USA Hockey

[mduffy31]

Just finished watching the game, and in case you haven't heard the US lost 5-4. I think the US has a weaker team than the elite teams in competition. Russia and Canada are certainly better. These are all NHL guys so when I hear people complain that the Hockey team is choking I just don't think that is true, some of the best players in the NHL are not Americans.

[Captain Hilts]

1. We rely too much on the power play.

That doesn't cut it in international play.

I still hate Chelios.

[mduffy31]

2. Why is he on the team

he is 42 fucking years old, there is no younger NHL star that could be playing in this game? Why do we keep relying on these guys that have been in the league forever and not give any young kids a chance.

[Captain Hilts]

3. We should have used our junior team more.

And Chelios is a dirty-playing thug.

Nice to see Ovechkin play well...

[akarnitz]

8. Don't put this on Chelios.

The forwards are nothing to shout about. The US blueliners have played great. Holding Slovakia to 2 goals is outstanding!

The last good US National team won the World Cup with guys like Brett Hull and Brian Leetch. This team has Brian Rolston and Brett Hedican. What did you expect?

[akarnitz]

7. I used to hate him, too.

But then he got traded to the Wings. Early to mid-'90's there wasn't a better rivalry in the league, imho, than Wings-Hawks. There was no room at my favorite hockey bar to hang Chelios in effigy. The Wings had Konstantinov, who had a style like Chelios, tough and chippy but also great offensive threats. All the really good teams have guys like these. One day the Caps will, too.

[northzax]

12. no they won't, they're still the Caps, the place where good players

come to die. Ovechkin is just too young to realize it!

[DinahMoeHum]

4. 3 reasons why the European players are better players, IMO. . .

1) Skating.
2) Skating.
3) More skating.

Because the international rinks are wider, the European players tend to skate better than our North American players, who rely too much on physical contact, checking, mucking, etc. (The smaller NHL rinks make this possible)

Want better hockey players from the US and Canada? Gotta emphasize skating skills more.

BTW, that was the secret to the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team. Coach Herb Brooks skated his players ragged in practices, and after exhibition games (if they didn't perform well). So they were in better condition than their opponents in the 3rd period of games, when they exploded with goals.


:bounce:

[Captain Hilts]

5. At least the NHL is more skating-friendly these days. nt

[DaveinMD]

6. Miracle is a great movie

and the miracle on ice is one of my earliest sports memories. That group was a team in the best sense of the word.

[mduffy31]

9. I agree

I think that the US plays the "dump and chase" model too much. When you watch the Europeans they are carrying the puck into the zone and skating around the US. The clutch and grabbing is hurting them because the Euros are so much faster.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. Yep, and as Herb Brooks loved to say to his players. . .

"Don't dump the puck in. That went out with short pants"

"Throw the puck back and weave, weave, weave. But don't just weave for the sake of weaving."

Links:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_golden_goal/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/2000/02/17/a_reminder_of_what_we_can_be/

:bounce:

[realisticphish]

11. this is true

of US college teams too. WAY to many dumps. They start to bring it down ice, and I get all excited "Go, go, go!"; then the forward just smacks it around the boards, and they change lines.

[mike923]

13. Yet....

if the Olympics were played on a NHL sized rink, the US and Canada teams would be leaps and bounds better than the Euros.