2009 IIHF World U20 Championship

[Galactus]

http://www.iihf.com/typo3temp/pics/617661e3d8.jpg

Group A

Canada
Czech Republic
Germany
Kazakhstan
USA

Group B

Sweden
Finland
Russia
Latvia
Slovakia

[ih8nyy]

I wish they would televise this tourney in the States.

[Shifty]

I wish they would televise this tourney in the States.

The playoff games will be streamed online as well as all the Canadian ones (Canada vs USA on Dec.31).

And they may put some of the American games online after they've been played.

You won't find a better site than this:

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/

John Tavares scores a amazing goal.
http://watch.tsn.ca/international-hockey/clip124202#clip124202

[Themanofbat]

Man, this is always one of the BEST international tournaments ever... :up:

:yay:

[ih8nyy]

The playoff games will be streamed online as well as all the Canadian ones (Canada vs USA on Dec.31).

And they may put some of the American games online after they've been played.

You won't find a better site than this:

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/

John Tavares scores a amazing goal.
http://watch.tsn.ca/international-hockey/clip124202#clip124202

I hope you have the best Boxing Day EVER!

[Shifty]

I hope you have the best Boxing Day EVER!

Good day so far but the best was probably 2004 when the best Canadian junior team played in North Dakota.

[Shifty]

I wish they would televise this tourney in the States.

http://www.nhlnetwork.com/en_US/tvListings

NHL Network is!

[Galactus]

Latvia - Russia 1 - 4
Germany - USA 2 - 8
Finland - Sweden 1 - 3
Canada - Czech Republic 8 - 1

What has happened with the Czechs? :confused:
Ten years ago they won everything you could win. The olympics and both senior and junior world championship.

[Shifty]

Its just their crappy part of the cycle I guess.

It was ten years ago that Canada finished 8th at the World Juniors, finished 4th at Nagano and 2nd in the World Cup in '96.

Kazakhstan finished 7th despite letting in 51 goals versus Canada's 18. They were pretty close to being knocked out of the tournament, meaning there would be no Team Canada when it was hosted in Canada.

[Galactus]

Slovakia - Latvia 7 - 2
Kazakhstan - Germany 0 - 9

1 CAN 1 1 0 0 0 3 7 8 : 1
2 USA 1 1 0 0 0 3 6 8 : 2
3 GER 2 1 0 0 1 3 3 11 : 8
4 CZE 1 0 0 0 1 0 -7 1 : 8
5 KAZ 1 0 0 0 1 0 -9 0 : 9

1 SVK 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 7 : 2
2 RUS 1 1 0 0 0 3 3 4 : 1
3 SWE 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 3 : 1
4 FIN 1 0 0 0 1 0 -2 1 : 3
5 LAT 2 0 0 0 2 0 -8 3 : 11

[Shifty]

Looks like Canada is on its way to topping Germany's 9-0 effort against Kazakhtan...

This is just sad and boring.

[Galactus]

Russia - Finland 5 - 2
Kazakhstan - Canada 0 - 15
Sweden - Slovakia 3 - 1
USA - Czech Republic 4 - 3

1 CAN 2 2 0 0 0 6 22 23 : 1
2 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 7 12 : 5
3 GER 2 1 0 0 1 3 3 11 : 8
4 CZE 2 0 0 0 2 0 -8 4 : 12
5 KAZ 2 0 0 0 2 0 -24 0 : 24

1 RUS 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 9 : 3
2 SWE 2 2 0 0 0 6 4 6 : 2
3 SVK 2 1 0 0 1 3 3 8 : 5
4 FIN 2 0 0 0 2 0 -5 3 : 8
5 LAT 2 0 0 0 2 0 -8 3 : 11

[Galactus]

Latvia - Sweden 1 - 10
Germany - Canada 1 - 5

1 CAN 3 3 0 0 0 9 26 28 : 2
2 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 7 12 : 5
3 GER 3 1 0 0 2 3 -1 12 : 13
4 CZE 2 0 0 0 2 0 -8 4 : 12
5 KAZ 2 0 0 0 2 0 -24 0 : 24

1 SWE 3 3 0 0 0 9 13 16 : 3
2 RUS 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 9 : 3
3 SVK 2 1 0 0 1 3 3 8 : 5
4 FIN 2 0 0 0 2 0 -5 3 : 8
5 LAT 3 0 0 0 3 0 -17 4 : 21

[Galactus]

To change or not to change?
COLUMN - Simply jumping into a new WJC format isn’t wise

30-12-08

OTTAWA – There’s nothing quite like a 15-0 game to get the dialogue started about tournament format changes. Around Canada’s 10th goal versus Kazakhstan last night, talk turned from the game on the ice to the disparity between the two nations skating.

Admittedly, Kazakhstan and Canada are in two different leagues at this year’s U20 World Championship – and the game scores, especially in Scotiabank Place, have been lopsided to say the least. But this isn’t cause to jump at the first format change that makes sense only for this year’s championship.

Consider that it wasn’t so long ago that the Swedes were staving off relegation, and now look at them -- media darlings and medal contenders. Remember the USA’s struggles in the 90’s, or when the Czechs were winning medals? (And don't forget that Germany, a nation just promoted from Division I, gave Canada its stiffest test of the tournament to date on Monday night.) Junior hockey is cyclical – which is why prudence must be used when changing the format of the U18 or U20 championships.

The IIHF has formed a competition committee to create proposals to improve the current championship format, not only for the U20 but for all categories. As it stands, this season there will be seven different U20 championships played, from the top division down to Division III. Any change to the format impacts a lot of teams and must be weighed carefully. It must take into account, not just one season’s performance at any given junior event, but the entire development progress of a nation.

With that in mind, below are the top four format changes that have been bantered around in the media, locker rooms and other hockey circles, along with the positives and the negatives of each proposal. It will take time before the competition committee presents its proposals, but just like the nations at this IIHF World Junior Championship, the IIHF hopes to develop and evolve to keep its championships at the highest possible level for the participants and fans.

Proposal: Cut the championship to eight teams and drop the two “weak links.”

Reasoning: Only the elite should play at an elite event. There are seven top hockey nations (CAN, CZE, USA, SWE, FIN, SVK, RUS) in the world, and the eighth spot gives enough space for an additional junior program to develop.

Positive: By cutting the championship to eight teams, the event would become more compact with an atmosphere of “every game counts.” The tournament could go back to a big round-robin format (which would be less than ideal due to a lack of a medal game day), or be played in two four-team groups. Having eight teams would ensure that only the true elite nations are at the top level.

Negative: Having eight teams would lead to at least one elite team being relegated. With 10 teams it is already difficult for nations to stay at the elite level (examples include last year’s Swiss U20 team, or the Czech U18 team from two years ago). Cutting the tournament to eight teams would put every team in danger of dropping down a division, as seventh and eighth would be relegated. That would be goodbye Slovakia, Switzerland, and yes, even Sweden if you consider their performance around 2003-2004. Remember Canada’s eighth-place finish in 1998 after winning the gold medal the previous five years? There’s no free ride for any nation. Also a consideration is the lost revenue from fewer games for the host nation.

Likelihood: Very low

Proposal: Expand the tournament to 12 teams so it’s weak vs. weak and strong vs. strong.

Reasoning: Giving more teams the opportunity to play at a high level will improve the quality of junior hockey across the globe and give more nations stability and money for their junior development programs.

Positive: More teams would have a chance to play in an elite atmosphere, and with the right format would only meet teams of a different caliber, after earning the right to do so. Bubble teams, like Switzerland and Belarus, could build up their junior programs without the annual threat of relegation looming. More games would also mean more attendance and money for the host nation.

Negative: The format would get bogged down with too many teams and the event would lose its compact format. The disparity between the gold medalist and the 12th-place finisher has the potential to be huge. As we have seen this year, there is a big discrepancy just within 10 teams, so making the tournament bigger would not necessarily make things better. It would also make life harder on the organizers to juggle 12 teams, as 10 is already a handful. Finally, playing at a level where you really don’t belong does not enhance development.

Likelihood: Low

Proposal: Have the IIHF go back to a “vertical” championship format (only one team is relegated each year and Division I goes back to one group).

Reasoning: There is too much bouncing back and forth between teams that get stuck in the relegation/promotion cycle. This would give teams a chance to establish themselves at the level that suits their national programs best.

Positive: It worked well before, and the teams that were relegated and promoted were in most cases the teams that deserved either fate. The current format would also remain virtually unchanged, with the exception of the relegation round sending only the last-place finisher down. It would provide extra stability to the championship as there would only be one new team each year instead of two, and help minimize the ‘bouncing ball’ effect of teams like Germany that go back-and-forth between Division I and the top division every year.

Negative: It would become extremely difficult for a budding team to make its way up to the elite nations. Belarus can -- to a certain degree -- thank the two-team relegation system for its surge in junior hockey. The same can be said for Austria, which likely would not be returning to the top level next year if only one team was given a pass. It would also make most of the relegation process meaningless as teams could secure their place in the next year’s championship relatively early.

Likelihood: Medium

Proposal: Play a September qualification tournament between the bottom two teams from the top division and the top two teams from Division I.

Reasoning: The class that plays in any given IIHF World Junior Championship will be the class that qualified for the event and a better representation of the team for that specific year. It would help to eliminate the “weak class” phenomenon.

Positive: Junior hockey is very much a yearly phenomenon. Just ask any scout and they refer to countries as a “good class” or a “bad class.” The Kazakhstan class that earned the right to stay in the top division last year was good, while this year’s class is at the other end of the spectrum. Switzerland had to use a good class at the Division I level this year after a less-than-stellar class got the nation relegated last year. If the Swiss had played a round robin tournament against Latvia, Germany, and Norway in September with their current class, chances are they would be here in Ottawa. By playing the tournament at the start of the season, it means that the team is representative of what it should be like at the top division.

Negative: Name any hockey player that is in top shape in September. It puts a lot of pressure on the nations to get their teams ready to determine their fate at virtually the first puck drop of the season. It would also mean yet another international event in an already packed calendar, and could put a damper on some of the more traditional Four Nations’ exhibition events that countries play during the international breaks. It is also a tough proposal for the smaller nations to swallow. Imagine, you have earned your right to join the elite nations, only to be told you have to “double qualify” in order to punch your ticket -- it’s a bit of a slap in the face.

Likelihood: Medium

Finally, all the above proposals would provide more or less “band-aid” solutions and would not address the fundamental issue; namely, that several countries’ youth development programs need a new and more dedicated approach -- or simply more time to reach the level of the “Big Seven” countries. No development program has ever improved through championship format changes.

JENNY WIEDEKE

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of the International Ice Hockey Federation.

[Shifty]

I say combine the last two proposals.

Four teams play in a tournament in the fall, the winner is promoted to the Championship. Last place team is regulated to the qualifying tournament next year.

It doesn't make sense for 19 year old players from Kazakhstan qualify and then have them unable to play because they are too old.

[atropfunk]

Canada is really killing it... I hope USA knocks them down a peg.

[Galactus]

Russia - Slovakia 8 - 1
Czech Republic - Germany 6 - 0
Finland - Latvia 5 - 1
USA - Kazkhstan 12 - 0

1 CAN 3 3 0 0 0 9 26 28 : 2
2 USA 3 3 0 0 0 9 19 24 : 5
3 CZE 3 1 0 0 2 3 -2 10 : 12
4 GER 4 1 0 0 3 3 -7 12 : 19
5 KAZ 3 0 0 0 3 0 -36 0 : 36

1 RUS 3 3 0 0 0 9 13 17 : 4
2 SWE 3 3 0 0 0 9 13 16 : 3
3 FIN 3 1 0 0 2 3 -1 8 : 9
4 SVK 3 1 0 0 2 3 -4 9 : 13
5 LAT 4 0 0 0 4 0 -21 5 : 26

15 - 0, 12 - 0, 10 - 1... this tournament really has been a joke so far. A shame the hockey world isn't bigger

[Shifty]

Well it should get good today with USA/Canada and Sweden/Russia playing for first.

[Galactus]

Well it should get good today with USA/Canada and Sweden/Russia playing for first.

Yeah, you can say that it's today that the tournament really begins.

[Shifty]

Yeah, you can say that it's today that the tournament really begins.

Someone forgot to tell Russia...

They played better in the 2nd but ugh... they're off to the quarterfinals.

[Galactus]

Sweden - Russia 5 - 0
Czech Republic - Kazakhstan 10 - 2
Slovakia - Finland 3 - 2
Canada - USA 7 - 4

1 CAN 4 4 0 0 0 12 29 35 : 6
2 USA 4 3 0 0 1 9 16 28 : 12
3 CZE 4 2 0 0 2 6 6 20 : 14
4 GER 4 1 0 0 3 3 -7 12 : 19
5 KAZ 4 0 0 0 4 0 -44 2 : 46

1 SWE 4 4 0 0 0 12 18 21 : 3
2 RUS 4 3 0 0 1 9 8 17 : 9
3 SVK 4 1 1 0 2 5 -3 12 : 15
4 FIN 4 1 0 1 2 4 -2 10 : 12
5 LAT 4 0 0 0 4 0 -21 5 : 26

Look like we might get another Sweden - Canada battle in the final :)

[Shifty]

Look like we might get another Sweden - Canada battle in the final :)

Have to give the edge to Sweden.

Another classic between Canada/USA last night with the States up 3-0 and then Canada scored 4 straight. It got ugly, action on both ends. The 3rd wasn't that great and Tokarski's save on Wilson is one for the ages, a sure goal was somehow stolen.

[Galactus]

USA - Slovakia 3 - 5
Russia - Czech Republic 5 - 1

Slovakia beats USA? That was surprising. So the semifinals will be:

Sweden - Slovakia
Canada - Russia

[Shifty]

That Slovakia/USA game had to be seen to believed. And they played an even better game against Sweden but came up short. Pulling the goalie with more than 4 minutes left turned out to be a brilliant move as Slovakia scored but couldn't get the equalizer.

Canada vs Russia... never gets old.

[Shifty]

That Slovakia/USA game had to be seen to believed. And they played an even better game against Sweden but came up short. Pulling the goalie with more than 4 minutes left turned out to be a brilliant move as Slovakia scored but couldn't get the equalizer.

Canada vs Russia... never gets old.

[Themanofbat]

USA - Slovakia 3 - 5
Russia - Czech Republic 5 - 1

Slovakia beats USA? That was surprising. So the semifinals will be:

Sweden - Slovakia
Canada - Russia


Yeah... the Slovak goalie made a billion saves in that game...

:yay:

[Shifty]

Russia, Canada going to a shootout to determine who faces Sweden in the gold medal game.

[Themanofbat]

Man.... that was an incredible game with arguably the most fantastic finish since game 8 of the '72 Summit Series...

:wow: :wow: :wow:

[Galactus]

Man.... that was an incredible game with arguably the most fantastic finish since game 8 of the '72 Summit Series...

:wow: :wow: :wow:

I have some vague memories that the Canada Cup-finals in 1987 were quite spectacular too, with all three games ending with a 6 - 5 result.

[Alex The Great]

Go Canada!

[Themanofbat]

I have some vague memories that the Canada Cup-finals in 1987 were quite spectacular too, with all three games ending with a 6 - 5 result.

Yeah, those Canada Cup games were great, but with Canada being 5.4 seconds away from not making the Finals was a real nail biter...

I remember watching with about 11 seconds to go and they were all fighting for the puck along the left blue line, and thought there wasn't enough time to get the puck in front of the net, and then it just happened...

This kind of playoff magic seldom happens... especially when I watch the games.

[The Mighty Wind]

If Tokarski ****s the bed for a third game in a row I might just strangle him myself. I understand Quinn's reasoning for starting him yet again but I really would have gone with Pickard myself.

[The Mighty Wind]

Yeah, those Canada Cup games were great, but with Canada being 5.4 seconds away from not making the Finals was a real nail biter...

I remember watching with about 11 seconds to go and they were all fighting for the puck along the left blue line, and thought there wasn't enough time to get the puck in front of the net, and then it just happened...

This kind of playoff magic seldom happens... especially when I watch the games.
No kidding. The entire game I just kept thinking of the team as being invincible until it got down to about six minutes left and I realized that we were a single goal away from being knocked out of the tourney. When it went 5-4 I lost all hope. I thought we were goners for sure. There was that little bit of hope when the Russians missed the empty net and iced it, but like you as soon as it went to the left boards I thought it was over for sure. Then that little bit of hope when Tavares shot it, snuffed out when it looked like the Russian who blocked it had cradled it. All of a sudden Eberle streaks in, scores and **** if I didn't go nuts. I was hanging out with friends who aren't into hockey or sports really, and had insisted the game was on. The entire time they complained about watching it and then that goal was scored and all of us erupted. As my one friend said "So, this is why you watch sports."

[Shifty]

What happened to Sweden?!

I was hoping for another close game to follow the American and Russian games. Markstrom must have been Hasek's star student at the school of diving.

5 years of gold. Nothing beats the first back in North Dakota. An 8 year drought ended by Super Team Canada. And its back to Saskatchewan for more home ice support later this year.

[Themanofbat]

Good game by Canada... I thought they were a little slow in the first period, especially after two emotional games, and the Swedes tried hard to goad them into stupid penalties, which they didn't bite... and that's 5 in a row.

:word: :word: :word:

Next year's team will face a LOT of pressure to win six in front of the home crowd...
I bet those tickets will be sold out in minutes, if not already...

:yay:

[Shifty]

Good game by Canada... I thought they were a little slow in the first period, especially after two emotional games, and the Swedes tried hard to goad them into stupid penalties, which they didn't bite... and that's 5 in a row.

:word: :word: :word:

Next year's team will face a LOT of pressure to win six in front of the home crowd...
I bet those tickets will be sold out in minutes, if not already...

:yay:

They're package tickets right now, costing over $1000 for one seat for 21 and 29 game packages..

[Shifty]

GOLD MEDAL GAME SETS RATINGS RECORD FOR TSN

Team Canada's gold medal victory at the World Junior Hockey Championship last night has made ratings history for TSN as the most-watched broadcast of all time on the network.

Preliminary data revealed 3.7 million viewers watched Canada take its fifth consecutive gold medal in a 5-1 victory over Sweden. The audience surpassed TSN's previous audience high of 3.5 million viewers for the gold medal game at the 2003 World Junior Championship in Halifax.

The gold medal game on TSN is the most-watched program ever on a Canadian specialty channel and is also the most-watched program overall across all Canadian television this broadcast season. Audience levels for the game peaked at 4.7 million viewers at 9:58pm et, as Team Canada celebrated its victory in Ottawa.

With 602,000 viewers, RDS also had a record audience for the gold medal game. TSN and RDS's total combined viewership for the game was a record 4.3 million. The game was watched in whole or in part by 9.3 million Canadians, or nearly 30% of the country's population.

Overall, the World Junior Championship in Ottawa has been the most successful tournament ever for TSN. The network averaged 1.7 million viewers over Team Canada's six games (four preliminary round games, one semifinal game and the gold medal final), surpassing the previous high of 1.6 million in the 2006 event in Vancouver by 5%.

TSN.ca also scored big with Team Canada's gold medal win with an additional 100,000 viewers watching live streams of the championship game online.

Figure it would happen. Its time for the World Juniors to setup shop permanently in Canada. Or at the very least alternate like this:

Canada, USA, Canada, European team

2010 Saskatoon and Regina, Canada
2011 Buffalo, United States
2012 Calgary and Edmonton, Canada

I guess the IIHF will discuss in the future.