WJC - 2026

[The Sicatoka]

32 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

Probably a bunch less goals scored for USA as well.

… about five… 

[cberkas]

56 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

I've said this from day 1. How Cullen Potter isn't playing top 6 minutes on this team let alone not even getting an invite is an absolute travesty and I knew this team was doomed when I saw roster decisions like this! I would love for some media outlet to ask Motzko or Vanbeisbrouck the one simple question on why he wasn't on the team. I really wonder if USA hockey has pissy pants over him leaving the program early and same with Hurlbert (I would think more towards Hurlbert though since he didn't leave to go to a college early). 

They are being like the Hockey Canada was about having NCAA players with not taking CHLers (outside the 1 or 2 they normally take). It seems they want NCAA, NTDP alums, and USHL alums. Just looking at the weakest position on the team was goaltending; Kempf .893 SV% with a 3.57 GAA, Heil .891 SV% with a 2.60 GAA, and Knowling .877 SV% with a 3.22 GAA. Now they were getting left out to dry by the defense and couldn't make a save when they needed to. Wendt .929 SV% with a 2.37 GAA, Reyelts .902 SV% with a 2.59 GAA (he was sent home), Miller .925 SV% with a 2.07 GAA this is just the top 3 American goalies in the WHL. I didn't see Potter as a top 2 center on this team, and I wouldn't be surprised if Powers told them he needed Potter after he wasn't originally selected. Leaving off top players that went to the CHL because of sour grapes. Vanbeisbrouck dropped the ball on this team with who was left off, I hope he has nothing to do with the team next year. Bryn would do a better job being the GM than Vanbeisbrouck.

[sioux rube]

I thought that with the tournament being held in Minnesota, there was a chance that attendance would be decent. Tickets which would be at $175 USD if the game were in Canada were going for $35, so it seemed like, even if revenues weren't great, at least attendance would be good. Nope.

[tnt]

Gopher fans giving shade to Motzko saying there wasn’t enough talent.  Yeah, but if  Bob had his way, the team’s leading scorer wouldn’t be there.  When you see how the talent he did have was woefully mismanaged, Motzko has a huge responsibility.  Your job as a coach is to make best use of the talent you have, and he did the exact opposite of that.

[tnt]

Do they have ice time stats for Team USA for the tournament?

[tnt]

2 hours ago, cberkas said:

They are being like the Hockey Canada was about having NCAA players with not taking CHLers (outside the 1 or 2 they normally take). It seems they want NCAA, NTDP alums, and USHL alums. Just looking at the weakest position on the team was goaltending; Kempf .893 SV% with a 3.57 GAA, Heil .891 SV% with a 2.60 GAA, and Knowling .877 SV% with a 3.22 GAA. Now they were getting left out to dry by the defense and couldn't make a save when they needed to. Wendt .929 SV% with a 2.37 GAA, Reyelts .902 SV% with a 2.59 GAA (he was sent home), Miller .925 SV% with a 2.07 GAA this is just the top 3 American goalies in the WHL. I didn't see Potter as a top 2 center on this team, and I wouldn't be surprised if Powers told them he needed Potter after he wasn't originally selected. Leaving off top players that went to the CHL because of sour grapes. Vanbeisbrouck dropped the ball on this team with who was left off, I hope he has nothing to do with the team next year. Bryn would do a better job being the GM than Vanbeisbrouck.

But Bryn is Canadian.

[JakeLove]

1 hour ago, sioux rube said:

I thought that with the tournament being held in Minnesota, there was a chance that attendance would be decent. Tickets which would be at $175 USD if the game were in Canada were going for $35, so it seemed like, even if revenues weren't great, at least attendance would be good. Nope.

MN is the State of MN Hockey, so without a MN emphasis they won’t show up. 
 

get this thing back to GF! 

[90siouxfan]

I think Bobbo has delusions that he is guided by Herb Brooks.....  
"I don't want the best players...   I want the right players"....

 

It will be a great day for hockey when he retires

[The Sicatoka]

4 minutes ago, 90siouxfan said:

 

It will be a great day for hockey when he retires

Naw, let him stay in Dinkytown forever. 

[90siouxfan]

1 minute ago, The Sicatoka said:

Naw, let him stay in Dinkytown forever. 

I hear what you're saying, but big picture wise, ineptitude should always be put out of the mix. 

[dustnyou]

The roster was fine. Easily a medal worthy team. The problem was BOB. 

[thUNDer]

But, but, but……look at his coaching resume say the GPL apologists 

[MafiaMan]

18 hours ago, Blackheart said:

Where the hell would this team have been without Zellers on the roster?

Welp, dare I say USA fans may have had an interest in the relegation game?

[The Sicatoka]

Sweden Finland … I’ve seen better attendance at a Warroad Roseau game …

[sioux rube]

23 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Sweden Finland … I’ve seen better attendance at a Warroad Roseau game …

Yep. Pretty pathetic 

[The Sicatoka]

Just now, sioux rube said:

Yep. Pretty pathetic 

… state of hockey … 

[Blackheart]

1 minute ago, The Sicatoka said:

… state of hockey … 

It’s really not

[hockey1]

37 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

It’s really not

Not sure if you realize what the "State of Hockey" means. It's referring to the amount of Hockey players the state produces for high school, college and the pros. No other state produces more. It was started by the Wild.

I do agree attendance has not been good for the World Juniors. The games I have been at, except for the US games, have been not good.

[JacksonW]

On 1/3/2026 at 4:11 PM, 90siouxfan said:

I hear what you're saying, but big picture wise, ineptitude should always be put out of the mix. 

He’s 64 and had tragic life event a few years back-I believe his coaching skills have slipped and this maybe his last year coaching but know plenty of people who know him and they all speak highly of him as a human being. Is being a dick part of popularity here?

[Godsmack]

Did they at least do a dry scrape of the ice before the 3x3 overtime?

[Wilbur]

Welp, @MafiaMan got his nonconference shootout to decide Sweden-Finland.  He was the one in the corner pounding on the glass after the 3 on 3 was as intriguing as my daughter's dance competitions. 

Some guys just live for that stuff.  

[Walsh Hall]

31 minutes ago, Godsmack said:

Did they at least do a dry scrape of the ice before the 3x3 overtime?

Sure seemed like there were issues with puck handling and getting much on the shots.

[Godsmack]

Sure glad NCAA tournament games aren’t settled like this.

[Blackheart]

2 hours ago, hockey1 said:

Not sure if you realize what the "State of Hockey" means. It's referring to the amount of Hockey players the state produces for high school, college and the pros. No other state produces more. It was started by the Wild.

I do agree attendance has not been good for the World Juniors. The games I have been at, except for the US games, have been not good.

Seems odd to call yourself that when one of the biggest tournaments in the World is so sparsely attended. (exception being the USA games of course)  Cannot argue with the number of high school players that lace 'em up every year.

[tnt]

On 1/3/2026 at 1:48 PM, tnt said:

Do they have ice time stats for Team USA for the tournament?

Hagens led the forwards in playing time, followed by Ziemer and Mooney.  No surprise that Kleber and Osburn led ice time for the defense, although I’m sure Hutson would have challenged if he didn’t get hurt.