[GDT] Jan 5 - WJC Medal Games - Bronze: CAN vs RUS (7AM MT) & Gold: SWE vs FIN (11AM MT)

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

No shock we lost. Canada's World Junior dominance has come to an end. The other countries have caught up.

That's actually a rather silly comment given the history. The USSR/Russia has only two fewer gold medals, and four medals more overall. We've gone on long gold medal droughts before - We didn't win a gold in the first five tournaments, we went seven without a gold in the late 90s/early 2000s, and now the current streak. We've had a couple dynasties, yes, but the fact that we have won five golds in a row before doesn't mean that the rest of the world needed to "catch up". It simply means that we haven't iced the best teams in the tournament the last couple years. Believe it or not, that has happened at times since the first tournament.

Edit: I will add though that Rider fans are the cause of our latest gold medal drought. Those embarrassing green uniforms Hockey Canada came out with in 2010 have cursed us.

[Resolute 14]

Ok, I missed what happened... why are the Swedes whistling?

[Saqe]

Swedes completely dominating.. as expected.

1-1.

[sureLoss]

Swedes tie it 1-1

[sureLoss]

Finns answer back quickly 2-1! beautiful feed by TT

[MissTeeks]

This is quite the entertaining game so far. Lots of action.

[Resolute 14]

Been a while since I've seen the air let out of a building to that extent. Went from rambunctious celebrating to dead quiet on that Finnish goal.

[Table 5]

Funny seeing all the Canada-centric ads in the rink. Canadian Tire "We all play for Canada", RBC, Air Canada, Sportcheck, Telus Optik.

Looks like the sponsors were really counting on Team Canada being in the finals.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That's actually a rather silly comment given the history. The USSR/Russia has only two fewer gold medals, and four medals more overall. We've gone on long gold medal droughts before - We didn't win a gold in the first five tournaments, we went seven without a gold in the late 90s/early 2000s, and now the current streak. We've had a couple dynasties, yes, but the fact that we have won five golds in a row before doesn't mean that the rest of the world needed to "catch up". It simply means that we haven't iced the best teams in the tournament the last couple years. Believe it or not, that has happened at times since the first tournament.

Edit: I will add though that Rider fans are the cause of our latest gold medal drought. Those embarrassing green uniforms Hockey Canada came out with in 2010 have cursed us.

Fair enough. It just feels like after the Russia collapse all of Canada's energy in this tourney has been sucked dry. I'm sure they'll get another gold in the next few years but they won't be cruising there like those 5 straight.

[Resolute 14]

Not a fan of that penalty. The Finn got him with a hip and the Swede tried to jump out of the way.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Fair enough. It just feels like after the Russia collapse all of Canada's energy in this tourney has been sucked dry. I'm sure they'll get another gold in the next few years but they won't be cruising there like those 5 straight.

You don't remember those wins, do you?

Wasn't much cruising involved, especially the last couple gold medals. Took some late game heroics to pull them off.

[PeteMoss]

Really doesn't seem like an international tournament without a car in the crowd.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

No shock we lost. Canada's World Junior dominance has come to an end. The other countries have caught up.

Not sure what dominance you are referring to. We have never done that well on the bigger ice. Even at the senior level Canada has really performed much better on NHL ice dimensions.

If you compare it to soccer we are like a Brazil or Italy, it's our game but we rarely dominate.

[PeteMoss]

Refs on the take here.

[Itse]

This is the most ridiculous reffing I have seen in a lotng time.

[Cheerio]

I really like Honka from Finland, how is he not ranked top 30 by ISS?

[Itse]

LOL refs what?

[$ven27]

Is the Fins goalie drafted by anyone yet?

[Itse]

Saros is drafted by Preds in the 4th round last year.

[Saqe]

Swedes have paid off the refs as usual