World Cup of Hockey - Which team are you cheering for?

[Hanna Sniper]

Cheering for Canada and hoping North America gets embarrassed enough that it is removed (unlikely)

[polak]

I also really want Johnny to tear it up. He'll probably be playing with McDavid. That's exciting.

[dino7c]

I am cheering for it to be over so it will be closer to the Flames opener

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Will be cheering for Canada and U23's

If it so happens I end up having to pick one because they face each other, Canada all the way. I'm Canadian after all.

Although I wasn't born in Canada, but I grew up in Canada. I consider myself Canadian through and through, I have been cheering for Canada in any and every event that involved Canada. But this event, it's so gimmicky that I can't seem to drive up my national pride. However, I'll continue to cheer against USA.

[CroFlames]

Ha. 80% of the votes are for North America.

Some World Cup.

[MoneyGuy]

North America for me. I want to see if McDavid and Johnny will light it up, also Nuge.

I pretty much don't care. I'll check the scores but doubt I'll watch any of the games at least until the final or a semi-final involving Canada or NA.

[The Yen Man]

Really hope the World Cup doesn't affect the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton. I don't think it would, since they're two different events, but I'd be real disappointed if the tournament somehow gets cancelled because of the World Cup. Me and my buddies have made it a yearly thing to go to Penticton for it, and I always look forward to making it out to catch a ton of hockey, as well as enjoy Kelowna/Penticton. Gets me all pumped up for the start of each season.

[albertGQ]

I am cheering for Canada because I know if NA wins, Connor will get all the glory and that would just infuriate me. I know John and Sean are on NA but I can see McDavid getting the "C" and ~23 minutes a game. Don't want to see a team led by him succeed.

But if for some reason he is in a secondary role, I will cheer for NA

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Really hope the World Cup doesn't affect the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton. I don't think it would, since they're two different events, but I'd be real disappointed if the tournament somehow gets cancelled because of the World Cup. Me and my buddies have made it a yearly thing to go to Penticton for it, and I always look forward to making it out to catch a ton of hockey, as well as enjoy Kelowna/Penticton. Gets me all pumped up for the start of each season.

Since none of the players at the young stars camp would be at the World Cup, I don't see why it wouldn't be held.

It's a valuable tool for all the clubs involved to evaluate the players.

[calgaryblood]

Why does it have to be one? Cheering for Canada and North America.

[polak]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I am cheering for Canada because I know if NA wins, Connor will get all the glory and that would just infuriate me. I know John and Sean are on NA but I can see McDavid getting the "C" and ~23 minutes a game. Don't want to see a team led by him succeed.

But if for some reason he is in a secondary role, I will cheer for NA

I'd be shocked if Johnny played with Monahan over McDavid. He's the best winger on the team and the 2nd best player. Unless of course they don't gel very well.

[Locke]

I shall be the sole supporter of Russia! Comrade Putin and I shall encourage the Motherland together!!

[DJones]

Not having a Flames players on the Canada team kind of ruins it for me.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I am cheering for Canada because I know if NA wins, Connor will get all the glory and that would just infuriate me. I know John and Sean are on NA but I can see McDavid getting the "C" and ~23 minutes a game. Don't want to see a team led by him succeed.

But if for some reason he is in a secondary role, I will cheer for NA

McDavid is not going to captain this team. It makes no sense from either a hockey perspective or a publicity one.

I can see Monahan, Scheifele, Saad, Murray, and Reilly named before you get to Connor or Nuge. This team could conceivably win this tournament, but if Edmonton Oilers comprise the leadership group, they won't win a game.

[getbak]

TNA is in the same group as Russia, Sweden, and Finland. Why wouldn't you cheer for them?

It's highly unlikely that they'll ever even play Canada. In order for TNA and Canada to play each other, they'd both have to finish top-two in their pools and then they'd meet either in the semi-final or final.


It's funny when you think that originally, everyone thought that the weak link for North America would be their goaltending, and Chiarelli and Bowman actually asked for an age extension for their goalies because they didn't think they'd be able to get a good enough one with the 23 year-old age limit. Now, they're the only team in the World Cup with a goalie who's still playing in the Stanley Cup Final.

It's also funny that there's been so much talk in recent years about the lack of quality Canadian goalies, and yet all 4 of the remaining goalies in the playoffs are Canadian and none of them made Team Canada.

[mikephoen]

Currently my interest in this tournament is tepid at best. If forced to pick now, I would probably go for North America. Almost a coin flip between them and Canada. If even one Flame was on Canada that would probably swing it. Or if Hamilton was on North America that would swing it the other way. Too many oilers on North America to currently make it a slam dunk, even with Johnny and Monahan.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by getbak

TNA is in the same group as Russia, Sweden, and Finland. Why wouldn't you cheer for them?

It's highly unlikely that they'll ever even play Canada. In order for TNA and Canada to play each other, they'd both have to finish top-two in their pools and then they'd meet either in the semi-final or final.


It's funny when you think that originally, everyone thought that the weak link for North America would be their goaltending, and Chiarelli and Bowman actually asked for an age extension for their goalies because they didn't think they'd be able to get a good enough one with the 23 year-old age limit. Now, they're the only team in the World Cup with a goalie who's still playing in the Stanley Cup Final.

It's also funny that there's been so much talk in recent years about the lack of quality Canadian goalies, and yet all 4 of the remaining goalies in the playoffs are Canadian and none of them made Team Canada.

The demise of Canadian goaltending was greatly exaggerated. I think a lot of the insecurity was rooted in Brodeur declining/retiring and Luongo no longer being the clear heir apparent to the mantle of best Canadian goalie in the world. We didn't know if we had an ace in the hole like Lundqvist or Rask.

Then Price became Price, and you had Crawford and Holtby ascend into the ranks of the elite. All of a sudden, there's three + guys who can conceivably start and win you a best-on-best tournament, and nobody's quite as worried about the state of goaltending development in this country.

[nik-]

Them making this not a best on best has put this close to WC territory for me. It will be cool if Canada wins, but this is just another forced tourney now.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by nik-

Them making this not a best on best has put this close to WC territory for me. It will be cool if Canada wins, but this is just another forced tourney now.

How is this not best on best?

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Too gimmicky for me to really care either way, I'll probably cheer for all the Flames to do well. If I had to pick one I'd go with the kids.