The Hockey Thread

[Nurvingiel]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

I'm cheering for the Devils. However I wouldn't mind seeing a Canadian team win the Stanley Cup this year. It's been a while since that happened, eh?

Yes, sad but true. The Canucks have a good chance this year.

Originally Posted by Jonathan

I kind of hope the Red Wings will go down quickly. That would mean many good Swedish players would be free to play in the upcoming World Championships

Hahaha. Hopefully you don't turn your eye to the Canucks, who have Marcus Naslund, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and Mattias Ohlund.

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Btw, congrats Canada on winning the women's world championships as usual!
The Swedes won the bronze - yay!

Thank you, and congrats on the bronze. There are four countries that can put together a good women's team right now: Canada, the USA, Sweden and Finland. Only the USA can really give us a run for our money, however, I see a huge amount of potential in the Swedes and Finns. Huge. Give them another decade and they'll have us working. Especially if they were to get more support from their fellow Swedes and Finns.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Yes, sad but true. The Canucks have a good chance this year.

Hahaha. Hopefully you don't turn your eye to the Canucks, who have Marcus Naslund, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and Mattias Ohlund.

Ah, so it wouldn't be too much of a shame if the Canucks lost then

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Thank you, and congrats on the bronze. There are four countries that can put together a good women's team right now: Canada, the USA, Sweden and Finland. Only the USA can really give us a run for our money, however, I see a huge amount of potential in the Swedes and Finns. Huge. Give them another decade and they'll have us working. Especially if they were to get more support from their fellow Swedes and Finns.

The biggest problem is the poor quality of the European women's hockey leagues. The teams are too uneven, the best teams always beat the other teams with huge numbers. Such leagues won't generate as excellent players as the American or Canadian ones where there are good players on every team. There is indeed potential but Sweden and Finland will never reach the same level as America or Canada unless their respective leagues improve.
Other European countries are closing in and could soon rival with the Swedes and Finns. The North Americans will most likely be unrivaled for yet some time to come.

[Valandil]

Whew - reviving this old thread, and if it takes off, we may have to close it soon.

Honestly - never been much of a hockey fan. Grew up a bit south of here, where nobody ever plays it. Chicago is kind of 'middle-of-the-road' - some people are into it, but not like those from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, or anywhere in Canada.

But now the Chicago Blackhawks are in the Stanley Cup playoffs - for the championship of the NHL. And with the way our other teams have been doing - and the way everything else is going in Illinois, it's nice to have something good happen.

The 'Hawks just took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series tonight. I watched the end of the game a couple blocks from home - where there was a big German-American Mayfest going on (yes - those wacky Germans in Chicago not only have a Mayfest in June - but have Octoberfest in September... I guess they're more likely to get decent weather in both cases). Anyway - the 'Hawks had won the first two in the series, then lost the next two in Philadelphia to get tied up again. But tonight - they won 7-4!!

Any hockey fans left around here? And do the overseas hockey fans pay much attention to the NHL?

[Insidious Rex]

Still stinging from my Caps first round loss to the unlikely Habs. Although their defeat of Pittsburgh somehow made it a little easier to take.

Yeah this year was a bit crazy in the NHL playoffs. Two unlikely finalists dueling it out. Chicago looks good but then Im sure the Bruins thought there was no way they were gonna lose when they lead the Flyers by 3 games to none and were up 3 nothing in the final game... How did they manage to get this far! They arent even that good this year. Their game is parasitic because they have no one major strength to utilize.

[GrayMouser]

Always nice to see one of the Original 6 in- it seems weird cheering for Anaheim or Orlando.

And anybody against the Flyers- still hold grudges from the Broad Street Bullies days.

[Valandil]

Blackhawks win!!