IHWC 2008 (anyone watch the great sport of hockey)

[rusher2]

Slovenians, Scandinavians, North Americans, Russians?

Anyway, the first group stage is over and we're in for a very interesting tournament indeed. Canada seems to be a top contender at the moment, while Russia and USA look strong too. Surprisingly Slovakians will play Slovenes to avoid relegation and Italy will examine newcomers France to stay in the Elite

Meanwhile:

Canada 6pts
Finland 5 pts
Norway 4 pts
USA 3 pts
Germany 0 pts
Latvia 0 pts

and

Switzerland 6pts
Russia 5 pts
Czech Republic 4 pts
Sweden 3 pts
Belarus 0 pts
Denmark 0 pts

will play to decide the quarter-finalists in the second group stage.

What's your opinion?

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

I still have wounds from 2 days ago.
Latvia made us look even worse than Canada and US did. My apologies since our players seemed onl to be good with collecting 2 minutes penalties. Before the game everyone were saying that the most of all have to avoid those unnecesarry penalties and yet that's the only thing they were doing.
I guess this is the real picture of the strenght, just as our goalie said knowledge, coaches, tradition and the rest, we can't compare to Latvia, so congrats

Considering the background playing in the 1st division is a huge succes with only 8 ice rings in the country (but hey, there used to be only 5 in the ex-Yu era), most clubs being amateur, 2 being relatively serious ones and one of the two actually producing some players...
I at least hoped we'd get Norway in the relegation mode, we've beat them 6:4 in a preparation game, but of course just in the season in which the competition scheme is changed... Slovenia actually got Slovakia (!?!?) in the elimination series lmao... farewell 1st division, that is... both France and Italy should've been a piece of cake... but Slovakia lmao

IIHF should imo change their competition system, 16 teams in 1st division is too much as France, Italy, Norway and Slovenia aren't on pair with the rest of the clubs (or Austria, Ucraine for that matter, Germany is a bit better but still imo way below the natural powerhouses), while second division is the other way around making not much of a trill playing there either...

I think Canada should win it all this year, home court advantage should be decisive, only watched Russia for sth. like 20 minutes but imo they'll dissapoint again, while for 2nd and 3rd place anything can happen really with the favourites being same as ussual

 

[bobo812]

I would think Sweden would be higher in the table...Anyways I havnt watched a US game in a good long time now but I doubt they will take ANY international hockey cups soon.

 

[usausa2]

hell yes dude..love hockey.i am a member of internationalhockey.net forums, same name, but havent gone on in a while, not that i dont love it, just dont for some reason.

 

[usausa2]

The lower division games, D3 and D3Qualification are very intersting and fun to watch.

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

Norway keeps it up with upsets, 2:1 win for Canada with game being tied untill 56th minute.

I think US has done a good thing sending younger talented players to this WChamp, I guess they should gain some experience untill the next winter olympic games when NHL is planing to stop it's competition during the olympics due to all the top players joining their countries...

 

[rusher2]

hell yes dude..love hockey.i am a member of internationalhockey.net forums, same name, but havent gone on in a while, not that i dont love it, just dont for some reason.

I'm there too. Pretty good forum, like interbasket in many ways

 

[usausa2]

I'm there too. Pretty good forum, like interbasket in many ways

whats ur name there?

 

[rusher2]

whats ur name there?

the same as here

 

[Migelitas2]

Kovalchuk - Happy End in Russian Style

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

great game... I feel a bit sorry for Canadians, but they've kind of fall asleep when leading 4-2.

of course big congratulations to Russia, they've deserved it.