Does Olympic Hockey Need a Mercy Rule? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Kipper is King · 02-15-2010, 10:27 AM

This poll is on the CTV Olympics website, but I'm curious to see what CPers think.

Does Olympic hockey need a mercy rule? Myself, I say no, simply because of all the people who payed for tickets being deserving to see a full 60 minute game. That being said, watching Canada's women's team destroy Slovakia 18-0 was not the most exciting thing in the world.

What do you think? Also, mods, could this please be turned into a poll?

GirlySports · 02-15-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

This poll is on the CTV Olympics website, but I'm curious to see what CPers think.

Does Olympic hockey need a mercy rule? Myself, I say no, simply because of all the people who payed for tickets being deserving to see a full 60 minute game. That being said, watching Canada's women's team destroy Slovakia 18-0 was not the most exciting thing in the world.

What do you think? Also, mods, could this please be turned into a poll?

We sort of have a thread about this.
The answer is no, the small countries don't want it.

Slovakia were THRILLED to play Canada and lose 18-0. It's the only way they will improve.

stang · 02-15-2010, 10:34 AM

What would the mercy rule be?

Game gets shut down after 15 goals?

transplant99 · 02-15-2010, 10:40 AM

No...absolutely not.

Those girls the other night have travelled half way across the globe to participate in what, for most, will be the highlight of their athletic lives. Win, lose or draw they have to be allowed to complete their dreams and be able to know what the whole experience is all about.

getbak · 02-15-2010, 10:56 AM

During the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament, the Slovakian women's team defeated Bulgaria 82-0. It is the largest margin of victory in IIHF history. Bulgaria didn't even get a shot on goal: http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/166/IHW166907_74_5_0.pdf

During their 4 games in that tournament, Bulgaria was outscored 192-1.

Slovakia showed no mercy (they also defeated Croatia 18-1), and I'm sure would want none shown towards them.

VANFLAMESFAN · 02-15-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbak

During the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament, the Slovakian women's team defeated Bulgaria 82-0. It is the largest margin of victory in IIHF history. Bulgaria didn't even get a shot on goal: http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/166/IHW166907_74_5_0.pdf

During their 4 games in that tournament, Bulgaria was outscored 192-1.

Slovakia showed no mercy (they also defeated Croatia 18-1), and I'm sure would want none shown towards them.

Anyone else wanna see Canada play Bulgaria?? Would they get 100??

3 Justin 3 · 02-15-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Anyone else wanna see Canada play Bulgaria?? Would they get 100??

Using a previous analysis I did for Calgary being 50x better than Edmonton:

We beat the Slovak's 18-0. They previously beat Bulgaria 82-0.

If we played Bulgaria we'd beat them 18*82= 1476-0.

That be a hell of a lot of goals.

Resolute 14 · 02-15-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

What would the mercy rule be?

Game gets shut down after 15 goals?

It's been suggested before that for the purposes of tiebreakers, the goal differential in a game never be any higher than some preset number. 7 is popular. So, whether you win 7-0 or 18-0, the differential is still just +7. Theoretically, teams like Canada and the US would shut it down and no embarrass their opposition after that point.

Problem is, that strategy is rather insulting to the opponent.

Johnny Canuck · 02-15-2010, 11:37 AM

I think a Mercy Rule would be pretty ideal. Not only for the team thats losing but for alot of people viewing.

As much as I try to enjoy watching Womens hockey, I generally find myself losing interest once its 5-0 not even half way through the first.

GirlySports · 02-15-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Canuck

I think a Mercy Rule would be pretty ideal. Not only for the team thats losing but for alot of people viewing.

As much as I try to enjoy watching Womens hockey, I generally find myself losing interest once its 5-0 not even half way through the first.

Bet on more goals, that'll keep your interest

HOOT · 02-15-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

That be a hell of a lot of goals.

One every 2 seconds!

Johnny Canuck · 02-15-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Bet on more goals, that'll keep your interest

Hmm you know, thats a pretty decent idea. Might just be what I need to help keep my interest in an 18-0 game!

octothorp · 02-15-2010, 12:02 PM

Some Olympic events are more interesting than others. Any early game of women's hockey involving Canada or the US is bad television and low on entertainment value, and with so many other more competitive events out there, I'll just get my Olympic fix from watching such events even if they don't involve a strong Canadian angle. Instituting a mercy rule wouldn't increase the entertainment value at all. Fortunately, the US/Canada rivalry in women's hockey is one of the best rivalries in all of Olympic winter sports, even if it exists largely because of the lack of competitiveness from the rest of the field, so whatever the tournament lacks in the early rounds, it makes up for in the final.

GirlySports · 02-15-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Canuck

Hmm you know, thats a pretty decent idea. Might just be what I need to help keep my interest in an 18-0 game!

Yup, for example. Canada is -9.5 goals against Switzerland today

SeeBass · 02-15-2010, 12:12 PM

Women's hockey is just not competitve enough.

I really dont think that it should be an Olympic event.

When a top ten team can beat another by 18 goals.

Tyler · 02-15-2010, 12:14 PM

These competitors come from all around the world to play in the Olympics and play against the best competition in the world.

I think these smaller countries are just happy for the opportunity to be playing in the games and for the whole experience. Going out there and ending their game after one period is probably not fair to them.

3 Justin 3 · 02-15-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

One every 2 seconds!

That is like new NHL style hockey exciting!

Jimmy Stang · 02-15-2010, 12:20 PM

It's a chicken and egg type of thing. More parity is needed, yet the other countries aren't going to get any better without playing against tougher teams. But when they do, they get obliterated, showing how imbalanced the competition is. And on and on we go...

HOOT · 02-15-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Women's hockey is just not competitve enough.

I really dont think that it should be an Olympic event.

When a top ten team can beat another by 18 goals.

You could say that about a ton of events!

32 of the last 39 medals and 13 of the last 13 gold medals in mens luge have been German, Italian or Austrian. So should they cancel that event too? Since only a couple countries compete for the top spots.

How do you expect these countries to get better if they never see where they have to get to? I bet if you ask any one of those players who got beat 18-0 at the Olympic games would do it again even if they knew it was going to be 36-0.

3 Justin 3 · 02-15-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

You could say that about a ton of events!

32 of the last 39 medals and 13 of the last 13 gold medals in mens luge have been German, Italian or Austrian. So should they cancel that event too? Since only a couple countries compete for the top spots.

How do you expect these countries to get better if they never see where they have to get to? I bet if you ask any one of those players who got beat 18-0 at the Olympic games would do it again even if they knew it was going to be 36-0.

Correct. It is just like when we have guys who are 18-20 participating in their first Olympics and they are totally stoked to get like 9th or 20th place.