Canuck

Aren't you forgetting Tommy Soderstrom? Dominic Roussel?

I understand, but understand, too, that must of the outcry on this forum began well before the semi-final game. But you're right...I also told my buddy before the game it will seem strange hearing Canadian fans NOT booing the Russians. Personally, as a Canadian hockey fan I'd cheer neither and hope they pummel each other black and blue before the gold medal game.

Agreed. As I stated before, the U.S. sucks probably crossed the line. But I would honestly encourage anybody who was put off by the booing to view it as a compliment to the strides USA Hockey has taken. For years the U.S. wasn't even a blip on the radar at the World Junior - or any international hockey tournament. I hope this doesn't come off as condescending, because I truly don't mean it that way, but 10 years ago the fans wouldn't even have wasted their energy booing the U.S. The fact that the home crowd would go to such lengths to boo the team viewed by many as the tournament favorite, that speaks volumes for the ground USA hockey has made in recent years.

Anybody else see the lovely irony in this post?

Booing/"U.S. Sucks" = Disrespectful, buttheads, d---s, jerks. "F--- You, Denver" and "(insert name) Sucks S---!" = "We swear because we care." I guess I'm missing the consistency in the argument.

Does this mean when REA hosts the World Curling Championships, you guys will boo the Canadian curling team mercilessly? All kidding aside, those meanies you are all sick of have made this the most profitabale world junior championship in tournament history. But I guess for the sake of manners, next year's event should be held in front of 17 people at some outdoor rink in Kazahkstan.

I saw the same article and, despite all I have heard and read about Johnson, my first reaction was, 'VERY classy.' And appreciated.

I don't disagree, believe me. When I played hockey growing up, I certainly had times restraining myself during situations like that. You can't control how your opponent behaves, but you can control how you behave. The situations you mention, yes, I myself would have retaliated as well. But how about tripping the goalie? What was his sin? The player that Schremp two-handed? Near as I could tell, his biggest sin was either falling (or diving) as the result of a Schremp hook. So in those two cases, it wasn't justified. I still think it's a matter of perspective. A few minutes earlier, when none of this had really erupted yet, I also saw Paukovich taking liberties with his stick behind the net. But it was away from the play and nobody noticed, or the announcers chose not to notice. As I said, plenty of blame to go around on both benches. One could also blame the head coaches for seemingly doing nothing to discourage their players from behaving that way. Or even the official for not issuing a warning to both teams when it was clear that game was on the verge of becoming nastier.

That's a very fair assessment, although (and this might be semantics) I'm not sure 'threatened' would necessarily be the word. I may be oversimplifying, but it is obvious that, on our end, the U.S. is now our primary rival when it comes to international hockey. The fans have recognized that and decided that this would supercede any previous animosity for Russia or anybody else. Do I have a problem with the booing, etc? Obviously not. Now, the 'US Sucks?' I certainly couldn't blame anybody for being offended or put off by that. Would I like to hear Canada sucks? Not really, even though I've already been subjected to a F--- Canada on this site. Having said that, when a Sioux nickname opponent claims they do not like hearing 'Sioux suck,' we are certainly quick to dismiss that argument, are we not? It's not personal, we tell them; it's just a game. I think lost in all of this rhubarb about the fan behavior is the one-sided view of the game's final five minutes. Now, both teams must share at least some of the blame for how that game ended. That was not hockey. But if you truly look at those final five minutes from an objective point of view, the biggest reason for the deterioration at the end (cheap shots, etc.) was a simple loss of composure on the part of the U.S. players. In many of those cases, clean hits by the Russians resulted in cheap shot retaliation. Don't get me wrong - there were certainly a few questionable hits, but nothing to warrant Schremp's blatant retaliatory cross check or Borque trying to trip the Russina goalie when (seemingly) no one was looking. Were the U.S. players antagonized and goaded into this behavior? ABSOLUTELY. That was the Russian MO. However, Team USA should have recognized this LAST YEAR and learned from it. Of course, that is easier said than done, and as I alluded to in an earlier post, Canada has certainly been guilty of losing their composure in previous tournaments. This turned out to be a little lengthy....sorry.

There certainly is precedent for that The Punch-out in Piestany anyone?

Let me pose a question to all of you who are Vikings fans: If you were at a Packers-Chargers game, who would you cheer for/against? Ok, maybe Packers/Bears would be a better example Back to hockey; I truly believe it will take a herculean effort for Canada to beat this Russian team. I agree with the earlier posters that said this will be much different than the exhibition game, which I was able to see while in Canada. I don't want to say for sure, but it seemed like the Russians were intentionally laying down for us in that one. Who knows. Pogge will have to be on top of his game and, just as importantly, we need to learn from the last two Russia-U.S. games and not let their antics shake us. We need to be able to stay out of the penalty box, channel energy from all of the B.S. and play a sound, three-zone game.

Damn. Thanks anyway.

Anybody know if the Canada-Finalnd game is being picked up on the Center Ice package? I'm not at home right now and can't check the TV listing.

Whew... Definitely a nice win for what has to be a tired U.S. team. Schneider was a rock in the third period. I must say, I was quite unimpressed with the Czech team, save for (no pun intended) Marek Schwarz. As well as Schneider played, I don't think there were many pucks he didn't see.

If I may make a prediction based on past Vancouver precedent, I wouldn't be surprised to hear the Star Spangled Banner booed again

I've only seen two U.S. games, but I'd venture to say that Schneider is the tourney's Most Outstanding Goaltender at this point.

I don't think I've seen a Czech forward venture between the dots yet. Awful lot of perimeter play...

Coming into the tournament, I would think the consensus was that goaltending could be considered the Americans' lone question mark. But Schneider has certainly sparkled over the past two games. Very calm and very sound.

Oh, there's no doubt that Canadians are world-wide leaders in inferiority complex. Which I think explains why we come off as a touch arrogant when it comes to the one thing we're good at! Believe me, there were plenty of people wearing red and white at the Ralph last year that aggravated me too, but I don't see Canadian idiots or American idiots. I just see idiots. Everyone's got 'em. Much like the yahoos in Quebec that booed the Star Spangled Banner...those are the types I cannot defend, because it has moved past good-natured, our team vs. your team booing. And I'll pass on the hug, but thanks.

If I may play sudo-sociologist here, people really ought not get bent out of shape over people cheering against the U.S. You may not be aware of this, but the United States is viewed as the big, bad bully of the world. Therefore, everybody else is an underdog. Why do non-Yankees fans hate the Yankees? They're the richest, most powerful franchise in baseball. It didn't matter that their most recent dynasty teams consisted of some of the most professional, classy players in MLB. They were still the big, bad Yankees and they were hated for it. Seriously, what has Derek Jeter ever done to be hated like he is by non-Yankee fans? Duke University? The Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s? The Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s (I know, because I was the only person in my entire extended family that didn't hate the Oilers). Even this year there are plenty of examples. I'm willing to be more people wanted to see the Indianapolis Colts LOSE and game than go undefeated. And I'm willing to bet more people want USC to lose the national championship than there are people who win. Same goes with the U.S. Now, they aren't necessarily the biggest and baddest in hockey (yet), but from a "world" perspective, they are the big, bad Americans. Every other country is the underdog, no matter if its sports, business, politics, etc. We now return to our regularly-scheduled jingoism...

Does this Czech team strike anyone else as awfully timid? I would think if you throw the Paukovich/Wheeler line out there a couple more times and tell them to hit anything that moves, the Czechs would become rather tentative in their own zone.

You're right, my bad. Since one person on siouxsports.com posted a message disrespectful to Canadians, I hereby proclaim all Americans to be disrespectful. It's booing. At a hockey game. Get over it.

I see your point. Good natured, all-in-the-name-of-rivalry booing is exactly the same as proclaiming F--- Canada. How adult of you I'm actually half-regretting even dignifying it with a response... I sure hope you're being sarcastic (BURP).

Nevermind. It just switched over. Damn, I wish Midcontinent would just offer TSN...

It's now 10:05. Anybody with NHL Center Ice having any luck? I'm getting nothing but a schedule of games that claims the U.S. game is scheduled for 11 ET.