****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

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?

I guess that makes sense. It's kind of like marathons in Africa then? Since they are good they find it interesting but the rest of the world goes on like nothing happened. The difference is the World Series and the Super Bowl are actually watched around the world.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

I guess that makes sense. It's kind of like marathons in Africa then? Since they are good they find it interesting but the rest of the world goes on like nothing happened.

And yet you are here whining about it and trying to downplay their victory. It apparently meant enough to you to come be an asshole about it.

The difference is the World Series and the Super Bowl are actually watched around the world.

Nobody cares about football outside of North America.

[ArrowheadHawk]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

I guess that makes sense. It's kind of like marathons in Africa then? Since they are good they find it interesting but the rest of the world goes on like nothing happened. The difference is the World Series and the Super Bowl are actually watched around the world.

So are the Olympics.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

So are the Olympics.

He's on a roll! I hope he doesn't stop now.

[Goldmember]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Most golds of all time, of any country...btw.

That $100 million Canada invested in their Olympic coaches and facilities really paid off.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

And yet you are here whining about it and trying to downplay their victory. It apparently meant enough to you to come be an asshole about it.


Nobody cares about football outside of North America.

I'm really not whining at all. Sorry if you think I'm trying to be a dick. I just really never understood the obsession of Canadian hockey fans. I have a few friends from Canada and they are the only people I know who care about the NHL at all and they are die hards about it. It was more of a question. I guess I just don't understand the culture up there. I didn't even watch the game so I really could care less about it. I'm glad Canada won since they care so much about it.

[Goldmember]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

NHL All Star games are boring and played without intensity or hitting. That was one of the best hockey games ever played in terms of talent and effort.

I was referring to pros vs pros. The Miracle on Ice was seasoned championship pros against a rag tag group of college kids that hadn't played together as a team. That was one of the all time great victories in sports history.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

So are the Olympics.

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

[Goldmember]

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

Yeah because the losers of the All-Star game are always holding back tears in the aftermath, eh?

Moron...

stick it up your ass douche. I was referring to pros against pros

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

I'm really not whining at all. Sorry if you think I'm trying to be a dick. I just really never understood the obsession of Canadian hockey fans.

Most people in the world don't watch football and don't understand the American obsession with it (in fact, football is a different sport). But I guess we should downplay the Super Bowl when it occurs every year.

I'm glad Canada won since they care so much about it.

Good. So am I.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Goldmember

That $100 million Canada invested in their Olympic coaches and facilities really paid off.

They've gotta put all those taxes somewhere, no?

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Most people in the world don't watch football and don't understand the American obsession with it (in fact, football is a different sport). But I guess we should downplay the Super Bowl when it occurs every year.


Good. So am I.

Fair enough. I didn't realize it was bigger than football up there. Like I said it was merely a question. Is youth hockey bigger than youth football and baseball up there too?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Fair enough. I didn't realize it was bigger than football up there. Like I said it was merely a question. Is youth hockey bigger than youth football and baseball up there too?

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.

[The_Doctor10]

Originally Posted by Goldmember

stick it up your ass douche. I was referring to pros against pros

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.

[KC_Connection]

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.

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.