2008 IIHF World Championship

[Galactus]

http://www.iihf.com/uploads/pics/2008WM.jpg

Group A (Quebec):

Sweden
Switzerland
Belarus
France

Group B (Halifax):

Canada
USA
Latvia
Slovenia

Group C (Halifax):

Finland
Slovakia
Germany
Norway

Group D (Quebec):

Czech Republic
Russia
Denmark
Italy

[Galactus]

Canada 2008 teams go retro
Fans in Halifax and Quebec City will see unique vintage jerseys

ZURICH – Not only the medals will have a retro look. For the first time in the history of the IIHF World Championship, teams will appear in retro jerseys in Canada. This as a tribute to the 100 Year Anniversary of the IIHF.

15 teams will play one preliminary round game with jerseys from past time. Each nation selected the sweaters from what they considered to be a significant year for their national team programs. Only exception is Belarus, which didn’t have a national team before its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

See in which game your team will play dressed in the vintage outfit.


Canada: The split-leaf jersey from 1976 commemorates the inaugural Canada Cup that year, one of international hockey's defining moments. Not surprisingly, it was one of the years the tournament was won by the Canadians. Game: CAN-USA, May 6, 16:30.


Czech Republic: The Czechs are honouring the great Czechoslovakian post-war teams that won World Championship gold in 1947 and 1949 with this retro jersey. And also their players, which were sentenced for alleged treason one year later by the authorities. Game: CZE-ITA, May 6, 19:00.



Denmark: After their tough first World Championship in 1949 including a 0-47 disaster against Canada, Denmark rejoined the program in the ‘60s with this jersey of 1968 and more success. Game: DEN-CZE, May 2, 13:00.



Finland: This is how the Finns were dressed as they hosted the World Championship in 1965, in Tampere, the first time ever. Finland became a top team some years later but the lion has remained. Game: FIN-NOR, May 5, 16:30.



France: The rooster is a proud and noble animal in France as they pay homage to the national animal with their 1968 jerseys. The French played the Olympic Games on home ice in Grenoble that year. Game: FRA-BLR, May 7, 19:00.



Germany: This jersey was worn in 1932 when Germany won Olympic bronze in Lake Placid and also hosted the last separate European Championship in Berlin the same year. Game: GER-FIN, May 3, 16:30.



Italy: Looks like hockey jerseys from 1933 were the inspiration for the Italian men’s football team, who wear a very similar model today. In Prague, they won the first-ever World Championship game (against Romania) that year. Game: ITA-DEN, May 4, 19:00.



Latvia: Before the Soviet times, independent Latvia introduced this V-neck jersey in international hockey. Latvia participated in World Championships 1933-1939 during this time before the 1993 comeback. Game: LAT-CAN, May 4, 16:30.



Norway: Many Scandinavian club teams went for the New York Rangers look in the mid-60s, so did the Norwegian national squad. Game: NOR-GER, May 7, 20:15.



Russia: The Russians had many successful years to choose from but went for their 1956 Soviet roots when the team won its first Olympic gold in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Just the old CCCP is replaced with Rossiya. Game: RUS-ITA, May 2, 19:00.



Slovakia: This 1946 jersey reflects the era when Slovakia had an independent hockey program within Czechoslovakia. Nevertheless, the Slovaks had to wait until the 1994 Olympics to see their team playing in a top event. Game: SVK-GER, May 5, 20:15.



Slovenia: The jersey goes back to the ‘60s, the most successful time of the Yugoslavian national team, which was dominated by Slovenes. The 1966 World Championship took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. Game: SLO-LAT, May 6, 20:15.



Sweden: Some things never change, like the three crowns on the Swedish jersey, shown here in 1957 when the team won World Championship gold in Moscow. It was the second gold after 1953 for Tre Kronor. Game: SWE-SUI, May 7, 13:00.



Switzerland: The Swiss chose this classic uniform from an era when they were the best team in Europe (1926) and won the Olympic bronze (1928) on home ice in St. Moritz. It will be the oldest outfit of the vintage jersey program. Game: SUI-FRA, May 3, 19:00.



United States: It was the first miracle on ice – and the often forgotten one – when the Americans won the Olympic gold on home ice in 1960. The Americans couldn’t have chosen a better event than the Hollywood-making Lake Placid legend. Game: USA-LAT, May 2, 20:15.

[Themanofbat]

Aaahhh... the Squaw Valley CA 1960 Olympics... where USA won the Gold Medal...

It IS the forgotten miracle on ice... :csad:

[Alex The Great]

Canada will win again as always :up:

[Galactus]

I wish we could have the Swedish players in Detroit in the world championship...

[Galactus]

Denmark - Czech Republic 2 - 5
Canada - Slovenia 5 - 1
Russia - Italy 7 - 1
USA - Latvia 4 - 0

1 CAN 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 5 : 1
2 USA 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 4 : 0
3 SLO 1 0 0 0 1 0 -4 1 : 5
4 LAT 1 0 0 0 1 0 -4 0 : 4

1 RUS 1 1 0 0 0 3 6 7 : 1
2 CZE 1 1 0 0 0 3 3 5 : 2
3 DEN 1 0 0 0 1 0 -3 2 : 5
4 ITA 1 0 0 0 1 0 -6 1 : 7

[Galactus]

Belarus - Sweden 5 - 6 (the "Belarus Nightmare part 2" almost became a reality...)
Germany - Finland 1 - 5
Switzerland - France 4 - 1
Slovakia - Norway 5 - 1

1 SUI 1 1 0 0 0 3 3 4 : 1
2 SWE 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 6 : 5
3 BLR 1 0 0 0 1 0 -1 5 : 6
4 FRA 1 0 0 0 1 0 -3 1 : 4

1 FIN 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 5 : 1
1 SVK 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 5 : 1
3 GER 1 0 0 0 1 0 -4 1 : 5
3 NOR 1 0 0 0 1 0 -4 1 : 5

[Galactus]

Czech Republic - Russia 4 - 5
Latvia - Canada 0 - 7
Italy - Denmark 2 - 6
USA - Slovenia 5 - 1

1 CAN 2 2 0 0 0 6 11 12 : 1
2 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 8 9 : 1
3 SLO 2 0 0 0 2 0 -8 2 : 10
4 LAT 2 0 0 0 2 0 -11 0 : 11

1 RUS 2 1 1 0 0 5 7 12 : 5
2 CZE 2 1 0 1 0 4 2 9 : 7
3 DEN 2 1 0 0 1 3 1 8 : 7
4 ITA 2 0 0 0 2 0 -10 3 : 13

[Galactus]

Switzerland - Belarus 2 - 1
Finland - Norway 3 - 2
Sweden - France 9 - 0
Slovakia - Germany 2 - 4

1 SWE 2 2 0 0 0 6 10 15 : 5
2 SUI 2 2 0 0 0 6 4 6 : 2
3 BLR 2 0 0 0 2 0 -2 6 : 8
4 FRA 2 0 0 0 2 0 -12 1 : 13

1 FIN 2 1 1 0 0 5 5 8 : 3
2 GER 2 1 0 0 1 3 -2 5 : 7
3 SVK 2 1 0 0 1 3 2 7 : 5
4 NOR 2 0 0 1 1 1 -5 3 : 8

[Galactus]

Russia - Denmark 4 - 1
Canada - USA 5 - 4
Czech Republic - Italy 7 - 2
Slovenia - Latvia 0 - 3
1 CAN 3 3 0 0 0 9 12 17 : 5
2 USA 3 2 0 0 1 6 7 13 : 6
3 LAT 3 1 0 0 2 3 -8 3 : 11
4 SLO 3 0 0 0 3 0 -11 2 : 13

1 RUS 3 2 1 0 0 8 10 16 : 6
2 CZE 3 2 0 1 0 7 7 16 : 9
3 DEN 3 1 0 0 2 3 -2 9 : 11
4 ITA 3 0 0 0 3 0 -15 5 : 20

[Shifty]

Canada is looking good for 2010, as long as Gretzky isn't the GM.

[Galactus]

Sweden - Switzerland 2 - 4 :(
Finland - Slovakia 3 - 2
France - Belarus 1 - 3
Norway - Germany 3 - 2

1 SUI 3 3 0 0 0 9 6 10 : 4
2 SWE 3 2 0 0 1 6 8 17 : 9
3 BLR 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 9 : 9
4 FRA 3 0 0 0 3 0 -14 2 : 16

1 FIN 3 2 1 0 0 8 6 11 : 5
2 NOR 3 1 0 1 1 4 -4 6 : 10
3 GER 3 1 0 0 2 3 -3 7 : 10
4 SVK 3 1 0 0 2 3 1 9 : 8

Wow, Slovakia will have to play in the relegation round.

1 SUI 2 2 0 0 0 6 3 6 : 3
2 RUS 2 1 1 0 0 5 4 9 : 5
3 CZE 2 1 0 1 0 4 2 9 : 7
4 SWE 2 1 0 0 1 3 -1 8 : 9
5 BLR 2 0 0 0 2 0 -2 6 : 8
6 DEN 2 0 0 0 2 0 -6 3 : 9

1 CAN 2 2 0 0 0 6 8 12 : 4
2 FIN 2 1 1 0 0 5 5 8 : 3
3 NOR 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 5 : 5
4 USA 2 1 0 0 1 3 3 8 : 5
5 GER 2 0 0 0 2 0 -5 3 : 8
6 LAT 2 0 0 0 2 0 -11 0 : 11

[Galactus]

Sweden - Denmark 8 - 1
Canada - Norway 2 - 1
Switzerland - Czech Republic 0 - 5
USA - Germany 6 - 4

1 CZE 3 2 0 1 0 7 7 14 : 7
2 SUI 3 2 0 0 1 6 -2 6 : 8
3 SWE 3 2 0 0 1 6 6 16 : 10
4 RUS 2 1 1 0 0 5 4 9 : 5
5 BLR 2 0 0 0 2 0 -2 6 : 8
6 DEN 3 0 0 0 3 0 -13 4 : 17

1 CAN 3 3 0 0 0 9 9 14 : 5
2 USA 3 2 0 0 1 6 5 14 : 9
3 FIN 2 1 1 0 0 5 5 8 : 3
4 NOR 3 1 0 1 1 4 -1 6 : 7
5 LAT 2 0 0 0 2 0 -11 0 : 11
6 GER 3 0 0 0 3 0 -7 7 : 14

[Galactus]

Finland - Latvia 2 - 1
Russia - Belarus 4 - 3

1 RUS 3 1 2 0 0 7 5 13 : 8
2 CZE 3 2 0 1 0 7 7 14 : 7
3 SUI 3 2 0 0 1 6 -2 6 : 8
4 SWE 3 2 0 0 1 6 6 16 : 10
5 BLR 3 0 0 1 2 1 -3 9 : 12
6 DEN 3 0 0 0 3 0 -13 4 : 17

1 CAN 3 3 0 0 0 9 9 14 : 5
2 FIN 3 2 1 0 0 8 6 10 : 4
3 USA 3 2 0 0 1 6 5 14 : 9
4 NOR 3 1 0 1 1 4 -1 6 : 7
5 GER 3 0 0 0 3 0 -7 7 : 14
6 LAT 3 0 0 0 3 0 -12 1 : 13

Slovenia - Slovakia 1 - 5
France - Italy 3 - 2

[Galactus]

Czech Republic - Belarus 3 - 2
Germany - Canada 1 - 10
Russia - Sweden 3 - 2

1 RUS 4 2 2 0 0 10 6 16 : 10
2 CZE 4 2 1 1 0 9 8 17 : 9
3 SUI 3 2 0 0 1 6 -2 6 : 8
4 SWE 4 2 0 0 2 6 5 18 : 13
5 BLR 4 0 0 2 2 2 -4 11 : 15
6 DEN 3 0 0 0 3 0 -13 4 : 17

1 CAN 4 4 0 0 0 12 18 24 : 6
2 FIN 3 2 1 0 0 8 6 10 : 4
3 USA 3 2 0 0 1 6 5 14 : 9
4 NOR 3 1 0 1 1 4 -1 6 : 7
5 LAT 3 0 0 0 3 0 -12 1 : 13
6 GER 4 0 0 0 4 0 -16 8 : 24

Slovakia - Slovenia 4 - 3
Italy - France 4 - 6

[Galactus]

Dissecting the home ice curse
Column: Will the Canadian hosts buck the losing trend?


QUEBEC CITY – Hockey players are fond of taking it one game at a time, and proclaiming that history doesn’t mean anything. But when no host team has won an IIHF World Championship since the Soviets in 1986, that has to give Team Canada pause.

Realistically, though, the “home ice curse” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

In 10 of the 21 World Championships completed since 1986, the hosts were not first-class hockey powers and had no legitimate chance of going all the way: 1987 (Austria), 1990 (Switzerland), 1993 (Germany), 1994 (Italy), 1996 (Austria), 1998 (Switzerland), 1999 (Norway), 2001 (Germany), 2005 (Austria), and 2006 (Latvia).

On top of that, the IIHF did not stage World Championships in Olympic years in the 1980’s, meaning that nobody had a title shot in 1988 when the Soviets won gold at the Winter Games in Calgary.

Also, when exactly does a curse become a curse? The mere fact that Sweden didn’t prevail in 1989 or Finland in 1991, three or five after Viktor Tikhonov’s troops took it all in Moscow, would hardly have been considered a big shock at the time.

The curse still isn’t up there with King Tut’s tomb, or even the Muldoon Curse (a malediction supposedly pronounced by fired Chicago coach Pete Muldoon that “prevented” the Blackhawks from winning their division from 1927 to 1967--it was actually all invented by a sportswriter).

History suggests that if Canada can make it through the quarter-final, their chances of breaking the curse are very good. Under the format in place since 2000, the Canadians have only lost twice in the semis (2000 and 2006) after winning in the quarters, while QF success spurred them on to the gold medal game on four occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007), three of them victorious (2005 being the exception, when they lost to the Czechs).

But that said, some failures on home ice under pressure from fans, friends, family, and media really stand out. Here are the five most disappointing host team performances in the history of the curse:

1995: Swedes lose to Finns in Stockholm

It wasn’t just the fact that Sweden failed to win gold at Stockholm’s Globen Arena. It was the way their defeat transpired.

Tre Kronor seemed like a team of destiny after Daniel Alfredsson’s overtime goal ousted the defending champion Canadians in the semi-finals. But the Swedes flopped versus their hockey archrival, Finland, in the final. Led by the “Tupu, Hupu, Lupu” line of Jere Lehtinen, Saku Koivu, and Ville Peltonen, plus a Swedish coach in Curt Lindstrom, the Finns marched to a 4-1 win. To cap off the humiliation, “Den Glider In”, the bouncy official tournament song, was gleefully co-opted by blue-and-white supporters.

2000: The collapse in St. Petersburg

On paper, Russia’s roster for the first World Championship it had hosted since 1986 looked virtually unbeatable. With stars like Pavel Bure, Sergei Gonchar, Alexei Yashin, Alexei Zhamnov, and Valeri Kamensky, the host team was expected to run roughshod over its opponents.

Yet after an 8-1 tournament-opening victory over France, everything went downhill. To the horror of Russian fans, journalists, and players, the home side inexplicably lost four straight games to the USA, Switzerland, Latvia, and Belarus before registering a meaningless win over Sweden to end their tournament. Finishing 11th was the worst result in Russian hockey history. It was a tough way to inaugurate the new arena in St. Petersburg built for the tournament.

2003: The Helsinki “katastrofi”

When the host Finns drew Sweden in the quarter-finals, the potential for disaster was there from the get-go. So many times Tre Kronor had found ways to destroy Finnish hopes (like the 1992 and 1998 IIHF World Championship finals), Finland’s 1995 gold medal win in Stockholm notwithstanding.

When the game at Hartwall Arena started, it looked like the Finns, led by Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne, were finally ready to chase away the ghosts of the past. Just 6:44 into the second period, they were up 5-1 on the strength of a Selanne hat trick, and Swedish coach Hardy Nilsson had yanked Tommy Salo out of the nets. Happy times in Helsinki!

But then, faster than Paavo Nurmi, it all disintegrated. The Swedes stormed back with five straight goals, including P-J Axelsson’s winner with 4:54 left, and ousted arguably the most talented team Finland had ever sent to the Worlds. The word “katastrofi” made the headlines the following day.

2004: Czeching out early

In Prague, the Czechs came out looking not only to win gold for the first time since 2001, but also to razzle-dazzle their fans. They had the requisite big-name roster: Jagr, Havlat, Rucinsky, Prospal, Straka, Hamrlik. They had a perfect record with six straight wins heading into the quarter-finals. What they didn’t have was an answer for the brilliant dekes of American defenceman Andy Roach, who beat Tomas Vokoun in the shootout for a 3-2 USA win. The Czechs would turn the tables on the Americans in the very same quarter-final shootout situation in Vienna the following year, and go on to win gold. But you can bet they would rather have done it on home ice.

2007: Moscow’s reign ends

The Russian offence at last year’s tournament was ridiculously dynamic, starting with the AK Bars Kazan troika of Alexei Morozov, Sergei Zinoviev, and Danis Zaripov, and continuing with superstars like Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin. After dispatching the Czechs 4-0 in the quarter-finals, Russia’s perfect record at World Championships held in Moscow (1957, 1973, 1979, 1986) was intact. But when Mikko Koivu scored the 2-1OT winner for the Finns in the semi-finals after a failed pokecheck by goalie Alexander Eremenko, another glorious epoch in Russian hockey history came to an end. As Team Canada went on to capture gold, the Russians were left to dream of revenge on Canadian ice

[Galactus]

Norway - Latvia 1 - 4
Denmark - Switzerland 2 - 7
Finland - USA 3 - 2
Sweden - Czech Republic 5 - 3

1 RUS 4 2 2 0 0 10 6 16 : 10
2 SUI 4 3 0 0 1 9 3 13 : 10
3 SWE 5 3 0 0 2 9 7 23 : 16
4 CZE 5 2 1 1 1 9 6 20 : 14
5 BLR 4 0 0 2 2 2 -4 11 : 15
6 DEN 4 0 0 0 4 0 -18 6 : 24

1 CAN 4 4 0 0 0 12 18 24 : 6
2 FIN 4 3 1 0 0 11 7 13 : 6
3 USA 4 2 0 0 2 6 4 16 : 12
4 NOR 4 1 0 1 2 4 -4 7 : 11
5 LAT 4 1 0 0 3 3 -9 5 : 14
6 GER 4 0 0 0 4 0 -16 8 : 24

[Themanofbat]

I wonder what would have happened in the Fin/USA game if that goal that didn't go in never counted?

:huh: :huh: :huh:

I like how the IIHF said afterwards that the puck never went in the net and the goal judge will not work any more games after that one...

I'd be pissed if I were the Americans...

[Galactus]

USA - Norway 9 - 1
Switzerland - Russia 3 - 5
Canada - Finland 6 - 3
Belarus - Denmark 2 - 3
Latvia - Germany 3 - 5

1 RUS 5 3 2 0 0 13 8 21 : 13
2 CZE 5 2 1 1 1 9 6 20 : 14
3 SWE 5 3 0 0 2 9 7 23 : 16
4 SUI 5 3 0 0 2 9 1 16 : 15
5 BLR 5 0 0 3 2 3 -5 13 : 18
6 DEN 5 0 1 0 4 2 -17 9 : 26

1 CAN 5 5 0 0 0 15 21 30 : 9
2 FIN 5 3 1 0 1 11 4 16 : 12
3 USA 5 3 0 0 2 9 12 25 : 13
4 NOR 5 1 0 1 3 4 -12 8 : 20
5 GER 5 1 0 0 4 3 -14 13 : 27
6 LAT 5 1 0 0 4 3 -11 8 : 19

[Galactus]

Quarter-final matchups set
First Czechs vs. Swedes in Quebec, and Norway-Canada in Halifax


After the conclusion of the Qualifying Round at the 2008 IIHF World Championship, the matchups and times for the quarter-finals have been set for Wednesday, May 14.

All times are local.

Quebec City

Game 49: Czech Republic-Sweden, 13:00

Game 51: Russia-Switzerland, 19:15

Halifax

Game 50: Norway-Canada, 16:30

Game 52: USA-Finland, 20:15

For the semi-finals in Quebec City, the winner of CZE-SWE will play the winner of NOR-CAN, and the winner of RUS-SUI will play the winner of USA-FIN.

If Canada qualifies for the semi-finals, it will play the late game on Friday, May 16 (17:00). The early semi-final will take place at 13:00.

[Alex The Great]

Canada will win as always....

[Galactus]

QUEBEC CITY – In one sense, the quarter-finals are the most nerve-racking tests you can face at an IIHF World Championship.

The elimination format is unforgiving. You can put together a perfect record - as the Czechs did in 2004 with six straight wins - and then have it all turn into a disaster with one bad game in the quarter-finals. (For the Czechs that year, it was a shootout loss to the USA.)

At least if you lose in the semi-finals, you still have a shot at a consolation prize in the bronze medal. And anyway, by the time you reach that game, you’ve hit your stride. You’re better prepared mentally for what it takes to ensure success in 60 (or more) minutes.

Now, going by history, who knows how to make it out of the final eight?

Since the current format was introduced in 2000, here’s how each nation that has participated in the quarter-finals has fared year by year (W=win, L=loss, DNQ=did not qualify):

Sweden = L, W, W, W, W, W, W, W (7 W, 1 L)
Canada = W, L, L, W, W, W, W, W (6 W, 2 L)
Czech Republic = W, W, L, W, L, W, W, L (5 W, 3 L)
Finland = W, W, W, L, L, L, W, W (5 W, 3 L)
Slovakia = W, L, W, W, W, L, L, L (4 W, 4 L)
Russia = DNQ, L, W, L, DNQ, W, L, W (3 W, 3 L, 2 DNQ)
USA = L, W, L, DNQ, W, L, L, L (2 W, 5 L, 1 DNQ)
Switzerland = L, DNQ, DNQ, L, L, L, DNQ, L (4 L, 3 DNQ)
Germany = DNQ, L, L, L, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ (3 L, 5 DNQ)
Latvia = L, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, L, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ (2 L, 6 DNQ)
Belarus = DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, L, DNQ (1 L, 7 DNQ)
Norway = DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ (8 DNQ)

And here are the medal results for 2000 to 2007 (G=gold, S=silver, B=bronze):

Sweden = 1 G, 2 S, 2 B (5 total)
Canada = 3 G, 1 S, 0 B (4 total)
Czech Republic = 3 G, 1 S, 0 B (4 total)
Finland = 0 G, 2 S, 2 B (4 total)
Slovakia = 1 G, 1 S, 1 B (3 total)
Russia = 0 G, 1 S, 2 B (3 total)
USA = 0 G, 0 S, 1 B (1 total)
Belarus = 0 G, 0 S, 0 B (0 total)
Germany = 0 G, 0 S, 0 B (0 total)
Latvia = 0 G, 0 S, 0 B (0 total)
Switzerland = 0 G, 0 S, 0 B (0 total)

So what stands out?

Sweden and Canada are easily the most consistent quarter-final winners, with current streaks of seven and five wins apiece.

Among “Big Seven” nations, the USA has the worst losing streak at three straight losses. Slovakia’s three-loss streak has come to an end this year in the wrong way, since it won’t even be in the quarter-finals.

All three times the Russians have made it through the quarter-finals, they’ve come away with a medal. It just hasn’t been the shade they wanted.

Russia is also the most inconsistent team when it comes to quarter-finals, because, unlike any of the other nations listed, it has never done the same thing two years in a row (win, lose, or not qualify).

Among non-“Big Seven” nations, Switzerland has racked up almost as many quarter-finals appearances (5) as all the other ones put together (6).

[Themanofbat]

Both Canada and Sweden win their quarterfinal games.... they'll meet in the semifinal.

[Galactus]

Both Canada and Sweden win their quarterfinal games.... they'll meet in the semifinal.

Oh, how nice it would be to beat the Canadians on their home ice... :)

Czech Republic - Sweden 2 - 3
Norway - Canada 2 - 8
Russia - Switzerland 6 - 0
USA - Finland 2 - 3

[Themanofbat]

Oh, how nice it would be to beat the Canadians on their home ice... :)

Czech Republic - Sweden 2 - 3
Norway - Canada 2 - 8
Russia - Switzerland 6 - 0
USA - Finland 2 - 3

Ya never know...

All four teams have a legit chance of winning the title...

:yay:

[Themanofbat]

3-3 midway through the gane...

:csad:

[Norman Osborn]

5- 3 Canada 3rd period

[Norman Osborn]

Canada vs Russia for the gold this Sunday...wooooo.......awesome game Sweden!

[Themanofbat]

Canada Vs Russia for the Gold...

Sweden Vs Finland for Bronze...

:yay:

[Alex The Great]

Canada vs Russia For the Gold?!!?

*runs for cover*

[Galactus]

Canada Vs Russia for the Gold...

Sweden Vs Finland for Bronze...

:yay:

:(

Next year...

[Shifty]

:(

Next year...

Ouch, 4-0 loss to Finland.

[Galactus]

Ouch, 4-0 loss to Finland.

Can't say I'm surprised...

[Shifty]

Dissecting the home ice curse
Column: Will the Canadian hosts buck the losing trend?



2007: Moscow’s reign ends

The Russian offence at last year’s tournament was ridiculously dynamic, starting with the AK Bars Kazan troika of Alexei Morozov, Sergei Zinoviev, and Danis Zaripov, and continuing with superstars like Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin. After dispatching the Czechs 4-0 in the quarter-finals, Russia’s perfect record at World Championships held in Moscow (1957, 1973, 1979, 1986) was intact. But when Mikko Koivu scored the 2-1OT winner for the Finns in the semi-finals after a failed pokecheck by goalie Alexander Eremenko, another glorious epoch in Russian hockey history came to an end. As Team Canada went on to capture gold, the Russians were left to dream of revenge on Canadian ice


The curse lives on! :csad:

Just makes the next gold medal win sweeter.

[Themanofbat]

Good game... :yay:

Just hard to absorb as a Canuck...

:csad:

[Galactus]

The curse lives on! :csad:

Just makes the next gold medal win sweeter.

Yeah, it's funny how hard it is for home nations to win. Congratulations to Russia for the first gold medal in fifteen years.

[Galactus]

Canada tops 2008 World Ranking
Groups for Switzerland 2009 and Vancouver 2010 determined

QUEBEC CITY – Despite losing the 2008 IIHF World Championship final to Russia, Canada grabbed first place in the 2008 IIHF World Ranking by overtaking Sweden. World Champion Russia improved from fifth to second place, while Sweden is third and Finland fourth.

The Czech Republic lost another place in the ranking, which reflects the performances at the World Championships of the last four years and the 2006 Olympics, after having missed the semis again. The Czechs are now ranked fifth. In addition, their neighbours in Slovakia are ranked worse after surprisingly having failed to make the qualifying round of the best 12 nations this year. Slovakia went from sixth to eighth place and was overtaken by the United States and Switzerland. Belarus is the ninth of the directly qualified teams for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. The three remaining Olympic spots will be determined by qualification tournaments November 6-9, 2008, and February 5-8, 2009. The participating teams and the tournament venues will be announced later.

The groups for the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament in Vancouver, Canada, February 16-28, 2010:

Group A: Canada, United States, Switzerland, Qualifier 3.
Group B: Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Qualifier 2.
Group C: Sweden, Finland, Belarus, Qualifier 1.

As well, the groups for the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland (April 24 to May 10, 2009) are determined. The games will be played in the PostFinance Arena of Berne, which will have a capacity of 10,000 spectators, and the 6,000-capacity Schluefweg in Zurich-Kloten. The organizing committee also announced that a few standing room tickets will be offered and ticket holders can use the public transportation system in the whole country for free. Unlike the 2008 Worlds, the quarterfinals will be played with cross-over between the qualification round groups thanks to the shorter distance between the venues, and the relegated teams will be determined by a round-robin relegation round, same as before this year’s World Championship.

The groups for the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland:

Group A: Canada, Slovakia, Belarus, Hungary.
Group B: Russia, Switzerland, Germany, France.
Group C: Sweden, United States, Latvia, Austria.
Group D: Finland, Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark.

Groups A and D will be played in Zurich-Kloten, Groups B and C in Berne.

[Galactus]

Fasel: "We'll be back!"
IIHF president René Fasel wants to return to Canada – now it's up to Hockey Canada to apply.


QUEBEC CITY – The message from IIHF president René Fasel was loud and clear: “We’ll be back,” he said. “It’s a matter of time. The tournament was a success with the fans, with television audiences, and with the IIHF.”

Indeed, several of the pre-tournament concerns caused barely a ripple of consternation once the first puck was dropped. The smaller ice of Halifax’s Metro Centre and Quebec City’s Le Colisee was a non-issue. The co-hosting of the tournament by two cities proved beneficial to hockey fans in Canada and didn’t cause a problem with European TV audiences.

Attendance was strong, particularly in Halifax where even games involving lower-ranked teams drew near sellout crowds. Team Canada was well supported despite playing all of its games in the afternoon, most on weekdays. In all, these were the third-best attended World Championship ever with 477,040 spectators (average: 8834). Not bad for a first time hosting. Only the World Championships in the Czech Republic, 2004, and Finland, 1997, were better attended.

The World Championship has been allocated through to 2013, and next season, the 2014 tournament will be awarded. After that, Canada is free to apply again, and Fasel is hopeful Hockey Canada will act sooner rather than later. “It will be several years before we can come back, but I hope Bob [Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada] applies for 2015 or soon after,” Fasel said enthusiastically.

Of course, the crowning glory to the event was the gold-medal game. Perhaps one of the finest championship games the IIHF has ever witnessed, the Canada-Russia showdown proved to fans across Canada just how exciting the international game is, even when in competition for viewers with the NHL.

“Maybe this was our biggest challenge,” Fasel admitted, “but I think the scheduling worked well and the teams played the kind of hockey that will bring fans to the game.” Of course, this year was a fairly good scenario for the IIHF because the only Canadian team in the playoffs when the tournament started was Montreal, and the Habs’s playoff ride did not last long

[Shifty]

Fasel: "We'll be back!"
IIHF president René Fasel wants to return to Canada – now it's up to Hockey Canada to apply.


QUEBEC CITY – The message from IIHF president René Fasel was loud and clear: “We’ll be back,” he said. “It’s a matter of time. The tournament was a success with the fans, with television audiences, and with the IIHF.”

Indeed, several of the pre-tournament concerns caused barely a ripple of consternation once the first puck was dropped. The smaller ice of Halifax’s Metro Centre and Quebec City’s Le Colisee was a non-issue. The co-hosting of the tournament by two cities proved beneficial to hockey fans in Canada and didn’t cause a problem with European TV audiences.

Attendance was strong, particularly in Halifax where even games involving lower-ranked teams drew near sellout crowds. Team Canada was well supported despite playing all of its games in the afternoon, most on weekdays. In all, these were the third-best attended World Championship ever with 477,040 spectators (average: 8834). Not bad for a first time hosting. Only the World Championships in the Czech Republic, 2004, and Finland, 1997, were better attended.

The World Championship has been allocated through to 2013, and next season, the 2014 tournament will be awarded. After that, Canada is free to apply again, and Fasel is hopeful Hockey Canada will act sooner rather than later. “It will be several years before we can come back, but I hope Bob [Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada] applies for 2015 or soon after,” Fasel said enthusiastically.

Of course, the crowning glory to the event was the gold-medal game. Perhaps one of the finest championship games the IIHF has ever witnessed, the Canada-Russia showdown proved to fans across Canada just how exciting the international game is, even when in competition for viewers with the NHL.

“Maybe this was our biggest challenge,” Fasel admitted, “but I think the scheduling worked well and the teams played the kind of hockey that will bring fans to the game.” Of course, this year was a fairly good scenario for the IIHF because the only Canadian team in the playoffs when the tournament started was Montreal, and the Habs’s playoff ride did not last long

Winnipeg 2015! We can have international ice surface if needed.