Ray77

I've heard that when they're on the ice together they just keep coming at you in waves. So much so, they can make the opposing team blubber.

Point taken. I was just clarifying that the Fighting Hawks didn't exist in 1984, that's all.

I agree - it is the same school in the same city - the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. However, in 1984 you supported Fighting Sioux hockey, while in 2016 you support Fighting Hawks hockey, correct?

Unfortunately, that's impossible. Fighting Hawks hockey didn't exist in 1984...

Great call, Sic! Done deal...one goal at a time!

Watching Brett Hull and Chris Chelios in between periods of the WCoH has been mildly entertaining, to say the least. These 2 are way different than your normal announcers or analysts. At times, it's like watching Bob and Doug McKenzie from Strange Brew. But, it's been refreshing. Something happened last night in between the 1st and 2nd period that I was glad to hear. They did a short clip on Chelios's son, Jake Chelios, who was playing in pre-season game for the Hurricanes. Jake scored an assist - a "secondary assist" as Buccigross put it, and both Hull and Chelios quickly corrected him. It went something like this: Buccigross - "And Jake Chelios with the secondary assist" Chelios - "There is no such thing as a secondary assist" Hull - "No, only assists" I've seen this on SiouxSports in the last few years in the game threads - talking about who got the "primary assist" and who got the "secondary assist". I hope this can put an end to that! There is no such thing as a "primary" or "secondary" assist....it's just an assist. Typically, if you say the goal was scored by Caggulia with assists to Boeser and Schmaltz, that would mean Boeser gave it to Caggulia ("primary assist"), and Schmaltz gave it to Boeser ("secondary assist"). Just a pet peeve of mine, I guess... Please help me in my crusade to get rid of people saying "primary" and "secondary" assists. This has been a public service announcement from your friend, Ray77!

I'm glad the kids from the Island of Misfit Toys made it...I hope they beat Canada!

Absolutely! I'm not sure how you did this, but these look great...and are accurate! Closed circuit to the REA - get this done now!

I'm guessing you mean the 3rd Canadian goal? If so, I agree with you 100%.

One word for team USA's showing in this tournament - GARBAGE. I hate to say it, but for every 1980 Olympic team, 1996 World Cup team, 2004 or 2010 World Junior team, the USA has 20 "2016 World Cup teams". Also, I wish that I was posting out here today to eat crow and that Team USA proved me wrong, but I said it from Day 1 that this team was a bottom dweller in this tournament, and unfortunately I was correct. So let's start at the top with some instant analysis - Dean Lombardi - you've done a great job with the LA Kings, but I think we're going to have to ask you to stick with the Kings and keep your hands off of Team USA. How you and your staff ever thought this team was up to par for this tournament, I'll never know. Now please go and deal with the 6 years and $35.25M remaining on Dustin Brown's albatross contract. John Tortorella - thanks but no thanks. Never ever ever ever ever should you be coaching for Team USA (or in the NHL, or anywhere for that matter). If Columbus is OK with you ruining their franchise, consider yourself lucky and stay there as long as they'll have you and collect your paycheck. I'll take a calm, cool, collected, thoughtful, innovative coach any day over your uncontrollable, stubborn, hotheadedness. By the way - nice challenge on the Corey Perry goal. My 5 year old knew that wasn't going to get reversed in any way, shape or form. On to the players, who we can group into a few categories... Group A - Thanks for playing, you had your day in the sun but your time has come and gone: To the old guard who's represented Team USA in the past and most likely the reason they got chosen for this team was out of some kind of loyalty - Ryan Kesler, Ryan Suter, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson. Thanks guys, but it's time to move on...I'll leave it at that... Group B - You made this team....how?: To 2 lucky guys who fit in 2 categories (Group A and B). The Johnson's - Erik and Jack. How did you make this team again? After I saw you 2 named to this team, I was speaking with a few guys on my men's league team and they felt snubbed. Group C - Your NHL point production may show that you belong, but your play doesn't: To Max Pacioretty and Blake Wheeler. I'd rather you be nowhere near this team. Reluctantly, I'd probably take you, but I'd try REAL hard to find guys to replace you because you're soft. Can you score? I suppose, but you sure didn't/haven't in these type of "best on best" tournaments...and have I mentioned that you're soft? On second thought, you aren't invited back. Group D - Jury's out on you: To Brandon Dubinsky, Kyle Palmieri and Matt Niskanen. Palmieri - you made it when Callahan pulled out due to injury. You were scratched for Game 1 against the Europeans. You had a pretty good year in NJ last year - we'll see where we go from here. Dubinsky - you played against the Europeans and then were scratched vs Canada when you were needed most and should have been playing. I apologize for Tortorella's incompetence. However, the jury's out and you and there's a good chance that you belong in Group A. Niskanen - what can I say? You lucked out in 2014 when there were no big name free agent defensemen in the NHL, so you were the big prize and cashed in. Good on you for cashing in and taking what Washington was willing to pay you. I guess that automatically puts you in the running for things like this, but I'm not so sure that you don't belong in Group B. Group E - To the guys I'd take back, but you've been put on notice: Pretty much the rest of the team...Van Riemsdyk and Stepan...meh, you need to step it up. Kane - you coast and don't play defense, but I guess that's your game...as long as you score and aren't a liability in the defensive zone, which you kind of have been in these tournaments lately. Parise, Pavelski, Oshie, Abdelkader, Backes - it's time to show something or you'll be moved to Group A. Carlson, McDonagh and Byfuglien* - you're the 3 D that probably should have been on the team, but as Group E is titled - you've been put on notice. *Side note on Byfuglien - he got hammered either by Melrose when it happened or by Hull and Chelios after the 1st period (I can't remember when) for Duchene's 1st goal. Buf was in position and had Duchene boxed out so he wouldn't/couldn't get a rebound in front of the net. I guess now he's suppose to also know that the puck was going to be shot wide and perfectly carom off the boards and come to Duchene on the back side, and he should have been able to magically cover 2 sides of Duchene to prevent that goal. Group F - Goalies: To Ben Bishop and Cory Schneider - thanks for coming out. Sorry you didn't get to play, maybe next time. In fact, maybe we'll let Bishop play against the Czechs and Schneider can back him up and we'll give Quick the day off. To Jonathan Quick - there were some bad goals scored, and by bad I mean you didn't have much of a D presence to help you (2 on 0's, 2 on 1's with nobody covering, etc.), there were some weird bounces off the boards, there were weird/lucky bounces off players (Perry), bounces off of skates (McDonagh/Bergeron). You all belong and will be back in the future. but there are young guys that will be up and coming to challenge you. Group G - The guys left out: To Tyler Johnson, Phil Kessel, Bobby Ryan, Chris Kreider, Nick Bjugstad, Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk, Kevin Shattenkirk, Kyle Okposo, Brock Nelson and others I'm missing...we're all sorry. Not sure who all of you should have made this team, but some of you definitely should have. Also, a semi-shout out to the kids from the USA on Team North America - we look forward to you aging out of Team NA - most, if not all of you, should have been on this team. I do think the future looks bright for Team USA. Sorry for the rant, but I just had to. USA continues to throw up stinkers and I think we all deserve better. I'll be very interested to see who, if anyone, shows up for the Czech game or if they've all packed it in already.

Sweden vs. Finland 0-0 after the 1st period.

Team NA was any North American 23 or under. Europe is any European from a country who didn't have a team in the tournament (i.e. not from Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Russia).

UGH. I watched the USA/Europe game later this weekend as I DVR'd it. I could go on a rant about this USA team, but maybe I'll just stick to what I said when I started this thread. I hope they come out with some fire on Tuesday against Canada, because if they lose, they're done. I imagine that game will be a penalty filled event.

And Oxbow strikes early with the reverse jinx!

Thanks

I believe ESPN is doing all the games. Team USA plays Team Canada tonight in a pre-tournament game. Is the NHL Network re-airing yesterday's games, or are they also airing live games? I watched some of the Team NA vs Team Europe last night, and the youngsters from Team NA looked good. They're going to have a good showing in this tournament and give other teams a run I think.

Alex Trebec would not allow this!

Oh, believe me...there's nothing in that link that I didn't already know. If I'm being honest, a lot of my opinion has to do with his past and where he went to college...I'm just not a fan. He's a big lazy one way hockey player, but he can score, no doubt. And yeah, if I was the GM of this team I suppose I'd have to include him on the team. Now please excuse me...I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth.

He's too old. Players on that roster are 23 and under. Brock is 24 I believe (just about to turn 25).

Kesler is a great 2 way player, I wasn't slighting him in the least. He's a guy you need on your team, but he is more of a 3rd line grinder/defensive forward than a 1st liner. Wheeler...yuck.

Well, hopefully that's the key - getting the "right" guys, not just the big names (i.e. leaving Kessel off the team) and having some grinders such as Kesler, Backes, Dubinsky, etc. The ol' Herb Brooks formula. However, I'm not a fan of Wheeler at all and would trade him for Kessel any day. That way, Kessel could play in the top 6 and not the bottom 6 where he'd be a cancer. As I said before, the Johnson's could have been left off as well and replaced with a couple of guys from my men's league team.

Canada is absolutely stacked. Don't get me wrong, the US team doesn't look like a "bad" team. I think some of the best US players are on Team North America. The future looks good for the USA, I'm just not sure about this team when comparing rosters. The D pairing of J. Johnson and E. Johnson scares the heck out of me.

Other thoughts: - Looking at these teams rosters...wow! I hate to say it and I hope they prove me wrong, but I'd rank Team USA in the bottom half. - Team North America - the young guns. This team looks good and could give other teams a good run. I'm excited to watch this team. - Patrik Laine getting thrown right into the fire on the 1st line with Finland. It'll be interesting to see how he does. I have others, but I'll leave it at this for now...

I'm surprised there hasn't been a thread started on this already. Pre-tournament games start today. World Cup of Hockey projected lines, defense pairings for all eight teams - you can click on a roster and then at the bottom you can look at rosters from each other team 2016 World Cup of Hockey schedule Pre-tournament schedule: Thursday, September 8 Team Czech Republic vs. Team Russia - Yubileyny Sports Palace, St. Petersburg 12:30 p.m. ET - ESPN3, SN1, TVA Sports 2 Team Sweden vs. Team Finland - Hartwall Arena; Helsinki Noon ET/7 p.m. local - ESPN3, SN, TVA Sports Team Europe vs. Team North America - Videotron Centre; Quebec City 8 p.m. ET - ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports Friday, September 9 Team Canada vs. Team USA - Nationwide Arena; Columbus 7 p.m. ET - ESPNU, SN1, SN360, TVA Sports Saturday, September 10 Team Finland vs. Team Sweden - Scandinavium; Gothenburg Noon ET/6 p.m. local - ESPN3, SN1, TVA Sports 2 Team Russia vs. Team Czech Republic - O2 Arena; Prague 10:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. local - ESPN3, SN360, TVA Sports Team USA vs. Team Canada - Canadian Tire Centre; Ottawa 7 p.m. ET - ESPN3, SN, TVA Sports Sunday, September 11 Team Europe vs. Team North America - Bell Centre; Montreal 6 p.m. ET - ESPN3, SN, TVA Sports Tuesday, September 13 Team Finland vs. Team USA - Verizon Center; Washington, DC 7 p.m. ET - ESPN, SN1, TVA Sports Wednesday, September 14 Team Czech Republic vs. Team North America - CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh 3:30 p.m. ET - ESPN3, SN, SN1, TVA Sports Team Canada vs. Team Russia - CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. ET - ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports Team Sweden vs. Team Europe - Verizon Center; Washington, DC 7 p.m. ET - ESPN3, SN360, TVA Sports 2

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