Canada wins the first truly important sporting event of the year. (No, all of that US college bowl stuff doesn't count. That's only kids playing football. This is kids playing hockey. Truly important stuff. ) Tavares likely to go #1 in the 2009 draft after his performance. Way to go boys!

WOW, at their age, you mean to tell me that Tavares is STILL playing ice hockey??!!


Chess Fan

I hate to see hockey threads dying on the vine, but I haven't been keeping up with events, and don't know enough to comment.

OK, I looked up some info on TSN. Canada's 5th straight title, so winning was likely expected (no small amount of pressure on the youngsters). Of note to jingoistic American sports fans, the USA beat the Czech Republic 3-2 for fifth place.

I wouldn't have minded seeing Canada's semifinal game, but I hadn't been following the event. Canada always wins, right? Although I seem to recall Finland won it once in the nineties - one of the very few things we ever have.

Hey Guy. Yeah, winning is expected but it's difficult every year. Pat Quinn, the head coach, was five seconds from becoming the Canadian whipping boy (Canada was down by one with five seconds left against the Russians in the semi-final game). He would have been hung in effigy had the Canucks lost.

Five titles in a row is quite an accomplishment given the talent elsewhere in the world, and it should be noted that both the Americans and the Swedes were considered, if not outright favorites, at least co-favorites along with Canada to win gold this time. The Americans were a huge disappointment as they had as much talent as any team there, while the Russians were even better than expected, and may have played better hockey than any team in the tournament. The World Juniors come to my neck of the woods in 2010; I can hardly wait!

Is this the same Pat Quinn who, in the past, was the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers?


Chess Fan

Oh yeah. Quinn coaching is an indication that Canada takes the tournament very very seriously.

In contrast, though I haven't paid much attention in recent years, I always got the impression that "USA Hockey" (or whatever the American organization is called) was a bunch of dopey bureaucrats (for instance, in the post-Brooks years, there were some inexplicable Olympic coaches such as Lou Vairo). I'm not surprised that the USA underperformed their presumed talent level.

@Guy Kerr:

By your "Oh yeah.", do you mean, that, "Oh yeah." that that IS the same Pat Quinn who coached the Flyers?


Chess Fan

Ja. Da. Oui. Si. Righto.

Dude, when a Canadian hockey fan like Crumhorn mentions "Pat Quinn" without qualification, you can be darn sure it's the longtime NHL coach/GM (Flyers and other teams; I recall Toronto and Vancouver as well).

Gracias, Guy Kerr!


Chess Fan