing).

[The_Doctor10]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Let's simmer it down a bit, I don't think he was trying to downplay the win. He's just saying Miracle on Ice was bigger, and I would agree. Just as Canada's win over the Soviets in 1972 was probably bigger than this.

I would agree as well, as far as political significance and whatnot goes. This is still a pretty big deal though, as without a hockey gold, the Olympics would've felt kinda hollow for many Canadians.

[Goldmember]

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

So when America wins gold in basketball (or loses, nothing's set in stone) are you going to say it's a meaningless All-Star game?

Get over it dude, the Olympics have been about pro athletes for well over a decade; it's not about amateurs anymore. maybe it should be, but as it stands right now it isn't.

Your guys lost. They played a helluva game. Don't try and trivialize the achievement as a meaningless All-Star game because you're butthurt.

I'm not trivializing it. It was a great game between the two best teams in the tournament who both lost one game; to each other. You seem to have trouble with your reading comprehension. I was responding to JD's post about it being between pro hockey players and if the US won it would have not been on the same level at the 1980 team winning the gold. Is that clear enough for you?

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

That seems crazy to me. We don't even have one high school hockey team in Missouri I don't think. I'm sure the weather plays a big part in it. I suppose this is the reason we never get to see much of you Canucks in the summer games I suppose. You're wasting all that talent on ice skating events.

Yes we do, there are teams in both KC and St. Louis.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Yes we do, there are teams in both KC and St. Louis.

Really? I guess that shows how popular it is around here. Private schools I assume?

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Certain olympic events are watched in different countries but I can guarantee their weren't too many countries tuned into the hockey match today.

Dude are you serious? Have you ever been to Europe?

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Really? I guess that shows how popular it is around here. Private schools I assume?

Some but not all. I know Park Hill has a team.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Really? I guess that shows how popular it is around here. Private schools I assume?

There's close to 50 high schools with sanctioned teams in STL, with another 20 or so that are considered "club" teams.

Less than 10 are private schools.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Canada was the best team in this tournament, I doubt playing 5 on 5 instead would have changed the result.

However, I agree with you about the concept of shootouts.

You keep saying that, but you're 1-1 against the U.S. Not only that but the game you won was in overtime with a rules change. Quit acting like Canada was just the far superior team. Whether that's the truth or not, America gave them all they could handle and then some.

[POND_OF_RED]

I tried finding something about hockey on the MSHSAA website but all they have is Field Hockey. Are you sure it goes through the high school or is it just club teams?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

You keep saying that, but you're 1-1 against the U.S. Not only that but the game you won was in overtime with a rules change.

You did watch both games, right? Canada outplayed the Americans in both of them, and would have continued to outplay them in future games. The better team usually wins, and as I mentioned before, if you play more games, the variation of luck is removed. That goes for any sport and any team.

Quit acting like Canada was just the far superior team. Whether that's the truth or not, America gave them all they could handle and then some.

They are the far superior team, I don't have to act like they aren't. Where, though, have I given the impression that I'm disrespecting the American team?

[Drew]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

A couple of things, asshole.

#1. It's Canadians. Canadien refers to people from the French part of Canada.

#2. Hockey is by far the most popular winter sport.

#3. Are you seriously asking why Canadians are fascinated with the sport that they are best at? Should we ask next why Americans enjoy watching football or baseball?

THAT

[Drew]

KC connection: what equipment was Miller wearing? his sabres gear. what he knows and what he's comfortable in. Not luongo. he's out there in brand new stuff, droppin puck after puck with his NEW glove. biggest game of his career and hes breaking new gear in and for what? so white looks better than canucks green and blue? what a fool! he dropped that easy wrister in the last minute , they never got the puck back til it was in the net. he dropped 4-5 glove saves and crosby bailed his ass out. media sayin he was fightin the puck- uhhh, yeah, thats what happens when you break new gear in. jack ass luongo- what a chump.