Olympic ice hockey thread

There's a certain injury risk anytime you play. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban didn't want his players to play in the Olympics. I suspect he's not alone in that sentiment. Those are the sort of things you hash out in the CBA.

That said, I found it remarkable that a guy like Stamkos really wanted to go to Sochi, despite the injury. He'd never been before and I suspect it meant a lot to him. I think it was wise, for he and the team, that he not go. But it's admirable that a multi-million dollar pro athlete truly wanted to go, risks aside.

 

The American and Canadian women's team have a huge amount of animosity. They play each other regularly and it's rough as you can get.

Shake hands? They'd rather gouge each other's team's eyes out. There is no sportsmanship

 

Now I could mistaken, but they still shook hands at the end, did they not? Loads of animosity, sure, but there is still that respect

 

Re: the slashing call to the US In OT - I thought it was a soft call but Cassie Campbell (who attended the same high school as yours truly) said on CBC when the call was made that the Yanks had been warned earlier in the game about hacking at the goalie. Maybe that is called more in the women's game, I don't know.

 

Would have liked to see U.S. win but, to all of Canada, that win means more than it would have to the average American.

 

There's always shaking hands but there wouldn't be any huggin' or laughing with the other team

 

Perhaps the rivalry has gotten too intense if you can't be a good winner.... or loser.

 

Or perhaps, and this is probably the case, you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

 

Now that we've gotten the ladies out of the way, I'd like to pose a question to our Canadian friends in advance of tomorrow's men's semi.

Is it just me or has Canada been just a little off its game at these Olympics?

I mean, yes, they're undefeated, but I watched most of their game against Finland, then a little of yesterday's game vs. Latvia and I just get a sense that they aren't firing on all cylinders. Something seems to be missing, whether it's team chemistry or Babcock overcoaching or something else I'm not seeing.

Can you guys who know more about their team expound on that?

 

There has been much made in the media up here of the overcoaching thing, that maybe the players are getting too much info and too much structure and not being allowed to play. Forwards have definitely struggled but they have been pretty sound defensively. Canada can't fall behind tomorrow that will be a real mountain to climb to come back against the US, an early Canuck goal or two might loosen the grip on those sticks.

 

They shook hands at the end of the game. Did you think they were going to watch Oprah together and do each others hair?

 

Well, that's what some Americans might say.

Some Canadians might say, "Eh, you talking out of your ass?"