2006 Men's Olympic Hockey

[TheMazVolta]

The Olympic games are almost here, and with that comes the Men's Hockey competition. The group stage opens on Feb.15th and concludes with the Gold Medal game on Feb.26th.


Group A

Canada
Czech Republic
Finland
Germany
Switzerland
Italy

Group B

Sweden
Slovakia
USA
Russia
Latvia
Kazakhstan


The Big Six - Rosters


Canada

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, Devils; Roberto Luongo, Panthers; Marty Turco, Stars.

Defensemen: Rob Blake, Avalanche; Adam Foote, Blue Jackets; Ed Jovanovski, Canucks; Scott Niedermayer, Mighty Ducks; Chris Pronger, Oilers; Wade Redden, Senators; Robyn Regehr, Flames.

Forwards: Todd Bertuzzi, Canucks; Shane Doan, Coyotes; Kris Draper, Red Wings; Simon Gagne, Flyers; Dany Heatley, Senators; Jarome Iginla, Flames; Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning; Rick Nash, Blue Jackets; Brad Richards, Lightning; Joe Sakic, Avalanche; Ryan Smyth, Oilers; Martin St. Louis, Lightning; Joe Thornton, Sharks.

What can you say about team Canada? They are the team with the most talent and depth. So much depth, that their 81 man Long-List, could have provided two teams. They have the hardware (2002 Gold Medal), and the brass (The Great One) to be repeat Champions. Just look at their 3 man reserve squad of Bryan McCabe, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal. Any one of those players would be top guys on any other team. The Canadians are the team to beat.



Sweden

Goaltenders: Stefan Liv, HV 71; Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers; Mikael Tellqvist, Maple Leafs.

Defensemen: Christian Backman, Blues; Kim Johnsson, Flyers; Kenny Jonsson, Rogle; Niklas Kronwall, Red Wings; Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings; Mattias Norstrom, Kings, Mattias Ohlund, Canucks.

Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson, Senators; P.J. Axelsson, Bruins; Peter Forsberg, Flyers; Mika Hannula, HV 71; Jorgen Jonsson, Farjestad; Fredrik Modin, Lightning; Markus Naslund, Canucks; Daniel Sedin, Canucks; Henrik Sedin, Canucks; Samuel Pahlsson, Mighty Ducks; Mikael Samuelsson, Red Wings; Mats Sundin, Maple Leafs; Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings.

With a golie like Henrik Lundqvist, and forwards like Alfredsson, Forsberg, Naslund and Sundin, The Sweds should come out on top of Group B. The problem for past Sweden national teams has been goaltending (see Tommy Salo, 2002 Olympics). With Lundqvist between the pipes, they have a real chance at going deep into Medal Round.



USA

Goaltenders: Rick DiPietro, Islanders; Robert Esche, Flyers; John Grahame, Lightning.

Defensemen: Chris Chelios, Red Wings; Derian Hatcher, Stars; Jordan Leopold, Flames; John-Michael Liles, Avalanche; Aaron Miller, Kings; Brian Rafalski, Devils; Mathieu Schneider, Red Wings.

Forwards: Jason Blake, Islanders; Erik Cole, Hurricanes; Craig Conroy, Kings; Chris Drury, Sabres; Brian Gionta, Devils; Scott Gomez, Devils; Bill Guerin, Stars; Mike Knuble, Flyers; Mike Modano, Stars; Mark Parrish, Islanders; Brian Rolston, Wild; Keith Tkachuk, Blues; Doug Weight, Blues.

The US team consists of two groups: older veterans and relative newcomers. In Modano, Chelios, Weight and Tkachuk you have Olympic experiance. In players like Cole, Gionta and Leopold, you have youth. They are missing the key 25-30 year olds that are vital in winning teams and are going to hurt because of that.



Finland

Goaltenders: Kari Lehtonen, Thrashers; Fredrik Norrena, Linkoping.

Defensemen: Aki Berg, Maple Leafs; Toni Lydman, Flames; Teppo Numminen, Sabres; Joni Pitkanen, Flyers; Sami Salo, Canucks; Kimmo Timonen, Predators; Ossi Vaananen, Avalanche.

Forwards: Jukka Hentunen, Lugano; Olli Jokinen, Panthers; Niko Kapanen, Stars; Sami Kapanen, Flyers; Mikko Koivu, Wild; Saku Koivu, Canadiens; Antti Laaksonen, Avalanche; Jere Lehtinen, Stars; Antti Miettinen, Stars; Ville Peltonen, Lugano, Switzerland; Jarkko Ruutu, Canucks, Tuomo Ruutu, Blackhawks; Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks.

If Miikka Kiprusoff or Kari Lehtonen were backstopping the Finnish team, they would have been a legitimate threat. With those two players backing out, it leaves a real questionmark on what could have been a great team.



Czech Republic

Goaltenders: Dominik Hasek, Senators; Milan Hnilicka, Liberec; Tomas Vokoun, Predators.

Defensemen: Frantisek Kaberle, Hurricanes; Tomas Kaberle, Maple Leafs; Filip Kuba, Wild; Pavel Kubina, Lightning; Marek Malik, Rangers; Jaroslav Spacek, Blackhawks; Marek Zidlicky, Predators.

Forwards: Jan Bulis, Canadiens; Petr Cajanek, Blues; Martin Erat, Predators; Milan Hejduk, Avalanche; Ales Hemsky, Oilers; Jaromir Jagr, Rangers; Robert Lang, Red Wings; Rostislav Olesz, Panthers; Vaclav Prospal, Lightning; Petr Prucha, Rangers; Martin Rucinsky, Rangers; Martin Straka, Rangers; David Vyborny, Blue Jackets.

Dominik Hasek is having a Vezna Trophy year with the Sens, and if he continues this trend, the Czechs will prove to be a tough customer. Anyone remember what Hasek did in the 1998 Olympics? If you do, nuff' said.



Russia

Goaltenders: Nikolai Khabibulin, Blackhawks; Evgeni Nabokov, Sharks; Ilya Bryzgalov, Mighty Ducks.

Defensemen: Andrei Markov, Canadiens; Alexei Zhitnik, Islanders; Darius Kasparaitis, Rangers; Fedor Tyutin, Rangers; Danny Markov, Predators; Anton Volchenkov, Senators; Sergei Gonchar, Penguins; Dmitri Bykov, Dynamo Moscow.

Forwards: Ilya Kovalchuk, Thrashers; Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings; Alexei Kovalev, Canadiens; Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals; Alexei Yashin, Islanders; Viktor Kozlov, Devils; Alexander Frolov, Kings; Evgeni Malkin, Metallurg Magnitogorsk; Maxim Afinogenov, Sabres; Alexander Kharitonov, Dynamo Moscow; Alexei Zhamnov, Bruins; Maxim Sushinsky, Dynamo Moscow.

The thing I am looking most towards this Olympics is Alexander Ovechkin and the big Olympic ice surface. The kid is just unreal, and will be a pleasure to watch. Russia has put forth a very, very good team. They should take second in their group, or even first depending on the outcome against the Sweds.



My picks:

GOLD - Canada
SILVER - Sweden
BRONZE - Czech Republic or Russia

What do you all think?

[moose1132]

I have a feeling Canada will take the gold. USA should have put Ryan Miller in as one of their goalies as he's better than all three they picked.

[Jamesadin]

Canada's team is once again, amazing. They are definitly the ones to beat (Then again, I'm probably biased).

Gold: Canada
Silver: Czech Republic
Bronze: USA

[arto_j]

Well, Lehtonen withdrew from the Finnish team as well, so I guess we'll be starting either Niittymäki or Markkanen by the looks of it.

I still don't fucking get why they'd pick Berg over Niinimaa. I'm not too confident we'll get very far with this coach in charge either. The only way to reach a medal with this team is if everyone plays together as a team awesomely, and the few stars play at the top of their game.

Crossing my fingers no one else pulls out anymore...

(except Berg)

[daddiefatsacks]

canada vs russia in the gold

ovechkin will be the spotlight all tourny i guarantee

[TheMazVolta]

Bad news for the Canadian squad, as it looks like one or even maybe two of their defencemen will be sidelined for the games in Torino. Big man Ed Jovanovski is going under the knife, and will be side-lined for the next 6 weeks at least. Scott Niedermayer may also have to pull out with a knee injury. That decision will be made this week. For Jovo's spot, Bryan McCabe will most likely be his replacment. As for Neidermayer, if he does not play, it could be Jay Bouwmeester, Dan Boyle, Dion Phaneuf or Scott Hannan going in his place. My money is on Phaneuf being the replacement for either Neidermayer for the team, or for the vacant spot left by McCabe on the Taxi squad.

[ToRontoRon]

My early prediction:

GOLD: Sweden (Hungry after loss to Belarus in last Olympics. Best goaltending in years with Lundqvist. Also they haven't won a best vs. best tourney yet, and it seems as though they're due.)

SILVER: Czech Republic (Just a hunch.)

BRONZE: Canada (I just have this bad feeling that we're going to lose in the semi finals. We won the last 2 best vs. best tourneys, and I just don't know if we can complete the hat trick, especially with all the injuries on the blue line. REEEEEEEEALLY hope I'm wrong about this. At least Marty is playing better, which is a good sign. We'll see.)



GO CANADA GO!!!

[brodeurnumber1]

Gold: Russia
Silver: Canada
Bronze: Finland(just an upset type thing, and a hunch)

[TheMazVolta]

Alright ladies and germs...the first games of the Round Robin tourney begins tomorrow...


Kazahkstan vs. Sweden, 5:30 am et
Italy vs. Canada, 7 am et
Switzerland vs. Finland, 9:30 am et
Germany vs. Czech Republic, 11 am et
Russia vs. Slovakia, 2 pm et
Latvia vs. United States, 3 pm et


Sweden, Canada, Finland, the Czechs, Russia and the US should put up wins...Slovakia will put up a fight against Russia, but they wont beat thatpowerhouse

[daddiefatsacks]

hahahaha USA TIED LATVIA

[arto_j]

Can't wait for Sunday. Gonna be so much fun back here...

[ToRontoRon]

WTF is going on with this tournament?

Russia loses to Slovakia on day 1, only to turn around and spank Sweden 5-0 on day 2... Latvia ties the U.S., (would have been a win that would have made it tough for the U.S. to even reach the quarters if Irbe wouldn't have pulled a Salo on that poing shot)... The Czech Republic lose Hasek one day, then lose to Switzerland the next...

Canada will face Germany in about an hour and a half, and ordinarily I'd say Canada will win in a walk, but the way the tourney has started, I guess you just never know.

My prediction is 4-0 Canada, though, with 3 power play goals. Germany often takes a lot of penalties, and with the crackdown it should be even worse.

Doesn't really matter, but if you ask me, Jason Muzzati wasn't that good in net for Italy. Save percentage well under 90% on the game, and numerous soft goals and very few excellent saves. Beats me how he was named 3rd star.


GO CANADA GO!!!

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by arto_j
Can't wait for Sunday. Gonna be so much fun back here...


I didn't know you found watching your team lose hockey games to be fun. ;)


But in all seriousness, Finland has had a great start. 2-0 and outscoring opponents 11-0. They're showing their 2nd place finish at the last best vs. best tourney, the World Cup in 2004, wasn't a fluke. I like Finland too. Other than when they play Canada or Germany, (my roots are German), I'll be rooting for them.

[Zebra 3]

But I do hate the new uniforms with the vertical striping.

[arto_j]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon
I didn't know you found watching your team lose hockey games to be fun. ;)


But in all seriousness, Finland has had a great start. 2-0 and outscoring opponents 11-0. They're showing their 2nd place finish at the last best vs. best tourney, the World Cup in 2004, wasn't a fluke. I like Finland too. Other than when they play Canada or Germany, (my roots are German), I'll be rooting for them.

Yeah, looking good so far. But the opponents haven't really been anything to draw any deeper conclusion on. Still, I'm happy with how the team looks, especially considering just about half the team withdrew from the games.

And we'll see about that Sunday game, you never know...Flashbacks of Nagano ;)

It'll be all the more fun since I'm in Canada and will be watching with a bunch of canadians. Except of course if we get annihilated in which case the next few weeks will not be very pleasant :)

[ToRontoRon]

Switzerland 2
Canada 0


:eek: :eek: :eek:

[arto_j]

Didn't see that one coming.

Well, you guys'll definitely be pissed off and fired up tomorrow.

[outsyder]

If they don't, Gretzky will be strung up by his nutsack.

[Jamesadin]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon
Switzerland 2
Canada 0


:eek: :eek: :eek:

Yeah, what the shit happened there?

Pull it together Team Canada!

But then again, this happened in Salt Lake City... so don't worry too much.

[TheMazVolta]

They got shutdown by a very hot golie...Gerber stopped 50+ shots and that Nash goal/no goal delay really took the wind out of their sails.. .they need to get fired up for the Finland game today and come up with a win.

[daddiefatsacks]

thats crazy, im in the states right now and theres no publicity of it at all

[TheMazVolta]

Unless youre in a hockey pocket in the US (Detroit, Colorado, NY...) youre not going to see much play until they have a chance of winning a medal.

[arto_j]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon
I didn't know you found watching your team lose hockey games to be fun. ;)



*cough*

:D:D:D

Fun is definitely what it was.

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by arto_j
*cough*

:D:D:D

Fun is definitely what it was.


*Eats crow*


The Switzerland game was one thing, but now I'm a tad worried. Why can't we put any passes together? That first period, we literally couldn't even connect on 10 foot passes from the defence to the wingers. The chemistry has to improve a whole lot in a whole big hurry if we're gonna win this thing. But, we were awful in 2002 against Sweden and Germany, so all is not lost yet. This does, however, mean that Canada's likely opponent in the quarterfinal will be Sweden or Russia. It could possibly be Slovakia too. Whoever we play, it's gonna be tough.

Can't say I agreed with Quinn benching Nash. There were about 12 players I would have chosen before singling him out.

The strength of this team is supposed to be the defence, but the defence was horrid today. Pronger is a liability with his bad foot, Redden was horrible, Bouwmeester was beaten badly once and in no-man's land on the first Finnish goal, Regehr was also dummied at one point. Blake wasn't great either. The only defencemen that were decent, imo, were Foote and McCabe because he hardly played, (though McCabe has been pretty bad in the tourney so far when he has played).

Sakic and Iginla have to get going. Not many chances for these two so far. I expect a lot more from St-Louis, Lecavalier and Gagne, too.


This team has the potential to play so much better, I just hope it does. :(

[Haddonfield]

Originally posted by daddiefatsacks
thats crazy, im in the states right now and theres no publicity of it at all

All I know is.....all weekend long I was able to watch about 4 million hockey games on CNBC. It was one game after another after another.

I was LOVING it.

The news arent saying much but they are showing all the games.

[moose1132]

Is it unpatriotic of me to have been routing for Finland since the start of these Olympics? :p It's because I'm a Ryan Miller fan (and a Sabres one) and didn't think the US team made the right choice between the net. But anyway, Go Finland! :D

Plus if Finland wins, Conan is sure to celebrate for them.

[arto_j]

I think the only Canadian players who performed like they should in the Finland game were Luongo and Draper.

Something tells me that's going to change when the playoff games come around. It better if this team wants to get anywhere.

[Jamesadin]

Finally! A win against the Czech Republic! Hopefully Team Canada will gain some inspiration from the Woman's gold medal, and maybe keep playing like a team.

[arto_j]

A period of good hockey...step in the right direction.

[outsyder]

Originally posted by arto_j
A period of good hockey...step in the right direction.


Hey, it was our turn to have the goalie win the game for us.;)

[ToRontoRon]

Well, we played like crap again but we got the win. I guess that's a step in the right direction.

Russia tomorrow... GULP!!!


Here are my picks for tomorrow's quarterfinals:

Finland 2
United States 1

Sweden 5
Switzerland 1

Russia 4
Canada 2
(Hope I'm wrong here, but the defence is too banged up, the team can't adjust to the size of the ice, and Brodeur restrained his knee and they say it's always worse the day after.)

Czech Republic 3
Slovakia 1



I think the problem is that this team was built to play on a smaller ice surface. Thornton, Nash, Smyth, Bertuzzi, Doan, Iginla, Pronger, and Foote are a few examples of players who would be more effective, imo, on an NHL sized ice surface. The biggest loss for Canada was Niedermayer. His presence would make this a completely different team.

Guys like Staal, Spezza, Crosby, Kariya, and other speedsters might have been a better choice given the size of the ice. Oh well, we're not out yet.


GO CANADA GO!!!

[TheMazVolta]

Boy oh boy...Canada is in trouble

Finland, Sweden, Slovakia and Canada (I hope, I hope) will make it through to the semis.

[leafboy]

bye bye Canada

that's what u get for putting bertuzzi on the team instead of staal and bouwmeester instead of phaneuf

bertuzzi is a piece of crap and no team he's on will ever be a winner

also thornton, nash, iginla, and pronger were useless and mccabe fucking choked trade him to ottawa he'll fit well with their choking ways

this year's olympic team perfectly resembles ottawa in the playoffs, no passion and no killer instinct

[arto_j]

I was more reminded of the Leafs this year, what with a lot of suckitude led by Pat Quinn.

[outsyder]

Originally posted by leafboy
bye bye Canada

that's what u get for putting bertuzzi on the team instead of staal and bouwmeester instead of phaneuf

bertuzzi is a piece of crap and no team he's on will ever be a winner

also thornton, nash, iginla, and pronger were useless and mccabe fucking choked trade him to ottawa he'll fit well with their choking ways

this year's olympic team perfectly resembles ottawa in the playoffs, no passion and no killer instinct


Hey, McCabe is YOUR fuckup. It's unfortunate people believed the idea that a lot of PP points = great defenceman.

How's the leafs killer instinct? You in the playoffs yet?


Brodeur is the only one that did his fucking job and for that I give him all the support in the world.


Go . . . Slovakia . . what, they're losing? Ahh fuck. Go . . . . Sweden. Alfie deserves some gold.

[brodeurnumber1]

Originally posted by outsyder



Brodeur is the only one that did his fucking job and for that I give him all the support in the world.


:)

So far, 2 of my 3 predictions have a real chance. I'm pulling for Finland personally, but I wouldn't mind Sweden pulling it out.

[bob]

So it's Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Czech Republic in the medal rounds?

I'm down with that...all Scandinavia/Soviet Bloc all the time, as far as I say...

[ToRontoRon]

We just never got it together. There's something wrong when a team with Sakic, Iginla, Thornton, etc., etc., is shutout in 3 of 6 games. Part of it is poor play, perhaps part is too much pressure, but I really think a large part is the size of the rink. The tournament would have been way better on the far superior North American style ice.


Oh well.


At least I was 4/4 with my picks in the quarterfinals, and I actually got the margin of victories correct in every game, (though not the score). Yay. :(


Here are my picks for the semis:


Russia 4
Finland 1

Sweden 3
Czech Republic 2
(Maybe in OT or a shootout)

[arto_j]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon
The tournament would have been way better on the far superior North American style ice.



:confused: :confused: :confused:

How is it "far superior"?

And isn't it the same for every player, every team? Plus, almost every single player in the major teams plays in North America anyways.

I didn't see Kazakshtan or Germany benefit too much for the extra space.

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by arto_j
:confused: :confused: :confused:

How is it "far superior"?

And isn't it the same for every player, every team? Plus, almost every single player in the major teams plays in North America anyways.

I didn't see Kazakshtan or Germany benefit too much for the extra space.


Some like the larger ice, some don't. I've seen enough to know that I definately don't. There's far less physical play because if you attempt to throw a hit, you're that much farther from the front of your own net. Also, defencemen have to be back further to prevent cherry pickers, and it's more condusive to the trap.

You're right, every player on the major teams plays on North American ice, but I just don't think we picked the right players for it. Bertuzzi, Thornton, Nash, Smyth, Pronger, etc. thrive on physical play, which hockey on European sized ice is severly lacking. It's our own fault for the style of players we picked. We picked a great World Cup team, but a lousy Olympic one.

I know I'm in the minority because the Olympics is a bigger event, but I'll take a World Cup/Canada Cup, whatever you want to call it over an Olympics any day. It's too bad they're not going to have a World Cup in 2008, but I'm just hoping after 2010 in Vancouver, they forget about sending NHLers to the Olympics.


As for the tourney, as you can see from my earlier prediction Arto, I don't like your team's chances tomorrow, but I'll be rooting for them.

Go Scandinavia!


Oh yeah, and what was with Malkin kicking Lecavalier like that? What a jackass! If only Canada would have scored in that last minute we would have had a 3 minute power play in OT and Malkin would have been the goat he deserved to be.

[daddiefatsacks]

quinn should be fired from every team he coaches

[arto_j]

In the words of Justin Timberlake...I'm loving it.

TorontoRon...Yeah, the game is different on the different ice, and it's all about picking the right players. But it didn't seem like Canada really ever played great team hockey and that was their downfall. And you know, not scoring goals.

Gonna be getting up early on Sunday then...Can't wait, the best possible match-up in the finals. The rivarly is so huge, everyone on the ice is sure to be fired up for it.

And it is possible to play big, hard psysical on this ice, I think it's just a question of getting used to it, which no one of course really had the time for here. I don't know which leagues use these Olympic size rinks, but the Finnish league uses ones smaller than these, but a bit bigger than the NHL ones, which I like.

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon


Russia 4
Finland 1




My crystal ball was a little cloudy for this one. I underestimated your team arto_j. Congrats on a great tourney whatever happens in the last game.

I didn't know that hockey in the Finnish league doesn't use Olympic sized ice, but something inbetween NHL and Olympic. I learned something new.

I'm definately happy about the semifinal results. If Finland wins, that'll be good, but I'm rooting for Sweden for 2 reasons.

A) I picked them to win before the tourney started.
B) I'd like to see Mats win the gold.


Should be a great gold medal game.

[ToRontoRon]

My prediction for the gold medal game:

Sweden 2
Finland 1

[arto_j]

Same fucking thing every fucking time.

[TheMazVolta]

Congrats to both Sweden and Finland for making it to the finals. Both teams worked very hard getting there, and both had a legitimate shot at winning. I particularly loved seeing Alfie and Mats on the same team, and both winning the Gold. The Capulate and Montague...uh...I mean Sens and Leafs put away their differences for a day to see both of their Captains win.

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by arto_j
Same fucking thing every fucking time.


Yeah, you're boys should really try to start out the 3rd periods of championship games a bit better. First Doan scores in the opening minutes in the World Cup, now Lidstrom in the opening seconds. ;)


But hey, here are two things to cheer you up arto.

A) Finland did a Hell of a lot better than Canada.

B) Trivia question: Who's the only team to make it to the final the last 2 best vs. best tournaments? You guessed it.


Sucks we'll have to wait 4 years for the next one. :(

[arto_j]

Yeah, absolutely it was a great achievement and a fantastic placing in this kind of a tournament.

Just losing at the last minute like that, again, really leaves you with such a sour feeling about the whole thing. The bronze in Nagano felt damn good, because it came with a win, despite Bure slaughtering us on his own in the semis.

Last time we actually won a gold medal game was in '95, and that's starting to feel like a real long time ago.

Still, great tournament, great team, great effort. Credit to the Swedes for taking it again.