World Juniors

[meow]

What a release. Wow. Nail biter.

[SolidSnake]

I think from now on in any international competition when it comes to USA vs Canada, USA might as well concede the game. Canada wins everytime.

[PghSkins]

I think from now on in any international competition when it comes to USA vs Canada, USA might as well concede the game. Canada wins everytime.

Didn't USA just beat Canada for the WJC title in the last couple of years?

Tremendously entertaining game today despite the result.

[Idoit40fans]

In the last 5 years in U20, the US has 2 golds, 3 medals. Canada has 0 golds, 3 medals

In U18, US has won gold in 5 of the last 6 and 7 of the last 10. Canada has medaled in 5 of the last 10

[meow]

Whomp whomp

[Gaucho]

Kasperi Kapanen with no points in 4 games. Bust.

[mikey287]

Kasperi Kapanen with no points in 4 games. Bust.

Not only he is not scoring, he hasn't even been visible. He might be the biggest disappointment of the entire tournament. He should have been one of the best players in this thing, he hasn't even been on the best forwards on Finland. Easily being outplayed by the double-underager Jesse Puljujarvi, among others...

[meow]

I have only seen one Finnish game and it took my 45+ minutes to realize Kapanen was playing.

[MRandall25]

I watched Fin-US and he just looked out of place. Turned the puck over on the PP on what should be a fairly routine play and gave the US a great opportunity shorthanded.

Just not that impressed with his play in that game.

[pcm]

So many penalties in this tournament.

[meow]

Kapanen with a Charlie Hustle goal last night. Good mix of skill and determination. He pulled the monkey off his back during his celly.

[sniper]

As Ray Ferraro correctly pointed out during the Sweden/Finland game, Kapanen has been a perimeter player the whole tournament. In the first period he compared him and another Fin forward as they entered the zone with the puck. Kapanen cut to the outside, while the other Fin cut to the inside and got a quality shot. He then mentioned the point totals of Kapanen (0) and the other Fin and said there is your reason why. He's absolutely right too. Kapanen stayed way too much to the perimeter, he looked un-confident with the puck (especially early on), and he didn't exactly work his butt off to get the puck or get in position to receive the puck.

The skill is certainly there, but the work rate, confidence, and desire to go to the tough places to score wasn't there in this tournament. He did look better to me as the tournament went on.

[pcm]

I've never seen Russia play like a team in international competition the way these kids have in this tournament. It's going to be closer than expected in the finals...

It's funny, every country has an identity, and the Russian identity has been "super-talented selfish stars with a national complex." But, historically speaking, the Russians were the ones to define what it means to have a unique and powerful identity with their Red Army team... It would be really interesting to see them move away from the above complex and evolve their team identity into something positive. What would that look like?

For one, it would require developing talent on the blueline, which they've been bereft of. I forget his name, but this junior team has some 6'6 monster back there who has been pretty dominating...

And just to clarify, I hate it when the national complex gets applied individually to every russian hockey player. Stereotypes = lazy thinking...

[pcm]

Bondra, Nylander, Domi, Kapanen, I'm getting old.

[mikey287]

Russia getting their butts touched early here in the gold medal game.

[npv708]

Russia getting their butts touched early here in the gold medal game.

*Torched.

or I hope thats what you meant.

[mikey287]

Bondra, Nylander, Domi, Kapanen, I'm getting old.

Yeah, you and me both. Though, I will say, Radovan Bondra (I think that's his first name) isn't Peter's son. Peter's son's name is David. He played at whatever the Caps U16 team is "Capital Centre" (?), that might be Lansing...I don't recall...anyhow...he's at Michigan State now, he's a few years older than these kids...that didn't help our cause...

[mikey287]

Man, Jake Virtanen is an Evander Kane clone in terms of playing style...

[npv708]

Mikey, what are your thoughts on Bowey?

[meow]

Hehe. Butts touched

[columbia]

You definitely want to dig into a Boston butt.

[meow]

The Canadians defense in their own house is turrible. No one takes a man or a stick. Everyone goes fishing for the puck.

Edit. Except Darnell Nurse. He is trying to kill any Russian within arms reach.

[penny lane]

Go Russia~ slay the giant.

[mikey287]

Mikey, what are your thoughts on Bowey?

Meh, I haven't focused much on him in this thing. I'm probably gonna go back and watch some select players, he'll be one of them. But on the surface he's just another Matthew Dumba. Puck-rusher, offensive dynamo, can't say no to the skill and the flash and the skating...but he's a risk taker, looks like he has pretty limited hockey sense and that makes him a risky proposition...definitely has upside, but I need to spend some time watching the game through his eyes to get a better read on him...

[profpolisci]

It would be to Sid's benefit if McDavid turns out to be a generational talent. Let someone else bear the burden of being the face of the NHL and Canadian hockey.