EHM The Blue Line

Wow, this is late. I always forget noone cares but Canada. Anyway...today

Canada 7 USA 4. This means Canada gets a bye to semi final after going 4-0. USA goes 3-1.
Slovakia defeated Finland in a shootout today. Finland is in the relegation round...Ouch.

Canada 4-0
USA 3-1
Czech Rep 2-2

Relegation round:
Germany (1-0)/Khazakstan(0-1)

Other Pool

Sweden 4-0
Russia 3-1
Slovakia 2-2
Relegation round:
Finland 1-0, Latvia 0-1

So Quarter Finals I believe are this:

USA-Slovakia
Russia-Czech Rep

Semi Finals

Canada-Winner Russia-Czech
Sweden - Winner USA-Slovakia

So semis should be

Canada-Russia
Sweden-USA

Canada's win over USA was somewhat unexpected. USA is considered a favorite this year, but well...you all know so is Canada. Canada got down 3-0 early (8 minutes in) and came back and 2 minutes into the second took a 4-3 lead. They put forth a huge effort. John Tavares with 3 goals in the game.

Should be real exciting playoffs.

And Tasku...have fun...your team could play the likes of Great Britain next season if they mess up. But they will not. They should be able to beat the 2 teams they have not played in Germany and Khaz. Canada beat Khaz 15-0.

I love getting the chance to see some of the future stars in action, but obviously, not a very high chance of me doing that over here in England, i did manage to see Tavares though today, and i really can't see anybody taking Hedman over him, no matter what the teams need, this guy is too darn good to be an NHL 2nd Overall.

Just a quick one, what's the relegation round for? To see who won't be competing next year?

And whats wrong with playing team GB, were good i tell you!

Two teams get demoted to Division 1, 2 teams come up. I think next season Sqitzerland and Austria (not sure on the 2nd) move up, and the two teams of the four in the relegation round with the worst records get moved down.

Britain would have to move up from Div 2,678,910 to play in Div 1...so I think it may be awhile. Cause Tony Hand does not get regenerated in real life.

batdad wrote:Finland is in the relegation round...Ouch.

Finnish IHA told, that their target is get a medal... but ice hockey magazine called "Jääkiekkolehti" told, that it's very high goal.

Apologizes for bad English

The player that really intriges me is Ryan Ellis. He has a very good chance of being the number one or 2 pick next year and man, would I love to have him on my team playing the point for the next 10-15 years.

Sweden beating Russia 5-0 was a good shock to me. So now we're up for, I hope, a rematch against Canada in the final. Canada won last year, so now it's time for revenge.

Ryan Ellis...God CeeBee, please stop listening to Pierre McGuire and his man crushes. He is good, but by no means is he Paul Coffey or Bobby Orr. Just another little strong skating dman who is smart. He will do well though. But please don't overrate.

Sweden? Revenge? What??? Who the heck do you think Canada is? Belarus? Good luck buddy.

YA! Go Canada! haha I'm expecting a Canada - Sweden final, but couldn't predict the winner..

I went to the WJHC In Vancouver, wow, being there for that 5-0 thwamping over Russia for the gold.
On a side note I was at the USA - Norway game, haha, nothing like 12,000 Canadians screaming when Norway scored. However they went on to lose 10-2

I was in Vancouver for the Canucks Super Skills last year, they showed Canada beat Sweden on the jumbo, that place was loud, The Sedin's were crushed, lol

That Suisse game vs USA was much better...THe crowd got to Yell "HOP SUISSE" the whole game! Cause well, USA Sucked totally.

Also saw Canada-USA, and the Gold Medal game. The atmosphere was amazing. Jack Johnson is not welcome in Vancouver. Funny, it was for a hit on Steve Downey, who everyone hates now anyway. But Jack still gets boos when he plays for the Kings here.

A9L3E wrote:

batdad wrote:Finland is in the relegation round...Ouch.

Finnish IHA told, that their target is get a medal... but ice hockey magazine called "Jääkiekkolehti" told, that it's very high goal.

Apologizes for bad English

There's been alot of talk, especially in Jääkiekkolehti (kinda like Finnish version of The Hockey News), about the low standard of Finnish juniors and coaching in the Juniors, that's why they don't think Finland will get a medal. And I guess the results show they were right.

Wether or not there's a new declining trend in Finnish hockey, or if we're just having a short brake on good talent, who knows. Time will tell. I personally think it'll turn around eventually. Hockey is our no 1 sport and if we're going the wrong way, eventually that will get fixed.

GB are in div 2, group B. The schedule is :

Croatia vs GB - Jan 10

GB vs Spain - Jan 11

GB vs Mexico - Jan 12

China vs GB - Jan 14

GB vs Netherlands - Jan 15

So the Slovakians beat filthy Americans 5-3. Me likes . They were soo widdled off. The new junior system in Slovakia is paying off. U20 team plays a a full season with seniors.

The Americans deserved to lose against Slovakia because they:

a) Took them EXTREMELY LIGHTLY

b) Ran into a goalie that is getting hot in the tournament

c) failed to capitalize on their chances, while Slovakia scored on theirs

d) had an exhausted goaltender of their own (I know that is a stretch, but did McCollum really need to play against Kazakhstan, when the other kid was completely capable?)

Slovakia has a great chance to beat Sweden (I know, they already lost to them) and I'd like to see them medal.

batdad wrote:Ryan Ellis...God CeeBee, please stop listening to Pierre McGuire and his man crushes.

I take it you don't like Pierre McGoo.... ahem McGuire I quite often resort to turning off the sound rather than listening to his babbling.... but I still like Ellis as a future big time point man, which unless he grows a bit and improves defensively might be his fate.

Sweden goes to the final after beating the Slovaks 5-3. Exciting game, there are some pretty skilled player for Sweden. And the Slovak goalie Janus stood on his head

USA as a favourite? I would have considered them middle of the pack, don't know who had them as a contender. I would have guessed fourth, with Sweden, Canada, and Russia being the three best at the tournament. Sweden vs Canada in the final, with what I am expecting to be a Swedish victory but not ruling out a Canadian win.

Finland being relegated surprised me, as I thought they would have done better than Czech Republic or Slovakia. I considered the Czech program to be in a downswing, they only had TWO players taken in the draft last season.

Great series so far, Canada vs USA being a personal highlight for me.

Not McGuire's biggest fan. And yeah, USA was a favorite this year. They had more returnees, they have some strong strong players (Blum, Van Ryms) some of whom are in their third tournament. Canada had relatively few returnees. Many people had thought the USA would win this tourney hands down.

Russia was thought to be an underdog to get past q/finals this year by many. Many thought USA, Sweden, Canada, Finland....

But as always, the Americans were missing a little something extra. And for the first time in a long time so were the Finns.

Slovakia is having the tournament of its country's relatively short history. But Cinderella ain't going to the ball this time.

Canada-Sweden.

Final score Canada 4 Sweden 2

I think Russia could have gotten the edge they needed with Filatov, but it probably all came down to the players from Russia meshing with the guys who skate in North America.

If I remember correctly, the Czech U18 team was relegated in 2007, which in turn would be the same group in this tournament. I never expected them to do better than SUOMI. But unfortunately, the tournament was going to be a tough one for Finland from the get go. No real NHL prospects, maybe better in a year or two but it just wasn't meant to be this time around.

I think the Americans are moving forward in their WJ program, but there always seems to be this odd gap between the U17/U18 teams and the WJC teams, in terms of prowess and output.

Canada 4 Sweden 2 is a very viable prediction. Regardless of the outcome, I am very much looking forward to this eventual matchup. I still think Sweden is tops in this tournament, four potential first rounders helps immensely. But seriously, imagine if the Canadian team weren't faced with so many players being on NHL rosters this year?!

Sorry, but Sweden may have 4 "potential" first rounders....Canada already has 10 (Hodgson,Pickard (who is the backup goalie), Teubert, Myers, Hickey, Pietrangelo,Esposito, Boychuk, Eberle, and Ennis) first rounders already taken in the past, plus at least 2 this year. The only other undrafted player is the one McGuire is raving about, and may have been the best player in the tourney so far.

I would not use draft picks and projections as the predictor of outcomes. Sweden's potential is huge yes...led by Hedman...but man oh man..Canada's is scary.

And yeah, imagine with Lucic (who would be eligible), and the 10 or so other guys in the NHL where the Canadians would be.

USA--not the program, it is the cookie cutter system they have for player development from day 1 in minor hockey. Basically you have defensive, positionally sound dmen (exception being JOhn Blum) and offensive minded forwrads. Passion is not something taught in USA hockey anymore. Some guys are big and burly and mean, but not with passion. Just the same thing. I see it in American minor hockey teams all the time..all 6 dmen play the same game. Hockey is not a game for robots or play diagrams..and this is how many of them have been taught growing up.

California is a bit of an exception to this rule. Blum is ungodly.

Hodgson has been fantastic to watch. I don't like the Canucks, but I can't wait to see him playing in Vancouver.

I still contend that Sweden is the best chance for the gold that isn't Canada. This could have been more of a solid prediction, had there been more of an impact on the team with the eight players who wound up in the NHL. A testament to the wealth and depth that is Canadian hockey.

I still love this Swedish team, the best collection of juniors since 1993 with Forsberg, Naslund, etc.

OMG... Canada is losing to Russia?

edit: darn Canada tied the game );

Holy thank god!! EBERLE, TAVARES HODGSON.

Thank bloody god. Now finish this darn thing in OT...>FAST

shiet man, 5 seconds left... haha jesus

Oh boy...shootout. As a Canadian I am automatically opposed. But..well they are kind of fun to watch.

No way a game of this magnitude should be decided this way though. These guys on both teams deserve to finish it the way they started it. That being said, not sure Canada deserves to win. Yes...they dominated OT, but they were brutal in the 2nd and last 1/2 of the third.

Credit due to Voinov who has by far looked like the best LA Kings prospect on the blueline in this game. Umm...Hickey and Teubert? Both have been horrible

Well and so does the Cup get it's dream final, its going to be though... Sweden will win though, 3-2 due to better goalie (;