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*** Offical *** World Cup of Hockey THread *** Confirmed ***
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Brodeur, Kiprusoff put on great battle
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - News that Martin Brodeur was fit to play Tuesday gave the World Cup of Hockey final a classic goaltending matchup - the proven Brodeur for Canada against the promising Miikka Kiprusoff of Finland.
Some feel they may be the world's top two goaltenders at the moment, although Canada's reserve goaltender Jose Theodore said Kiprusoff has a long way to go to be considered in Brodeur's class.
"One guy won three Stanley Cups and has 400 wins (403 to be precise) and the other guy has played 40-something (85, actually) games," Theodore said. "I respect Kiprusoff. He's a good goalie, but it's a bit too fast to put him in the same category as Marty."
Brodeur, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner who backstoped Canada to the 2002 Olympic gold medal, missed a nervy 4-3 overtime win over the Czech Republic in the semifinals on Saturday with a sore left wrist. He was replaced by Roberto Luongo.
He was in top form on Tuesday, stopping 27 shots to lead Canada to a 3-2 victory over Finland.
But the 32-year-old practised on Monday and felt he was ready to step back in. Before the injury, the career New Jersey Devil had been close to unbeatable, leading the tournament with a 0.75 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.
The 11-year NHL veteran has posted 30 or more wins in nine consecutive seasons and may be the goaltender best positioned to take a run at Patrick Roy's career record of 551 wins. He currently ranks seventh all-time.
Kiprusoff, 27, seemed to come out of nowhere. He was a backup for most of three seasons in San Jose before he was traded to the Calgary Flames on Nov. 16.
The Turku, Finland, native then led the Flames to the Stanley Cup final, where they lost to Tampa Bay in seven Games.
Then he took underdog Finland to the World Cup final and deflected 30 shots.
"It's not like he's 19 or 20, he's 27," said Theodore, the 2002 Vezina and Hart trophy winner. "He had to work and he was ready when he got his chance.
"It wasn't easy. He was in San Jose and didn't play and then he got is chance in Calgary. I respect that. He's a good goalie."
His Finnish teammates swear by him.
"Nowadays, it's pretty much the goalie's game," said defenceman Toni Lydman, also Kiprusoff's teammate in Calgary. "You can't let in bad goals because usually these are one-goal games and one soft goal can decide the outcome.
"As we saw that last spring, we went all the way to the finals with Miikka. We played good, but he was the biggest factor. He and Jarome (Iginla), of course. Now it's the same. He's played great for us in this tournament and look where we're at."
Even Lydman felt Brodeur should get the edge in comparisons because of his track record, but he said Kiprusoff has the stuff to become a top goaltender.
"He was definitely at that level last season and in this tournament, but Brodeur has years and years of success and he's been playing consistently for years," said Lydman. "That's what Miikka wants to accomplish.
"He's been a No. 1 goalie for only one year and he had injuries early in the year. But yes, I think he's capable of doing it. It's his mindset. He doesn't worry about too many things."
Luongo made the most of his chance to play, stopping 37 Czech shots, including five in overtime of a game in which he outplayed his Czech counterpart Tomas Vukoun.
But the 25-year-old had no problem stepping aside when Brodeur was ready to return.
"It wasn't a disappointment at all," the Florida Panther said. "Marty was the goaltender from the beginning.
"I'm just glad I was able to step in there and do my job and win the game. Coming into the tournament, I knew I'd be the backup to Marty and so I had to have a different mindset - to work hard in practice and see what happens."
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - News that Martin Brodeur was fit to play Tuesday gave the World Cup of Hockey final a classic goaltending matchup - the proven Brodeur for Canada against the promising Miikka Kiprusoff of Finland.
Some feel they may be the world's top two goaltenders at the moment, although Canada's reserve goaltender Jose Theodore said Kiprusoff has a long way to go to be considered in Brodeur's class.
"One guy won three Stanley Cups and has 400 wins (403 to be precise) and the other guy has played 40-something (85, actually) games," Theodore said. "I respect Kiprusoff. He's a good goalie, but it's a bit too fast to put him in the same category as Marty."
Brodeur, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner who backstoped Canada to the 2002 Olympic gold medal, missed a nervy 4-3 overtime win over the Czech Republic in the semifinals on Saturday with a sore left wrist. He was replaced by Roberto Luongo.
He was in top form on Tuesday, stopping 27 shots to lead Canada to a 3-2 victory over Finland.
But the 32-year-old practised on Monday and felt he was ready to step back in. Before the injury, the career New Jersey Devil had been close to unbeatable, leading the tournament with a 0.75 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.
The 11-year NHL veteran has posted 30 or more wins in nine consecutive seasons and may be the goaltender best positioned to take a run at Patrick Roy's career record of 551 wins. He currently ranks seventh all-time.
Kiprusoff, 27, seemed to come out of nowhere. He was a backup for most of three seasons in San Jose before he was traded to the Calgary Flames on Nov. 16.
The Turku, Finland, native then led the Flames to the Stanley Cup final, where they lost to Tampa Bay in seven Games.
Then he took underdog Finland to the World Cup final and deflected 30 shots.
"It's not like he's 19 or 20, he's 27," said Theodore, the 2002 Vezina and Hart trophy winner. "He had to work and he was ready when he got his chance.
"It wasn't easy. He was in San Jose and didn't play and then he got is chance in Calgary. I respect that. He's a good goalie."
His Finnish teammates swear by him.
"Nowadays, it's pretty much the goalie's game," said defenceman Toni Lydman, also Kiprusoff's teammate in Calgary. "You can't let in bad goals because usually these are one-goal games and one soft goal can decide the outcome.
"As we saw that last spring, we went all the way to the finals with Miikka. We played good, but he was the biggest factor. He and Jarome (Iginla), of course. Now it's the same. He's played great for us in this tournament and look where we're at."
Even Lydman felt Brodeur should get the edge in comparisons because of his track record, but he said Kiprusoff has the stuff to become a top goaltender.
"He was definitely at that level last season and in this tournament, but Brodeur has years and years of success and he's been playing consistently for years," said Lydman. "That's what Miikka wants to accomplish.
"He's been a No. 1 goalie for only one year and he had injuries early in the year. But yes, I think he's capable of doing it. It's his mindset. He doesn't worry about too many things."
Luongo made the most of his chance to play, stopping 37 Czech shots, including five in overtime of a game in which he outplayed his Czech counterpart Tomas Vukoun.
But the 25-year-old had no problem stepping aside when Brodeur was ready to return.
"It wasn't a disappointment at all," the Florida Panther said. "Marty was the goaltender from the beginning.
"I'm just glad I was able to step in there and do my job and win the game. Coming into the tournament, I knew I'd be the backup to Marty and so I had to have a different mindset - to work hard in practice and see what happens."
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canada wins World Cup of Hockey
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - Shane Doan scored in the third period as Canada defeated Finland 3-2 on Tuesday night to add the World Cup of Hockey to its string of recent international triumphs.
Doan's goal 34 seconds into the third period stood up behind superb goaltending from Martin Brodeur as Canada ended the eight-team tournament with a perfect 6-0 record.
"I've had so many chances it's nice to finally get one," Doan told CBC. "This was pretty special."
Canada, which only a few years ago feared it had slipped a notch in the hockey world, now holds the 2002 Olympic gold medal, two consecutive IIHF world championship gold medals and the World Cup.
"This was an amazing group of players," Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky said.
Vincent Lecavalier, one of the young players who led Canada in this World Cup, was named tournament MVP.
"With all the young players, we have a great future here in Canada," Joe Sakic told CBC. "It's nice to win some tournaments. ...
"It's just awesome to be a part of this."
Sakic and Riku Hahl traded goals in the opening period and Scott Niedermayer put Canada ahead 3:13 into the second.
A spectacular goal by Tuomo Ruutu with one minute left in the second period sent the teams into the final frame at 2-2, but Doan broke the deadlock on the first shift of the final period when he banged a pass from Joe Thornton past Miikka Kiprusoff.
"Kipper didn't play his best game, our defence didn't help either," said Finnish coach Raimo Summanen. "I'm proud of the spirit and the attitude on our team."
It may have been the last top-level hockey available for a long time, as the NHL was set to lock out its players at midnight Wednesday unless a last-minute agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
The checking line of Doan, Thornton and Kris Draper had a huge night, producing two goals and tying up Finland's big line of Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne and Jere Lehtinen.
"It was a total team effort and I'm so proud of the guys," said Thornton. "It was four great weeks of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
The Finns played a strong forechecking game and several times had Canada boxed in its zone, but the home side responded with a robust checking game of its own.
The difference may have been in goal.
A chanting, sellout crowd of 19,370 saw Brodeur shine in his return to the net after missing a game with a wrist injury. He had the edge on Kiprusoff as Canada outshot Finland 33-29.
"I was 100 per cent, I didn't feel a thing out there," Brodeur told CBC.
It looked like Canada may have an easy night when Sakic scored only 52 seconds into the game, taking a feed in the slot from Mario Lemieux and scoring on the first shot on goal.
But a tenacious Finland forecheck had Canada running around in its zone when Hahl tipped Toni Lydman's point shot past Brodeur to tie the game at 6:34.
Niedermayer put Canada ahead on a routine shot during a rush down the left side that dribbled through Kiprusoff's pads.
But at the 19:00 mark, Ruutu chipped the puck free in the neutral zone, sidestepped a hit by Simon Gagne and blew past Niedermayer to beat Brodeur with a shot just inside the post.
It was the first time in the tournament Brodeur allowed more than one goal in a game.
Spirited checking helped Canada open the third period by keeping the puck in the Finland zone and Thornton flipped a pass out in front for Doan to score his first of the tournament.
Finland was seeking its first ever hockey win in a best-on-best tournament. Its last major title was at the 1995 IIHF world championships.
The winning team got $1 million, to be split equally between Hockey Canada and the players, who are to donate the money to a charity of their choice.
Canada also continued the Lucky Loonie tradition, this time with a twist. Instead of burying a loonie in the ice at centre or under a crossbar, six of the coins were taped under the Canadian bench, one for each of the team's wins at the World Cup.
Notes - Finland scratched Ville Nieminen in favour of Hahl ... With Brodeur back, goaltender Jose Theodore was scratched along with forwards Patrick Marleau, Kirk Maltby and Brenden Morrow and injured defencemen Wade Redden (shoulder) and Ed Jovanovski (knee) ... Pop singer Sass Jordan sang O Canada. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was in the crowd.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - Shane Doan scored in the third period as Canada defeated Finland 3-2 on Tuesday night to add the World Cup of Hockey to its string of recent international triumphs.
Doan's goal 34 seconds into the third period stood up behind superb goaltending from Martin Brodeur as Canada ended the eight-team tournament with a perfect 6-0 record.
"I've had so many chances it's nice to finally get one," Doan told CBC. "This was pretty special."
Canada, which only a few years ago feared it had slipped a notch in the hockey world, now holds the 2002 Olympic gold medal, two consecutive IIHF world championship gold medals and the World Cup.
"This was an amazing group of players," Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky said.
Vincent Lecavalier, one of the young players who led Canada in this World Cup, was named tournament MVP.
"With all the young players, we have a great future here in Canada," Joe Sakic told CBC. "It's nice to win some tournaments. ...
"It's just awesome to be a part of this."
Sakic and Riku Hahl traded goals in the opening period and Scott Niedermayer put Canada ahead 3:13 into the second.
A spectacular goal by Tuomo Ruutu with one minute left in the second period sent the teams into the final frame at 2-2, but Doan broke the deadlock on the first shift of the final period when he banged a pass from Joe Thornton past Miikka Kiprusoff.
"Kipper didn't play his best game, our defence didn't help either," said Finnish coach Raimo Summanen. "I'm proud of the spirit and the attitude on our team."
It may have been the last top-level hockey available for a long time, as the NHL was set to lock out its players at midnight Wednesday unless a last-minute agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
The checking line of Doan, Thornton and Kris Draper had a huge night, producing two goals and tying up Finland's big line of Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne and Jere Lehtinen.
"It was a total team effort and I'm so proud of the guys," said Thornton. "It was four great weeks of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
The Finns played a strong forechecking game and several times had Canada boxed in its zone, but the home side responded with a robust checking game of its own.
The difference may have been in goal.
A chanting, sellout crowd of 19,370 saw Brodeur shine in his return to the net after missing a game with a wrist injury. He had the edge on Kiprusoff as Canada outshot Finland 33-29.
"I was 100 per cent, I didn't feel a thing out there," Brodeur told CBC.
It looked like Canada may have an easy night when Sakic scored only 52 seconds into the game, taking a feed in the slot from Mario Lemieux and scoring on the first shot on goal.
But a tenacious Finland forecheck had Canada running around in its zone when Hahl tipped Toni Lydman's point shot past Brodeur to tie the game at 6:34.
Niedermayer put Canada ahead on a routine shot during a rush down the left side that dribbled through Kiprusoff's pads.
But at the 19:00 mark, Ruutu chipped the puck free in the neutral zone, sidestepped a hit by Simon Gagne and blew past Niedermayer to beat Brodeur with a shot just inside the post.
It was the first time in the tournament Brodeur allowed more than one goal in a game.
Spirited checking helped Canada open the third period by keeping the puck in the Finland zone and Thornton flipped a pass out in front for Doan to score his first of the tournament.
Finland was seeking its first ever hockey win in a best-on-best tournament. Its last major title was at the 1995 IIHF world championships.
The winning team got $1 million, to be split equally between Hockey Canada and the players, who are to donate the money to a charity of their choice.
Canada also continued the Lucky Loonie tradition, this time with a twist. Instead of burying a loonie in the ice at centre or under a crossbar, six of the coins were taped under the Canadian bench, one for each of the team's wins at the World Cup.
Notes - Finland scratched Ville Nieminen in favour of Hahl ... With Brodeur back, goaltender Jose Theodore was scratched along with forwards Patrick Marleau, Kirk Maltby and Brenden Morrow and injured defencemen Wade Redden (shoulder) and Ed Jovanovski (knee) ... Pop singer Sass Jordan sang O Canada. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was in the crowd.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Team Canada's Lucky Seven
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - Mario Lemieux gave the World Cup trophy over to Ryan Smyth as Team Canada skated around the Air Canada Centre ice in celebration.
It was fitting scene: Canada's captain handing off to Captain Canada.
Smyth was among a special group of seven players who will have been on top the world twice in 2004 - the IIHF men's champions in Prague in May and then the NHL's World Cup champions on Tuesday night.
``It's really unique for sure,'' said Smyth, a cut under his right eye and a bottle of champagne if his right hand. ``Winning never becomes old.''
Smyth and Edmonton Oilers teammate Eric Brewer know all about winning. They're the only two players to have won Olympic gold in 2002, back-to-back IIHF gold in 2003 and 2004, and now the World Cup.
``Ryan and I have been really fortunate to have been in good situations and been on top four times now,'' said Brewer, who had an outstanding World Cup. ``It's quite rewarding. It's just awesome.''
Dany Heatley, Roberto Luongo, Brenden Morrow, Jay Bouwmeester and Scott Niedermayer complete the Lucky Seven who won world titles four months apart this year.
``We've had success at the world championships but this is totally different, it's a whole other level,'' said Bouwmeester, only 20, but a major part of this team. ``It's the biggest thrill in my career.''
For Luongo, 25, it's a championship after winning back-to-back IIHF world titles.
``Another great feeling,'' he said. ``It's really indescribable. First winning back-to-back world titles in Europe and now this. And to play in the semifinal game here made it that much more special.''
Niedermayer may take the cake when it comes to winning. The World Cup title added to resume that already included the Stanley Cup, the Memorial Cup, world junior gold, Olympic gold and IIHF men's gold.
``I've been lucky, seriously, because it's a team game,'' he said. ``You need the right players, the right coaching staff and a bit of luck and for whatever reason I've had it many times.''
And winning in Prague was just as special for him.
``To be able to win both four months apart is great, it's really hard to believe,'' he said.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - Mario Lemieux gave the World Cup trophy over to Ryan Smyth as Team Canada skated around the Air Canada Centre ice in celebration.
It was fitting scene: Canada's captain handing off to Captain Canada.
Smyth was among a special group of seven players who will have been on top the world twice in 2004 - the IIHF men's champions in Prague in May and then the NHL's World Cup champions on Tuesday night.
``It's really unique for sure,'' said Smyth, a cut under his right eye and a bottle of champagne if his right hand. ``Winning never becomes old.''
Smyth and Edmonton Oilers teammate Eric Brewer know all about winning. They're the only two players to have won Olympic gold in 2002, back-to-back IIHF gold in 2003 and 2004, and now the World Cup.
``Ryan and I have been really fortunate to have been in good situations and been on top four times now,'' said Brewer, who had an outstanding World Cup. ``It's quite rewarding. It's just awesome.''
Dany Heatley, Roberto Luongo, Brenden Morrow, Jay Bouwmeester and Scott Niedermayer complete the Lucky Seven who won world titles four months apart this year.
``We've had success at the world championships but this is totally different, it's a whole other level,'' said Bouwmeester, only 20, but a major part of this team. ``It's the biggest thrill in my career.''
For Luongo, 25, it's a championship after winning back-to-back IIHF world titles.
``Another great feeling,'' he said. ``It's really indescribable. First winning back-to-back world titles in Europe and now this. And to play in the semifinal game here made it that much more special.''
Niedermayer may take the cake when it comes to winning. The World Cup title added to resume that already included the Stanley Cup, the Memorial Cup, world junior gold, Olympic gold and IIHF men's gold.
``I've been lucky, seriously, because it's a team game,'' he said. ``You need the right players, the right coaching staff and a bit of luck and for whatever reason I've had it many times.''
And winning in Prague was just as special for him.
``To be able to win both four months apart is great, it's really hard to believe,'' he said.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Great One could lead 2006 team
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - They'll need to add yet another epilogue to Wayne Gretzky's amazing story.
And he may not be done yet.
``I've told (Hockey Canada president) Bob (Nicholson) that I'd like to be part of it in 2006 (Olympics) if it's the NHL guys that are there,'' Gretzky said after his Team Canada captured the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday night.
But unless the current NHL labour impasse is solved by January, the NHL will not be going to Turin in February 2006, and that probably means the end of Gretzky's reign as Team Canada's executive director after Olympic gold and World Cup glory.
``I would highly recommend to Bob that maybe I'm not the right guy for this team if it's an amateur group of players,'' Gretzky said.
``But I love being involved and being part of Team Canada.''
As far as Nicholson is concerned, it's Gretzky job for life.
``I'm not going to be the guy that doesn't try to hire him back, I can tell you that,'' Nicholson said in a champagne-soaked dressing room at Air Canada Centre.
This was a different experience for Gretzky. His team never faced the same kind of adversity it went through in Salt Lake City, where it lost its opening game, had a goalie controversy, and ultimately barely recovered from a slow start to the tournament to get it together when it mattered.
In between, there was Gretzky's impassionate speech, an us-against-the-world rendition meant to shelter his struggling players from the media scrutiny and pressure of ending Canada's 50-year Olympic drought.
Most people would have quit on top after Salt Lake, but Gretzky decided to give it another go, reuniting his Team Canada management staff of Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini and once again putting himself into the line of fire if Canada didn't deliver.
There was a close call, Saturday's 4-3 overtime winner over the Czech Republic, but Canada ran the table with six straight wins and never once trailed in a game.
``We were never behind in this tournament,'' Gretzky said. ``I've never been part of something like that.''
He ranked them ahead of his Canadian side that won the 1987 Canada Cup in a three-game thriller over the former Soviet Union.
``I tell you what, these guys are better than we were,'' he said. ``They should be proud of what they accomplished.''
Gretzky was amazed at how this Team Canada came together.
``It's a wonderful coaching staff, a really unique group of men, very unselfish people. It's a great thing to be part of. I feel really lucky. It's a pretty nice job to have.''
``And I'm just excited we've got another ring,'' he added with a grin.
And how perfect was it that Shane Doan, from his own Phoenix Coyotes, scored the game-winner in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Finland.
``I'm really happy for Shane,'' Gretzky said. ``He was pretty special because right from the first day of training camp Shane was the one guy that never had any peaks and valleys. He was the exact same every single day.
``I'm a little biased, but from Day 1 he deserved to be in the lineup.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - They'll need to add yet another epilogue to Wayne Gretzky's amazing story.
And he may not be done yet.
``I've told (Hockey Canada president) Bob (Nicholson) that I'd like to be part of it in 2006 (Olympics) if it's the NHL guys that are there,'' Gretzky said after his Team Canada captured the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday night.
But unless the current NHL labour impasse is solved by January, the NHL will not be going to Turin in February 2006, and that probably means the end of Gretzky's reign as Team Canada's executive director after Olympic gold and World Cup glory.
``I would highly recommend to Bob that maybe I'm not the right guy for this team if it's an amateur group of players,'' Gretzky said.
``But I love being involved and being part of Team Canada.''
As far as Nicholson is concerned, it's Gretzky job for life.
``I'm not going to be the guy that doesn't try to hire him back, I can tell you that,'' Nicholson said in a champagne-soaked dressing room at Air Canada Centre.
This was a different experience for Gretzky. His team never faced the same kind of adversity it went through in Salt Lake City, where it lost its opening game, had a goalie controversy, and ultimately barely recovered from a slow start to the tournament to get it together when it mattered.
In between, there was Gretzky's impassionate speech, an us-against-the-world rendition meant to shelter his struggling players from the media scrutiny and pressure of ending Canada's 50-year Olympic drought.
Most people would have quit on top after Salt Lake, but Gretzky decided to give it another go, reuniting his Team Canada management staff of Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini and once again putting himself into the line of fire if Canada didn't deliver.
There was a close call, Saturday's 4-3 overtime winner over the Czech Republic, but Canada ran the table with six straight wins and never once trailed in a game.
``We were never behind in this tournament,'' Gretzky said. ``I've never been part of something like that.''
He ranked them ahead of his Canadian side that won the 1987 Canada Cup in a three-game thriller over the former Soviet Union.
``I tell you what, these guys are better than we were,'' he said. ``They should be proud of what they accomplished.''
Gretzky was amazed at how this Team Canada came together.
``It's a wonderful coaching staff, a really unique group of men, very unselfish people. It's a great thing to be part of. I feel really lucky. It's a pretty nice job to have.''
``And I'm just excited we've got another ring,'' he added with a grin.
And how perfect was it that Shane Doan, from his own Phoenix Coyotes, scored the game-winner in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Finland.
``I'm really happy for Shane,'' Gretzky said. ``He was pretty special because right from the first day of training camp Shane was the one guy that never had any peaks and valleys. He was the exact same every single day.
``I'm a little biased, but from Day 1 he deserved to be in the lineup.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
McKenzie: Where do we go from here?
TSN.ca Staff
9/14/2004
We're looking at lights out for NHL hockey as the league's board of governors will meet Wednesday morning.
There will be no surprises at that meeting when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the 30 owners unanimously declare there is going to be a lockout. A formal news conference will then take place in New York to announce that the lockout will commence at midnight. We'll then expect to get some sort of reaction from the NHL Players' Association in Toronto.
After that we go into a period of, well, who really knows?
Both sides have been talking about how diametrically opposed they are and how different their views are on the issue of cost certainty versus market conditions. No one has any idea of how long this may go.
But what we do know is that, unlike 1994's lockout, everybody is prepared for it this time and no one is talking about the possibility of playing NHL hockey any earlier than January.
And that's the best-case scenario.
I think it's a 50/50 chance that any hockey is played this year, and this dispute will roll into the following year with all sorts of legal ramifications. It's a mess now, and it's going to be a bigger mess in the future.
That being said, I hope everyone enjoyed the World Cup of Hockey and the championship game that was played Tuesday because there aren't going to be any games for a long time.
The NHL's last lockout, which wiped out the first half of the 1994-95 season, came with hockey interest on the rise following a thrilling Stanley Cup run by the New York Rangers. Television ratings were impressive on both sides of the border, and that momentum came to a halt before the following season.
That being said, is this the same case with this year's World Cup of Hockey tournament?
Well, it was a good World Cup. Was it a great tournament? Canadian fans will say yes, because the right team - where Canadians are concerned - won. But in terms of compelling hockey games that will go down as international classics? Granted, it was great at times - especially with the Canada-Czech Republic game - but it doesn't rank up there with the 1972 Summit Series or the 1976 and 1987 Canada Cups.
For that matter, I'll even say that the 1996 World Cup - on a game-by-game basis - had more compelling hockey than what we witnessed here. Perhaps it was because of the format this year - the fact that every team went to the playoff round after the round robin and played a quarterfinal game. I'm not sure what it was.
Now it was a great tournament for Canadian hockey fans and they should be happy for their team because they played extremely well. But in terms of the actual matchups and the games themselves, I don't think any of them will go down as actual classics.
When it came to losing momentum, everyone knew from the get go what the score was. We were all watching and playing the World Cup under a cloud.
That cloud is now here, and none of us knows where we're heading.
Cheers,
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
9/14/2004
We're looking at lights out for NHL hockey as the league's board of governors will meet Wednesday morning.
There will be no surprises at that meeting when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the 30 owners unanimously declare there is going to be a lockout. A formal news conference will then take place in New York to announce that the lockout will commence at midnight. We'll then expect to get some sort of reaction from the NHL Players' Association in Toronto.
After that we go into a period of, well, who really knows?
Both sides have been talking about how diametrically opposed they are and how different their views are on the issue of cost certainty versus market conditions. No one has any idea of how long this may go.
But what we do know is that, unlike 1994's lockout, everybody is prepared for it this time and no one is talking about the possibility of playing NHL hockey any earlier than January.
And that's the best-case scenario.
I think it's a 50/50 chance that any hockey is played this year, and this dispute will roll into the following year with all sorts of legal ramifications. It's a mess now, and it's going to be a bigger mess in the future.
That being said, I hope everyone enjoyed the World Cup of Hockey and the championship game that was played Tuesday because there aren't going to be any games for a long time.
The NHL's last lockout, which wiped out the first half of the 1994-95 season, came with hockey interest on the rise following a thrilling Stanley Cup run by the New York Rangers. Television ratings were impressive on both sides of the border, and that momentum came to a halt before the following season.
That being said, is this the same case with this year's World Cup of Hockey tournament?
Well, it was a good World Cup. Was it a great tournament? Canadian fans will say yes, because the right team - where Canadians are concerned - won. But in terms of compelling hockey games that will go down as international classics? Granted, it was great at times - especially with the Canada-Czech Republic game - but it doesn't rank up there with the 1972 Summit Series or the 1976 and 1987 Canada Cups.
For that matter, I'll even say that the 1996 World Cup - on a game-by-game basis - had more compelling hockey than what we witnessed here. Perhaps it was because of the format this year - the fact that every team went to the playoff round after the round robin and played a quarterfinal game. I'm not sure what it was.
Now it was a great tournament for Canadian hockey fans and they should be happy for their team because they played extremely well. But in terms of the actual matchups and the games themselves, I don't think any of them will go down as actual classics.
When it came to losing momentum, everyone knew from the get go what the score was. We were all watching and playing the World Cup under a cloud.
That cloud is now here, and none of us knows where we're heading.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Lecavalier named MVP of World Cup
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - Vincent Lecavalier, who wasn't originally named last May to Canada's team for the World Cup of Hockey, wound up leading it in scoring and winning the tournament MVP award Tuesday night.
Lecavalier, who enabled Canada to advance to the final when he scored in overtime to beat the Czech Republic in a semifinal game Saturday, had two goals and five assists for seven points in six games. The only player with more points was Sweden's Fredrik Modin, who had eight.
``It's a great honour just to be a part of this team,'' said Lecavalier. ``When I wasn't on the roster in the beginning, I was disappointed but I had other things on my mind.''
At the time, he was helping the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. Still, it was an ego-denter to be left off Canada's team when teammates Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis were selected.
``When that was over, I heard somebody say Steve Yzerman might not play so I kept my hopes up,'' said Lecavalier. ``When I got the call from (executive director) Wayne (Gretzky), I was really happy and I made sure I got to camp in great shape.''
Yzerman had to take himself off the roster because he felt he wasn't fully ready to play after recuperating from a serious eye injury suffered in last spring's playoffs. Enter Lecavalier, who did what Jarome Iginla did for Canada in its successful 2002 Olympic quest - play a key role after being a late roster addition.
``It's well-deserved,'' St. Louis said of the selection of Lecavalier was World Cup MVP. ``He was a late addition but when he came here he wasn't going to be a passenger.
``He wanted to make a difference. He definitely did. He made the best of it and he deserves to be the MVP.''
Lecavalier thought goalie Martin Brodeur was going to be named MVP.
``I was surprised,'' he said of hearing his name announced. ``Marty played unbelievable throughout the whole tournament.
``You know, they could give it to so many guys. It's a great honour. I think we won this as a team. Everybody played very well.''
The tournament all-star team consisted of Lecavalier, Modin and Finland's Saku Koivu up front, Canada's Adam Foote and Finland's Kimmo Timonen on defence and Canada's Martin Brodeur in goal.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
9/14/2004
TORONTO (CP) - Vincent Lecavalier, who wasn't originally named last May to Canada's team for the World Cup of Hockey, wound up leading it in scoring and winning the tournament MVP award Tuesday night.
Lecavalier, who enabled Canada to advance to the final when he scored in overtime to beat the Czech Republic in a semifinal game Saturday, had two goals and five assists for seven points in six games. The only player with more points was Sweden's Fredrik Modin, who had eight.
``It's a great honour just to be a part of this team,'' said Lecavalier. ``When I wasn't on the roster in the beginning, I was disappointed but I had other things on my mind.''
At the time, he was helping the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. Still, it was an ego-denter to be left off Canada's team when teammates Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis were selected.
``When that was over, I heard somebody say Steve Yzerman might not play so I kept my hopes up,'' said Lecavalier. ``When I got the call from (executive director) Wayne (Gretzky), I was really happy and I made sure I got to camp in great shape.''
Yzerman had to take himself off the roster because he felt he wasn't fully ready to play after recuperating from a serious eye injury suffered in last spring's playoffs. Enter Lecavalier, who did what Jarome Iginla did for Canada in its successful 2002 Olympic quest - play a key role after being a late roster addition.
``It's well-deserved,'' St. Louis said of the selection of Lecavalier was World Cup MVP. ``He was a late addition but when he came here he wasn't going to be a passenger.
``He wanted to make a difference. He definitely did. He made the best of it and he deserves to be the MVP.''
Lecavalier thought goalie Martin Brodeur was going to be named MVP.
``I was surprised,'' he said of hearing his name announced. ``Marty played unbelievable throughout the whole tournament.
``You know, they could give it to so many guys. It's a great honour. I think we won this as a team. Everybody played very well.''
The tournament all-star team consisted of Lecavalier, Modin and Finland's Saku Koivu up front, Canada's Adam Foote and Finland's Kimmo Timonen on defence and Canada's Martin Brodeur in goal.
Cheers,
Aquaman
MegaWorks
Diamond Member
Team Canada w00t!!
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