IIHF semis

[Ricboff]

listen, YOU stated it was 'amateurs vs pros'

cool?

i'm correcting you. That is all. USA hockey had 4 college players on this team--great call by them as one of them was THIRD in team scoring, lol. AND more importantly they won a medal. In years past they had 100% pros at this tournament and would go home medal less .

 

[RenoChazz]

Yeah it's cool, but lets also correct pro's to Allstars then too. My point was USA was out classed player wise in a big way and still medaled. Their best players rarely play this tournament.

Amateur/Pros Vs Allstar/Olympians? Does that work for you?

 

[Ricboff]

yes, still medaled indeed. First since 2004. Third medal since 1963. Again, KUDOS to USA hockey for scanning what's available and putting a great mix of players out there.


of course a Team USA that had 'household' names on it didnt bode so well...

2008 IIHF USA roster included;

D Brown, Kane, Kessel, P Martin, Z Parise, Pominville , Wisniewski, T Thomas, Backes



didn't make it to the semi's

 

[RenoChazz]

yes, still medaled indeed. First since 2004. Third medal since 1963. Again, KUDOS to USA hockey for scanning what's available and putting a great mix of players out there.


of course a Team USA that had 'household' names on it didnt bode so well...

2008 IIHF USA roster included;

D Brown, Kane, Kessel, P Martin, Z Parise, Pominville , Wisniewski, T Thomas, Backes



didn't make it to the semi's

Yeah but they were pretty young and inexperienced then, those same guys in the 2010 beat Canada in the Olympics, and took Silver losing the Gold in OT, and in 2014 they were unlucky to face Canada in the Semis where they lost only 1-0. Team USA with their best players can hang with Canada, they just don't care to take bronze. Americans don't believe in getting a medal for losing and don't show up for the bronze games. These young guys did care though, so it was a good call to include them. The college guys had more raw talent then the pros on the team for sure.

 

[Ricboff]

Team USA with their best players can hang with Canada

who said they couldn't? and btw, so can Sweden, Fins, Czechs, Russia


what is surprising to me is the lack of international glory for USA since that fantastic 1996 World Cup of Hockey triumph over Canada in Montreal. The growth in the game south of the border isn't translating into international glory, at least not in the pro level. Since 1990, a span of 25 yrs there has been 34 international pro tournaments (Olympics, IIHF World Championships, Canada Cups, World Cups) and USA hockey has won....once. That aforementioned 1996 World Cup.

what did that team have that USA hasn't been able to replicate? for me two things-- leadership, elite defensemen. (of course, they had that traiter Brett Hull ............)

 

[he_dblhockeystx]

They had john leclair, lol! . I remember goin to the 96 world cup usa / canada game in philly. 1st event ever at the corestates center .. That was some good ass hockey. Its crazy thats the only tourny usa has won in recent competition