[News] IIHF suspsends Swedish players/coaches for not wearing silver medals at WJC

[Locke]

Originally Posted by edn88

If you didn't want the silver medal, you shouldn't have competed. In a contest of really talented teams, someone is going to come in second.

I want a player on my team who has the mental discipline to deal with the disappointment of coming in second and is able to use the disappointment to fuel them to win the next thing they are in.

That silver medal represents a lot of hard work, and casting it aside disrespects everyone involved - parents, coaches, hockey associations, the IIHF and the team that just beat you.

I'd like to see players of that stature show class and sportsmanship so that younger players can emulate that and not pouty whiners when they lose.

I think the major issue is that you lose to get Silver.

You have to win to get Gold and Bronze but Silver goes to a loser.

I agree that they shouldnt have been as petulant as they were, but emotions are on a rollercoaster and probably still a little raw at that point.

I kind of agree with Weitz, they should let the losing team leave.

Being forced to stand there as your opponents are being awarded with the Gold medals seems like rubbing it in. Kind of a jerk move.

Sportsmanship, etc, I get it, but this is one of the highest levels of the game and ergo the stakes and emotions are proportionally higher, let the losing team go to the dressing room.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

That's absolutely ridiculous. Nobody should be forced to wear anything, especially after losing a big a game like that.

Suspend the guy for throwing it into the stands, that was dumb, but for not wearing a medal? Give me a break.

Disagree strongly.

It's a symbolic gesture but a good move, in my opinion. It's classless and you punish classless.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Locke

I think the major issue is that you lose to get Silver.

You have to win to get Gold and Bronze but Silver goes to a loser.

That's a poor way of looking at it. You have to win multiple times in the tournament, including quarterfinal and semifinal games to even get to that point. You lose one game at the end, but there's a lot of winning along the way, and it still should be celebrated as a significant achievement.

Letting the losing team leaves shows disrespect to the winner. Is it ok in the olympics for the silver medallist in an individual direct-competition sport like wrestling or fencing show up the winner by refusing to stand next to them or display their medal?

In a society where respect for others is in increasingly short supply, should we not reinforce these displays of respect, ESPECIALLY when the outcome is not what we hoped for? What kind of value does it display? Why should we be ok with overly emotional responses that don't show restraint or respect? I have to wonder why this has suddenly become ok.

I'm not picking on Locke specifically here, but excusing this kind of behavior because of "emotions" is bull####. We all have emotions, but we don't get to run around in a disrespectful way just because of emotions. A certain level of decorum is required.

Oh, you know what...I think there's a meme for what you are all advocating for.

[GirlySports]

The Swedes should stop finishing 2nd. They should finish 4th so they don't feel so bad.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I dont mind this. The Swedish players acted like entitled children after the game. Hopefully this curbs future hissy fits. If the Canadian players had acted like that I would have been embarrassed for my country and the sport.

But that's the point. Wasn't the media and fan reaction sufficient sanction to deter players from acting similarly in the future? The players actions were petty. So is the IIHF by suspending players for not wearing their medals.

[Dajazz]

As a Swede myself it was an embarrassing moment and I wish I could apologise to hockey fans all over the world for it.

We lost, suck it up. Get better, win next time.

[ricosuave]

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The Swedes should stop finishing 2nd. They should finish 4th so they don't feel so bad.

you mean 3rd.
4th is still a loser in the bronze medal game. Getting 3rd, you get to go out with a win.

[undercoverbrother]

Meh a kid made a mistake, it was on a big stage, but still it was a mistake of youth.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by GGG

I prefer emotional real players who don't sanitize themselves.

If we want real interviews and real emotion instead of cliché we need to accept when these types of real reactions from young adults happen. Give me this over a typical McBot interview any day.

Yes its unsportsmanlike but it was a real moment in an increasingly manicured sport.

I agree with your underlying statement, but I think there's a difference. It irks me that the NHL tries to sap all the fun and personality out of its players, and the general belief that a good hockey player is stoic and highly reserved.

There should be room for players to express themselves honestly in interviews and emotionally on the ice, to a degree. And I think most of them understand that degree, but this constant chastising of personalities like Subban because he isn't the traditional mold of a hockey player is annoying.

Having an issue with players disrespecting a tournament and the accomplishments of their teammates and other teams can be separated from the authenticity I think you and I want to see more of in the sport.

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Meh a kid made a mistake, it was on a big stage, but still it was a mistake of youth.

Yup mistakes were made, and mistakes often have consequences. Maybe they'll learn that acting like toddlers isn't a reasonable standard in life.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Yup they acted like cry babies. I don't care if they were emotional, they knew that reaction wasn't appropriate. I know I wasn't raised that way. I would have been embarrassed if my kid acted like that.

I lost provincial finals football to a team in sexsmith Alberta on some highly questionable calls from local refs in the second half. It was like getting kicked in the stomach. I still took the award, I still shook hands. I didn't like it, but I did it, because that's what good sportsmanship is about. I wasn't there representing myself, I was there representing my team, my school and my town. And yea, 20 years later the loss still grinds at me, but I can hold my head high that I at least acted like a young man rather then a tall child.

The coaches should have had stiffer penalties. It's their job to set a better example.

[genetic_phreek]

One of the Canadian women hockey players also took off her silver medal after losing in the Olympics. I imagine she may be seeing a suspension coming as well.

I get all the emotions that go into winning and losing but that's totally disrespecting and an act of entitlement.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

One of the Canadian women hockey players also took off her silver medal after losing in the Olympics. I imagine she may be seeing a suspension coming as well.

I get all the emotions that go into winning and losing but that's totally disrespecting and an act of entitlement.

Was thinking of the same incident.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...ticle38084937/

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Yup mistakes were made, and mistakes often have consequences. Maybe they'll learn that acting like toddlers isn't a reasonable standard in life.

I have no issues with consequences.

I just find some of the responses and characterization of these individuals as "toddlers" or "six year olds" or "cry babies" or calling for them not to enter the tournament is you don't want to wear silver.

Perhaps someone can correct me, but I don't recall that any of these individuals would be characterized as "problem children", ie: these actions were out of character for those involved.

Have consequences, but have an understanding and memory of what is was like to be 17,18,19, hell 20. I am sure everyone in this thread has done something when you were in that age that you aren't proud of now.

As I said, youth makes mistakes, it is part of the learning process and growing process.

[Flamette]

Even if the sanctions are symbolic, it's important. Particularly when you compare the Swedes to the members of those low seeded teams that fight so hard just to stay in contention in the top tier.

[Monahan For Mayor]

^ I think at 17 years of age and younger to be honest you should know what is right and wrong when it comes to losing in sports. Growing up playing sports coaches and parents engrain it into you. Especially at the level of these atheletes. Every single one of them has had their fair share of defeat and know the proper way to deal with it.

[jayswin]

Even though it makes no sense at all, I think it would create a lot of fun and desperation to have it so the Gold medal game is for Gold and Bronze and the runner up game is for Silver.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Flamette

Even if the sanctions are symbolic, it's important. Particularly when you compare the Swedes to the members of those low seeded teams that fight so hard just to stay in contention in the top tier.

But the problem is that the Swedes have expectations.

Those minnow teams are just happy to be there, but if you're a contending country you want to win.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Kswiss

Exactly! Who knows. Maybe half his team mates were extrememely proud of second place. Way to make the team feel like losers even of you werent happy about it.

There are kids on that team for which a silver medal at the WJC will be the greatest accomplishment in their hockey career.