MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 ...and here's a current article on how things have improved... http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2014/02/12/rene-fasel-women-hockey-iihf/5419441/ That being said, a semi-final game where one team records 70 shots on goal while the other winds up with 9 shows that there is still a long ways to go in terms of competitive balance in women's hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I think that's unlikely, because IIHF has made significant changes in response to the IOC direction... Another is the competition itself, where they set up the top 4 teams in one pool, and the bottom 4 teams in another. So there was no USA vs Russia or Germany game. (Unless of course Russia/Germany were to advance.) The coaching mentoring is something I would call a "significant" change...stacking the groups to prevent blow-outs is simply window-dressing and not a long-term solution to the competitiveness issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 ...and here's a current article on how things have improved... http://www.usatoday....y-iihf/5419441/ That being said, a semi-final game where one team records 70 shots on goal while the other winds up with 9 shows that there is still a long ways to go in terms of competitive balance in women's hockey. I agree woman's hockey could be gone if the same two team keep dominating. The USA and Canada have an unfair advantage that their Olympic teams are together a year before the Olympics start. There should be a rule that each country only get a certain amount of days with the team together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray77 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 I agree woman's hockey could be gone if the same two team keep dominating. The USA and Canada have an unfair advantage that their Olympic teams are together a year before the Olympics start. There should be a rule that each country only get a certain amount of days with the team together. To play devil's advocate - other teams can't do this as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 To play devil's advocate - other teams can't do this as well? Agreed. The USA and Canada are also the only countries on the continent that play hockey. Can't blow the budget flying across the Atlantic constantly to play Sweden and Finland in exhibition games. How about opposite-handed sticks for US and Canadian women's teams while we're at it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 To play devil's advocate - other teams can't do this as well? Some of the countries don't support woman's hockey like they do for men's hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray77 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Some of the countries don't support woman's hockey like they do for men's hockey. Understood, but I think that's where the other countries need to step up, and if they're going to make a commitment to women's hockey, then commit. There's no reason why Sweden, Finland, Russia, etc. can't have a women's program like the U.S. and Canada. Here's to hoping that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow6 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Understood, but I think that's where the other countries need to step up, and if they're going to make a commitment to women's hockey, then commit. There's no reason why Sweden, Finland, Russia, etc. can't have a women's program like the U.S. and Canada. Here's to hoping that happens. Same thing needs to happen with curling in this country...2 straight Olympics have been a disaster for both the men and women...especially the men. And is there a word more fun to say than "bonspiel"??!! All together now..."bonspiel". See...that's fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 It would be good for women's hockey to see a miracle on ice type of upset with the Swiss over Canada. But that would be more than a miracle on ice type of feat with the disparity in talent. At least the gold medal game will be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Some of the countries don't support woman's hockey like they do for men's hockey. Some countries don't have the financial resources to support women's hockey AND men's hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 NBC execs must have tasered Pierre Mcguire in mid-speech right after the US/Sweden game in the hopes of keeping viewers..he said Switzerland's goalie is fully capable of "stealing" a game from Canada. Yea...assuming their one shot on goal all game goes in the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Understood, but I think that's where the other countries need to step up, and if they're going to make a commitment to women's hockey, then commit. There's no reason why Sweden, Finland, Russia, etc. can't have a women's program like the U.S. and Canada. Here's to hoping that happens. Japan almost tied Sweden at the end of their game, and should have gone to overtime with Russia if what would have been the first goal for Japan would have been reviewed. Japan went out and got a Canadian coach that has won two goal medals with Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 NBC execs must have tasered Pierre Mcguire in mid-speech right after the US/Sweden game in the hopes of keeping viewers..he said Switzerland's goalie is fully capable of "stealing" a game from Canada. Yea...assuming their one shot on goal all game goes in the net. And five of Canada's 60 don't fall..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Come on Russia http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/olympics/wp/2014/02/15/olympic-hockey-russian-politician-smells-a-rat/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray77 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Come on Russia http://www.washingto...n-smells-a-rat/ Real surprising coming from Russia. This is the same country where a politician called Evgeni Plushenko an invalid for the way he bowed out of the figure skating competition after injuring himself. Russian politician calls Evgeni Plushenko an 'invalid' He then went on to say that Russia should only let athletes compete in 2 Olympics, then they're done. Umm...that would be great for your hockey team! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 1-0 Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 2-0 Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 3-0 Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I see the Swiss coming back here and easily getting as many shots on goal as Canadian goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Both semi-final games have been such mis-matches that they're hard to watch. But it is hockey, so I'll keep watching... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!! Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Boy it would be nice to meet the Russians in the Gold Medal game and put up about 8 on them for a blowout win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow6 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 But it is (fill in the blank), so I'll keep watching... Like Johnny Weir now live on NBCSN..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray77 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Which team is Switzerland and which team is Canada? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberkas Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Switzerland!!!! 3-1 Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Like Johnny Weir now live on NBCSN..... I thought he toned it down a bit today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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