Vancouver 2010 Olympics Thread...

[markabilly]

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/57/fullj.067438dc4f8323a0899dbd1614ef3d53/067438dc4f8323a0899dbd1614ef3d53-getty-95657668jd387_ice_hockey_wo.jpg

[Valve Bounce]

How come these guys wearing eye makeup?

[Easy Drifter]

Any of you mouthy twits :D want to take those lasses on in a hockey game?
They warm up against all men teams and several of them play minor league (and not so minor) professional hockey.
Consider the antics of any major league mens teams after a championship win, if not hidden away by the networks.

Stuffed shirts stick it where the sun don't shine!!!!!!!!! :s mokin:

What a world of not allowed to have fun have we become!!

Think back to what a hit 'Stand on It' the book was. Not the bleepin movie.
Well that pretty much was the way it really was.
The F Atlantic series was just as wild in the mid 70's.
Some of the milder tales I will tell on www.thegarageblog.com (http://www.thegarageblog.com)
Others maybe, eventually, but names will have to be disguised to protect the guilty.

[Valve Bounce]

Any of you mouthy twits :D want to take those lasses on in a hockey game?
They warm up against all men teams and several of them play minor league (and not so minor) professional hockey.
Consider the antics of any major league mens teams after a championship win, if not hidden away by the networks.

Stuffed shirts stick it where the sun don't shine!!!!!!!!! :s mokin:

What a world of not allowed to have fun have we become!!

Think back to what a hit 'Stand on It' the book was. Not the bleepin movie.
Well that pretty much was the way it really was.
The F Atlantic series was just as wild in the mid 70's.
Some of the milder tales I will tell on www.thegarageblog.com (http://www.thegarageblog.com)
Others maybe, eventually, but names will have to be disguised to protect the guilty.

Presuming I'm one of the mouthy twits referred to, I'd have to admit that neither of them attract me in any way; I'm not interested in men with makeup on either. I'd rather have someone prettier like some of the figure skaters - the Korean one, I do fancy.

As my brother used to say:"Different strokes for different folks", so I'll leave the two pictured above to someone else, Thanks!

[Mark in Oshawa]

I am totally speechless.... :mark:

I've never seen such a lame effort from our team in hockey....

What the HECK Happened to my Finnish buddies? I was hoping like hell you would tune the Americans up, instead you guys got run over...yikes!!!

[Mark in Oshawa]

Presuming I'm one of the mouthy twits referred to, I'd have to admit that neither of them attract me in any way; I'm not interested in men with makeup on either. I'd rather have someone prettier like some of the figure skaters - the Korean one, I do fancy.

As my brother used to say:"Different strokes for different folks", so I'll leave the two pictured above to someone else, Thanks!

Meghan Agosta don't look too good smoking a cigar, but hey, the girl earned it. The best looking women's hockey player ever tho retired after last Olympics, Cassie Campbell-Paschal. Hubba hubba...apparently she went down after her broadcasting duties were over, since she still is the spiritual captain of that outfit.

Women's hockey may get the boot from the IOC, but I don't blame the Canadians and American girls for elevating the game to a high level. Shame on the federations in other nations for not getting the coaching and support for those teams to reach that level.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Don't know how much of the bobsled you guys saw, but the 4 man bob it seemed like every 3rd sled couldn't make the transitions. That track is just plain TOUGH.

Also, I am a happy guy, Two golds and a bronze today in short track speed skating. Have to love the men's 500m where two Canucks, a Korean and Apolo Ohno had one WILD finish with Charles Hamelin finally winning a gold with the other Canuck 3rd after Ohno was disqualified. It had to be one of the stranger finishes this games.

Women's curling was a real mess for Canada. Congratulations to the Swedish ladies for winning but Bernard handed you a gift. For a curling team to be up 6-4 in the 9th, give up 2 for a tie in the 10, and then in the extra end with last rock cough up more stones is just awful. OH well, it is the kind of finish the Canadian men seem to specialize in.....lol

[Valve Bounce]

The best looking women's hockey player ever tho retired after last Olympics, Cassie Campbell-Paschal. Hubba hubba....

Oh! man!! that really sets my heart thumping; my cardio will be furious with you, Mark.

http://www.thehearttruth.ca/~ASSETS/IMG/upload/fsphotos/2009/highres/cassie_campbell.jpg

[janneppi]

I am totally speechless.... :mark:

I've never seen such a lame effort from our team in hockey....
I changed the channel after 0-2, came back just before 0-3, then at 0-6. :(
I was hoping Slovakia wins Canada, that way there would be no chance for a medal in hockey, with that kind of play, the team doesn't deserve it.

At least I got see the Numb3rs episode. :D

[DexDexter]

I am totally speechless.... :mark:

I've never seen such a lame effort from our team in hockey....

Blame it on the coach. If you look at the roster, there is absolutely no roles for the players, no checking line, no defensive line, just a collection of players without any thinking. Jalonen showed he isn't capable of reacting, changing things quickly. If grandpas can't put the puck in the net after playing powerplay for a week, you have to change things. If a certain defenseman cannot play on this level, don't play him.

[A.F.F.]

What the HECK Happened to my Finnish buddies? I was hoping like hell you would tune the Americans up, instead you guys got run over...yikes!!!

Kiprusoff happened :mark:

Then, everybody got stunned. Our coaches didn't react, they took timeout too late, Kiprusoff off too late....

I haven't seen such a massacre so quickly since I first saw Vitor Belfort in an octacon....

The only positive thing was it all happened so quickly that the shock went over and turned to disbelief... I was literally laughing at fifth and sixth goal... :dozey:

[Mark in Oshawa]

I promise you Finn's my Canadian compadres will do their best to level some revenge. That said, Remember I picked the Americans to be the one wild card Canada may not handle. They are the kryptonite to the Canadian superman. Between the reality of a stellar Ryan Miller in net, and the fact they cannot be intimidated like the Russians were by a heavy and belliegerant forecheck makes this a potential game for the ages.

I am going to be a nervous wreck Sunday. I didn't watch last time these two met yet I relished the Russian and German games. It is just this one that aggravates me....

I defend Americans and love going there a lot, but when it comes to hockey, I would rather see Canada just blow their doors off early and often.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Oh! man!! that really sets my heart thumping; my cardio will be furious with you, Mark.

http://www.thehearttruth.ca/~ASSETS/IMG/upload/fsphotos/2009/highres/cassie_campbell.jpg

VB..she cleans up pretty darn good don't she? What is really cool tho is she is one of the colour people for Hockey Night in Canada doing features. She gets more respect from the guys than most because of her days as captain of the women's team. Still, I have an image of her burned in my mind from her being on some charity special while she was still playing in heels and a black cocktail dress with the slit up the side....I cant find that picture online but boy...it makes the one you supplied look even tamer.

No...our Canadian girls celebrated like the boys, but they are still ladies.....although that shot of Agosta smoking a stogie is also burned in my retina's now!

[Eki]

I changed the channel after 0-2, came back just before 0-3, then at 0-6. :(

At least I got see the Numb3rs episode. :D
Same here.

[jens]

Well, what can I say. I think we should be satisfied that we have managed to open our medal count in these games too. :)

[AAReagles]

... I defend Americans and love going there a lot, but when it comes to hockey, I would rather see Canada just blow their doors off early and often.

Guess I'll be considered a traitor for stating this, but yeah, I'll be pulling for the Canadians too since:

1) Hockey to Canada is like (US) football is to America - hence it's a secondary religion, so it means more to our neighbors up north than us.

2) I'm most grateful your country's export of high quality products such as Gilles Villenueve (doubt I spelled that right :s ) and his son Jacques.

3) Since NBC is going overboad with retro-1980 flashbacks of the US gold team, I would like to see Canadians win this one on their home soil, as the US did 30 years ago. As I know you guys would be going @#%$ing crazy. Sort of like Italians at Monza whenever a Italian driver won in a Ferrari.

[ojciec dyrektor]

I was hoping Slovakia wins Canada, that way there would be no chance for a medal in hockey, with that kind of play, the team doesn't deserve it.

In my opinion Finland have no chance to beat Slovakia.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Guess I'll be considered a traitor for stating this, but yeah, I'll be pulling for the Canadians too since:

1) Hockey to Canada is like (US) football is to America - hence it's a secondary religion, so it means more to our neighbors up north than us.

2) I'm most grateful your country's export of high quality products such as Gilles Villenueve (doubt I spelled that right :s ) and his son Jacques.

3) Since NBC is going overboad with retro-1980 flashbacks of the US gold team, I would like to see Canadians win this one on their home soil, as the US did 30 years ago. As I know you guys would be going @#%$ing crazy. Sort of like Italians at Monza whenever a Italian driver won in a Ferrari.

Mr. Reagles, it is Villeneuve...lol but that's ok, spelling most French words escapes me also.

I don't know if will win or not. In a one game sudden death situation, anything can happen, and Ryan Miller is a hot goalie. That said, Roberto Luongo (the crowd will go LLLLLUUUUUUU!!!! every time he makes a stop, and they are not booing him!) is playing on his ice (The Building is called GM Place actually, not "Canada Hockey Center"as the IOC wants it referred to) where the hometown Canucks play where is the star. So, home ice for Luongo litereally means this is his office. That, and the fire power of the likes of Iginla and Crosby, with the sheer cannon of a Shea Weber or the speed and defensive prowess of Duncan Keith or Drew Doughty would have you believe this isn't close. YET...I picked the USA to be the real dark horse that would give Canada fits, so I will be a basketcase until this is over with.

You Yanks wont be bashed and intimidated off the puck the way the Russians were....so it will be down to speed, puck handling and who wants it more. Canada usually wins all those battles, but the Americans have actually a slight edge on speed and they haven't shown any lack of gumption yet.

Close...too close to call. IN a 7 game series I would say Canada would win easy, but this is a coin flip.

[A.F.F.]

In my opinion Finland have no chance to beat Slovakia.

Based on yesterday's performance, Finland has no chance to beat anybody... ever.

On paper there's no difference with the teams. Now the pronze is there to be taken whoever wants it more. I t-r-u-l-y hope it's going to be us.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Congratulations to my Finnish friends, your boys made up for that lackluster performance against the Americans and you played a great game against Slovokia scoring 4 unanswered goals in about as wild an effort as I have ever seen. The medal may be bronze, but you do realize the Finns seem to be the mainstays on the podium in Olympic hockey with a string of medals going back 6 Olympics. That aint bad, especially since 98 when Canada and the US have been able to bring all their big guns to play, and most the NHL players from other nations now are not excluded. THe competition of Olympic hockey really wasn't meaningful until 98, yet you Finn's have always been on the podium. So it isn't gold doesn't mean you aren't there. A nation of 5 million or so shouldn't be that powerful in a lot of sports, yet here you are.

Congratulations for a pretty interesting show against the Slovaks and all the great Finnish athletes this last two weeks.

Just one question tho? What does the "Suomi" mean on the front of the Finnish hockey jersey? I must get one of those one day.....

[Eki]

Just one question tho? What does the "Suomi" mean on the front of the Finnish hockey jersey? I must get one of those one day.....
It means "Finland". Thought you would have guessed it.

[A.F.F.]

Thanks Mark :up:

Pronze would have been a GREAT result from these Olympics but the game against USA was such a massacre it left a stain which is hard to forget :mark:

I wish Canada good luck and I hope it will be your team over USA who take the gold !!!

[DonJippo]

Thanks Mark :up:

Pronze would have been a GREAT result from these Olympics but the game against USA was such a massacre it left a stain which is hard to forget...

Väärin voitettu ... :rolleyes:

Bronze is a great results, just think about teams that are behind, Russia, Sweden and many others. Well done Leijonat :D

[Mark in Oshawa]

It means "Finland". Thought you would have guessed it.

Well I guessed it, but I was hoping there was some explaination how SUOMI isn't then the name of the nation that I KNOW as Finland. I don't call you Bob, because your name is Eki. If you went around with a sweater saying Bob on it, but you said it really means Eki, I would lock you in a room until you sobered up.

So Suomi is Finnish for Finland? Ok...It makes sense sort of.....but I do like the uniform. The Soft blue of the Finnish colours with the Suomi and the crest on the front is an iconic uniform like the the Tre Kronor of Sweden or the Maple Leaf emblem of Hockey Canada.

[DexDexter]

Congratulations to my Finnish friends, your boys made up for that lackluster performance against the Americans and you played a great game against Slovokia scoring 4 unanswered goals in about as wild an effort as I have ever seen. The medal may be bronze, but you do realize the Finns seem to be the mainstays on the podium in Olympic hockey with a string of medals going back 6 Olympics. That aint bad, especially since 98 when Canada and the US have been able to bring all their big guns to play, and most the NHL players from other nations now are not excluded. THe competition of Olympic hockey really wasn't meaningful until 98, yet you Finn's have always been on the podium. So it isn't gold doesn't mean you aren't there. A nation of 5 million or so shouldn't be that powerful in a lot of sports, yet here you are.

Congratulations for a pretty interesting show against the Slovaks and all the great Finnish athletes this last two weeks.

Just one question tho? What does the "Suomi" mean on the front of the Finnish hockey jersey? I must get one of those one day.....

:up:

Bronze is a great achievement and a nice end to the national team career for Saku Koivu, Lehtinen, Peltonen, Selänne. Time really flies you know, I'm about the same age as Saku and it seems it was only yesterday when he was the up and coming star in Lillehammer olympics... makes you wonder...

Btw Suomi is Finland.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Thanks Mark :up:

Pronze would have been a GREAT result from these Olympics but the game against USA was such a massacre it left a stain which is hard to forget :mark:

I wish Canada good luck and I hope it will be your team over USA who take the gold !!!

With luck, we will revenge that one for you. I think we have the Americans right where we want them. Overconfindent....lol..then again, we were guilty of that until the Russia game....

No one will really remember that bad beating because the Bronze Medal game was quite the good effort. To go from 3-1 in the start of the 3rd to a 5-3 result against a team with as many good players as Slovakia is a good comeback. I enjoyed the game a lot...and I would think it has to salve the wounds the Americans opened up. Kipper wore that loss and he made up for it...

[Eki]

Well I guessed it, but I was hoping there was some explaination how SUOMI isn't then the name of the nation that I KNOW as Finland. I don't call you Bob, because your name is Eki. If you went around with a sweater saying Bob on it, but you said it really means Eki, I would lock you in a room until you sobered up.

So Suomi is Finnish for Finland? Ok...It makes sense sort of.....but I do like the uniform. The Soft blue of the Finnish colours with the Suomi and the crest on the front is an iconic uniform like the the Tre Kronor of Sweden or the Maple Leaf emblem of Hockey Canada.
Even Canada isn't Canada in Finnish, it's Kanada.

[Mark in Oshawa]

:up:

Bronze is a great achievement and a nice end to the national team career for Saku Koivu, Lehtinen, Peltonen, Selänne. Time really flies you know, I'm about the same age as Saku and it seems it was only yesterday when he was the up and coming star in Lillehammer olympics... makes you wonder...

Btw Suomi is Finland.

Eki pointed that out Dex, and I guess I get that. If I spoke Finnish then it would make sense. No matter what language anyone would see "Canada" in, it would be spelled the same if we use the same alphabet. You don't say you are from Suomi if you are speaking English, but if you are speaking Finnish you would talk about the home country as Suomi? Interesting. The one thing I love about you Finns is your language truly is yours. The Swedes, Norwegians, Danes and Icelanders all sort of speak offshoots of the same basic tongue, but I was told Finn is completely different from those neighbouring countries, and the Russians.

Also..I thank you guys for being proficient in English, because we couldn't have much of a conversation if you waited on me to learn Finnish. I have a really good incentive to learn French and I cannot do it without a huge difficulty, I cant imagine Finnish would be easier.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Even Canada isn't Canada in Finnish, it's Kanada.
Ok, but still, I can recognize that. You don't use "C" too often in Finnish...but the word is easily recognizable. To the English speaking world, Suomi doesn't mean Finland at all in English unless we were told it was... I guessed it, but I thought there was some story I wasn't up on.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Another congrats I have to give out is to the Americans for their 4 man Bobsleigh win. The Incomparable Armin Lange of Germany got 2nd by one hundreth of a second over Lyndon Rush in Canada 1 but it was a good story of how the Ameircans got the lead after one run and just stayed fast with their sled "Night train" ( I think it is cool the name of the sled got out). Interestingly, it was a more conventional sled like most of the nations use, rather than that weird but fast "BoDyn" sled from the company Geoff Bodine helped fund in the 90's....

[Placid]

Bodine should be proud. Wished he should have been there.

[Tomi]

Väärin voitettu ... :rolleyes:

Bronze is a great results, just think about teams that are behind, Russia, Sweden and many others. Well done Leijonat :D

Agree, a very good tournament again, if you look at how small the amount of registred players we have its amazing really, to get to the medal matches in olympics 4 times in row, tells quite much about the level of coaching, big thanks to this "super generation" of players, for very nice moments of entertaining hockey.

[Eki]

Ok, but still, I can recognize that. You don't use "C" too often in Finnish...but the word is easily recognizable. To the English speaking world, Suomi doesn't mean Finland at all in English unless we were told it was... I guessed it, but I thought there was some story I wasn't up on.
Even Finns don't know what Suomi means other than the country, or the latter part of the province Varsinais-Suomi (= Finland Proper). There probably was some story behind it, but it has been forgotten.

[Rollo]

It probably derives from an ancient Baltic word "zeme" which means "land".
Suomaa and Suoniemi which mean fen land or fen cape, are probably relatives of the word.
It could also refer to the Sami people themselves.

[Tomi]

It probably derives from an ancient Baltic word "zeme" which means "land".
Suomaa and Suoniemi which mean fen land or fen cape, are probably relatives of the word.
It could also refer to the Sami people themselves.

yes those are common guesses, but nobody know for sure.

[ojciec dyrektor]

Fortunately I was wrong. Congrats to all Finns! :)
Who's gonna win gold medal tonight?

[A.F.F.]

It'll be Kanada!!!!!!

Kanukit will win !!! :D ;)

[Tomi]

canada is the favorite, but everything is possible

[DexDexter]

Canada is going to win. I find it a bit hard to be excited about the final since Canada-USA matchup doesn't really do anything for me, it's like watching Stanley Cup playoffs. Canada vs. Russia would've been much more interesting but that game was played eariler :) .

[markabilly]

Any of you mouthy twits :D want to take those lasses on in a hockey game?

Stuffed shirts stick it where the sun don't shine!!!!!!!!! :s mokin:

.

Defintely. Yes, but I was not thinking in a hockey game........

And they could stuff my shirt anytime.... :love:

smokem if you gotem

[dunes]

Good luck to Canada. Heres a b it of lore that might help you. In his jounior years in Mich. Ryan Miller chocks under pressure in big games. Shoot hard and shoot often.
Again Good Luck and Remember we owe you one. :D

[Mark in Oshawa]

Canada is going to win. I find it a bit hard to be excited about the final since Canada-USA matchup doesn't really do anything for me, it's like watching Stanley Cup playoffs. Canada vs. Russia would've been much more interesting but that game was played eariler :) .

Well we saw how the Russians stood up. I believe Nabokov said after the game "The Canadians were on me like gorillas out of a cage".....

Dex, You should watch because the Americans play the game most like us, and while Americans at large don't always appreciate the game, their players play it now our way due to many of them getting their junior years of hockey playing in the CHL and and in many tournaments up here. Their hockey culture is similar now to ours (it used to be a rich kid elite sport in the US but it isn't so much now) and that is why this game will be so hotly contested. Both sides get along off the ice, but when that puck drops, the war of 1812 will be refought, and it is the one place where the little brother in this relationship refuses to give up its bragging rights.

It will likely be a very interesting game....and that is all I can say. If my guys play their best game, we win 4-2....but I have always liked Ryan Miller. Swoop, I hope you are right about him cracking under pressure, but I don't think we can depend on that. I hope the "gorillas out of the cage" fly again...and we win it going away. 2002 is still etched in my mind when finally after 50 years of politics and lost opportunity, we won. The fact is for about 30 years our best players were not allowed to play in the Olympics for hockey while the USSR had their "Soldiers" kicking the crap out college kids. This game will carry the nation no matter what. The emotions we have in this country for that silly game is pretty much is what always unites us, when we bicker internally about just about everything else.

I wish the USA luck, but not too much....sorry, we wont be too polite on the host thing until after the game is over....

[DexDexter]

Well we saw how the Russians stood up. I believe Nabokov said after the game "The Canadians were on me like gorillas out of a cage".....

Dex, You should watch because the Americans play the game most like us, and while Americans at large don't always appreciate the game, their players play it now our way due to many of them getting their junior years of hockey playing in the CHL and and in many tournaments up here. Their hockey culture is similar now to ours (it used to be a rich kid elite sport in the US but it isn't so much now) and that is why this game will be so hotly contested. Both sides get along off the ice, but when that puck drops, the war of 1812 will be refought, and it is the one place where the little brother in this relationship refuses to give up its bragging rights.

It will likely be a very interesting game....and that is all I can say. If my guys play their best game, we win 4-2....but I have always liked Ryan Miller. Swoop, I hope you are right about him cracking under pressure, but I don't think we can depend on that. I hope the "gorillas out of the cage" fly again...and we win it going away. 2002 is still etched in my mind when finally after 50 years of politics and lost opportunity, we won. The fact is for about 30 years our best players were not allowed to play in the Olympics for hockey while the USSR had their "Soldiers" kicking the crap out college kids. This game will carry the nation no matter what. The emotions we have in this country for that silly game is pretty much is what always unites us, when we bicker internally about just about everything else.

I wish the USA luck, but not too much....sorry, we wont be too polite on the host thing until after the game is over....

I'll watch it alright, let's hope it's a great game. And let's hope that the best players will also be allowed to play in Russia in 4 years time. :up:

[Mark in Oshawa]

I'll watch it alright, let's hope it's a great game. And let's hope that the best players will also be allowed to play in Russia in 4 years time. :up:

I agree 100% Dex. I hope the greed and stupidity of NHL team owners wont get in the way. Hockey is the only major "big 4" sport in North American sport that gets given the short shrift by the people who run the league when it comes to international participation. They don't grasp that the sport needs to keep the best players in the Olympics.

[Ghostwalker]

Why is 3 out of 4 referees Canadian?

[Eki]

Why is 3 out of 4 referees Canadian?
I was wondering the same.

[jens]

Well, congrats to Canada! :) Massively successful games for you - 14 gold medals. Overall: the influence of several Asian countries is gradually increasing in winter games and their specialities are already wider than short-track, having conquered competitive positions in classical speed skating as well. At the other end of the spectrum Finland and Italy aren't having best times by their standards. Russia has been gradually losing their power in winter sports in the 21st century - endless dope scandals haven't helped their case.

Both Estonian skiers, who triumphed in Turin, have made an impressive comeback to sport after disappearing due to different reasons after the previous games - Šmigun-Vähi got a silver and Veerpalu finished 6th (which IMO is a great feat considering that mass-starts have never been his speciality), having become World Champion last year. The sad part is that they are about as much as we have got in terms of winter sports competitiveness and they won't stay around forever.

[Easy Drifter]

Yikes!!!!!
Last May my 27 year old Hitachi died.
Bought a new 32 inch Sony,
Listened to the game on radio becauses said Sony died.
What a game.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I was wondering the same.They are Canadian because the NHL has the best referee's in the world, and you wont hear one complaint from the US side because they would rather have Canadian ref's on the ice than some guy from Germany.

The IIHF picks the ref's, and both sides can veto who are the ref's.

[race aficionado]

That was a fun and exciting game.

I even managed to start seeing the puck.

I even imagined what Mark was going through as he listened to the game in his car radio.

And that sudden death overtime must have been a heart pumping crazy time for the real die hard fans.

Congrats to all.

:s mokin:

[Mark in Oshawa]

Now...all I am going to say, That was closer than I wanted, but Mission Accomplished. We go back to being our tame and humble selves tomorrow, hung over. Tonight...we go to bed knowing we did our best, and that was pretty darn good. Most Golds in a Winter Olympics, with the Curling Gold being the tying medal, and Men's hockey being the cherry on the sundae. We may never have another 2 weeks like this!

[Mark in Oshawa]

That was a fun and exciting game.

I even managed to start seeing the puck.

I even imagined what Mark was going through as he listened to the game in his car radio.

And that sudden death overtime must have been a heart pumping crazy time for the real die hard fans.

Congrats to all.

:s mokin:

We lost when I didn't watch, I knew I had to watch. I thought we were dead meat when the US scored that tying goal, but I had the faith. Never give up...and it is a cathartic process to see your team win after that much stress!

I feel bad for the American guys, and their GM Brian Burke who is the regular GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but hey, for that game, there was no friends.

Makes you think watching NHL hockey will be dreary eh?

[Valve Bounce]

We lost when I didn't watch, I knew I had to watch. I thought we were dead meat when the US scored that tying goal, but I had the faith. Never give up...and it is a cathartic process to see your team win after that much stress!

I feel bad for the American guys, and their GM Brian Burke who is the regular GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but hey, for that game, there was no friends.

Makes you think watching NHL hockey will be dreary eh?

Neither did I. Went to coffee with my wife and Benny,and we just got home. The TV is showing the replay now, so I had to log on to find out the result from you. I'd like to think that Canada won because I willed them to win, but I think the entire population of Canada feels that way too. :)

[DonJippo]

Great hockey game by two great teams. Congrats to Canada for winning gold! Pity players don't have too much time to celebrate their win, back to work on Monday but I'm sure rest off the nation will have a party or two going on for some time :D

[A.F.F.]

Great hockey game by two great teams. Congrats to Canada for winning gold! Pity players don't have too much time to celebrate their win, back to work on Monday but I'm sure rest off the nation will have a party or two going on for some time :D

I'll ride on DonJippo, word to word :up:

[dunes]

Congrats to all my Canukidaian friends. From what i've read it must have been better than imagined. I'll feel bad I missed this one and I'm sure of it. But as long as we can all buy each other a tall cold blue then everythings good in my world.
Your right about the refs I wouldn't have anythjing but canidian refs. There smarter and have more sportsmanship about the hows and whys things happen. I'm sure it'll be boring for a while getting back to the NHL level but we can [almost all of us] hope they all look and are played as well asd I read they were.

Martk Congrats bragging rights for 4 years are yours. :s mokin:
Can the Red Wings rebound and make an honest run for the che cup?
MaybEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
:eek:

[Mark in Oshawa]

Just came back from watching the wrap up on TV. Apparently Toronto has about 6 blocks shut off on Yonge St. Vancouver is partying in the streets that the noise is audible inside the Broadcast Center. I know this much, there is going to be a lot of hangovers tomorrow!

I thank you Finn's in particular for the kind words. You guys understand how much was tied up in this. We rarely get a chance in this country to be the big guy or be the champs in much. Being beside the USA means you end up being ignored or dismissed by accident, and we usually as a people are not that demonstrative of our country. This 2 weeks has been an unbelieveable ride in this country, and no matter what happens in the future, these last 2 weeks were unbelievable.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Congrats to all my Canukidaian friends. From what i've read it must have been better than imagined. I'll feel bad I missed this one and I'm sure of it. But as long as we can all buy each other a tall cold blue then everythings good in my world.
Your right about the refs I wouldn't have anythjing but canidian refs. There smarter and have more sportsmanship about the hows and whys things happen. I'm sure it'll be boring for a while getting back to the NHL level but we can [almost all of us] hope they all look and are played as well asd I read they were.

Martk Congrats bragging rights for 4 years are yours. :s mokin:
Can the Red Wings rebound and make an honest run for the che cup?
MaybEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
:eek:
Swoop my man, Babcock knows how to do it, and all those Swedes your Wings have will be well rested!!!!

I would have to say on the refs, I am sure the US GM Brian Burke would have protested if he thought they wouldn't be fair. They let them play today, and that was probably one of the greatest games every played. Most people my age vaguely remember 72 and us beating the USSR in Moscow, and the 76 and 87 Canada Cups were memorable, but I think this was even better. I thank you for the best wishes. One day we Canadians better get used to you guys or someone from Europe winning more often, because Y'all are just getting TOO good at our game. We held you off tho this time......

[dunes]

WOW!
I just heard Sid the Kid scored the OT winner.
I'll never be able to live this down. !st the shalacking in motown on my Wings for the cup and now to beat the USA for the gold.

Mark I grew up in St. Clair Shores Michigan[read the ice logo in ST.C.S. Hockeytown USA].For real since 1927 its had that logo at center ice. A coins toss the river from Windsor and Grew up Playing and loving Hockey but I must admit I learned everything I know from Canadians. From being billeted out in Kitchner and other surrounding toronto cities to even have the Greatest of all Gordie Howe teach me Offensive defense and power skating endurance.
I'd like to take time to thank Canada for teaching the US all we know.

[Valve Bounce]

Just returned from Costco where this guy was watching the replay on a huge TV and the US just scored the equalizer. He looked so gutted; so I told him that Canada won. You shoulda seen his face light up - he was just so happy.

[PSfan]

Canada beating the US in overtime for the gold medal in hockey should make for a great movie in about 8 years or so... when the Canadian film industry passes hollywood... :p (Miracle 2: the Canadian Story)

noticed NBC decided to show Marriage ref instead of the closing ceremonies in full... retards... if it wasn't for the supporting cast on Seinfeld he would be a laughing stock...

[Valve Bounce]

I just watched the replay of the Hockey and that was an incredible golden goal in OT. The Canadian had his opponent trapped against the wall, passed the puck to his team mate, "ran" (if you can call it that) out to receive the return pass and shot it into the net. The more times I played it, the more clinical it looked.

Having said that, it was a very, very close game and either side could have won.

[Tomi]

Con grats to the Canucs, it was a good exciting game.
Here on the homefront the whining has already begin, Miss Savo, Olivia Jokinen feels that she dont get enough respect in our hockey team, and has desided in the future to only play where she gets respect.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I just watched the replay of the Hockey and that was an incredible golden goal in OT. The Canadian had his opponent trapped against the wall, passed the puck to his team mate, "ran" (if you can call it that) out to receive the return pass and shot it into the net. The more times I played it, the more clinical it looked.

Having said that, it was a very, very close game and either side could have won.

That goal was due to the savvy thinking of Jarome Iginla but you see that a lot. It was just fate and destiny deciding to smile on the red and white once again. Effort equals results and although the USA played a great game, Canada dominated most of the 1st and a good part of the 3rd, and then slowly cranked up the pressure to the end. It was like two guys fighting in the water trying to drown each other, and the more apparent the Americans were going to lose, the more desparate they got.

Funny...haven't talked to anyone on my Facebook or here that was cheering for the USA, even some of my American friends...lol...Now THAT is sad. One this is for sure. If we lost that game, the nation would have been in mourning!

[Mark in Oshawa]

WOW!
I just heard Sid the Kid scored the OT winner.
I'll never be able to live this down. !st the shalacking in motown on my Wings for the cup and now to beat the USA for the gold.

Mark I grew up in St. Clair Shores Michigan[read the ice logo in ST.C.S. Hockeytown USA].For real since 1927 its had that logo at center ice. A coins toss the river from Windsor and Grew up Playing and loving Hockey but I must admit I learned everything I know from Canadians. From being billeted out in Kitchner and other surrounding toronto cities to even have the Greatest of all Gordie Howe teach me Offensive defense and power skating endurance.
I'd like to take time to thank Canada for teaching the US all we know.

Swoop, thank you sir. I know where St. Clair Shores is alright. I am envious of you meeting the great Gordie Howe. He is a living symbol of a Canadian hockey player. Tall, strong but humble. Take away the strong and about 50% of the nasty streak, and you have Sidney Crosby!

We will never be a power in Baseball although we get lucky on occasion, do ok at basketball, play our version of football (the better one I think) and we usually pop up occasionally in a few sports on a regular basis but Curling, Rowing, Speedskating, occaisonally Figure Skating and hockey are our games. We will never dominate the world economically, we are not a military power (we know how to, we just are too small), and we usually defer to others...but put us on the rink, and we become pretty proud. So we now will just go back to our usual ways, but I don't think anyone of the 33 million odd people in this country can forget the last 2 weeks....or will want to.

[DexDexter]

Con grats to the Canucs, it was a good exciting game.
Here on the homefront the whining has already begin, Miss Savo, Olivia Jokinen feels that she dont get enough respect in our hockey team, and has desided in the future to only play where she gets respect.

Yep and he is totally correct. Jalonen played grandpas based on the names in the jerseys and didn't care to look at the scoreboard. Koivu zero goals, Selänne zero goals, Lehtinen zero goals and this after huge amounts of powerplay, sometimes five on three. Jokinen on the other hand was put on the fourth line, which by the way wasn't a checking line or defensive line, it was just a collection of players. Our coaching has gone backwards a hundred years since the days os Summanen and Westerlund..

Congrats to Canada by the way.

[Tomi]

Yep and he is totally correct. Jalonen played grandpas based on the names in the jerseys and didn't care to look at the scoreboard. Koivu zero goals, Selänne zero goals, Lehtinen zero goals and this after huge amounts of powerplay, sometimes five on three. Jokinen on the other hand was put on the fourth line, which by the way wasn't a checking line or defensive line, it was just a collection of players. Our coaching has gone backwards a hundred years since the days os Summanen and Westerlund..

Congrats to Canada by the way.

Lol, are you serious, you think its ok to go to the press and cry and to refuse to play in the future if you dont get everything your way, I would say thats more than childish, a doll house is the perfect place for him to play in.
But Westerlund I agree, Summanen not simply because nobody would play under him.

[DexDexter]

Lol, are you serious, you think its ok to go to the press and cry and to refuse to play in the future if you dont get everything your way, I would say thats more than childish, a doll house is the perfect place for him to play in.
But Westerlund I agree, Summanen not simply because nobody would play under him.

Well maybe it's the only way to make people realise that all is not well in Finnish hockey. Jalonen gave much more icetime to players that were far far worse than Jokinen. In a way winning the bronze was a bad thing, since all the problems are going to be swept under the carpet again.

[Tomi]

Well maybe it's the only way to make people realise that all is not well in Finnish hockey. Jalonen gave much more icetime to players that were far far worse than Jokinen. In a way winning the bronze was a bad thing, since all the problems are going to be swept under the carpet again.

Yes but thats a different thing, and that has nothing to do with who is coach now or has been but other things.
I would understand Jokinen if things would have came to him as surprise, but thats for sure not the case.
Every NHL player choosed did get their material about the roles and the videos about the way they are supposed to play, months ago, he should have cryed then instead of now.

[Firstgear]

.............sudden death situation, anything can happen, ...............the fire power of the likes of Iginla and Crosby.........

Your crystal ball was firing on all cylinders in that post Mark.

I must admit, I was cheering for the US to tie it up in the 3rd, 'cause I wanted to see it go to overtime.

[DexDexter]

Yes but thats a different thing, and that has nothing to do with who is coach now or has been but other things.
I would understand Jokinen if things would have came to him as surprise, but thats for sure not the case.
Every NHL player choosed did get their material about the roles and the videos about the way they are supposed to play, months ago, he should have cryed then instead of now.

I'm sure the coach didn't tell Jokinen beforehand that he was going to be put into the 4th line and given very little ice time no matter how well he played. Jokinen played well, some others didn't and still got much more ice time. I would be pissed of also if I were Jokinen.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Well guys, if the Finn's have prima donna's who don't to play roles, here is the attitude Hockey Canada mandated a long time ago going right back to when JP Parise and Bill Goldsworthy whined about playing time in the Summit Series. You don't invite them back. The name on the front of the sweater is the most important. IF Olli Jokinen doesn't like his role, the coaches could have told him either he played that role, or he was nailed to the bench. Of course, you may not win, or do as well, but if players realize that for national pride you accept a new role, it is easier to build a team.

Hockey may be the ultimate team game...no one great player can win by himself, and the culture of the game only tolerates so much mercurial ego's.

The biggest and most aggressively "me" guy in the NHL is Ovechkin, and for all his talent and personality, compare his achievements to the humble smaller man to which he is compared. Sidney Crosby was on the team that beat OV in 05 in the World Juniors, the Penguins have beat Washington in the playoffs on two Stanley Cup runs, and last week Crosby's team beat the Ovechkin led Russians badly. Why? Crosby wasn't always the key, but the fact is he is a great player willing to do what it takes and submerge his ego which creates the culture to bring the whole team higher. Like Gretzky, Crosby's quiet determination makes those around him play better. Finland needs their guy like that. I always thought Selanne to be that player, but perhaps he wasn't enough by himself.

[DexDexter]

Well guys, if the Finn's have prima donna's who don't to play roles, here is the attitude Hockey Canada mandated a long time ago going right back to when JP Parise and Bill Goldsworthy whined about playing time in the Summit Series. You don't invite them back. The name on the front of the sweater is the most important. IF Olli Jokinen doesn't like his role, the coaches could have told him either he played that role, or he was nailed to the bench. Of course, you may not win, or do as well, but if players realize that for national pride you accept a new role, it is easier to build a team.

Hockey may be the ultimate team game...no one great player can win by himself, and the culture of the game only tolerates so much mercurial ego's.

The biggest and most aggressively "me" guy in the NHL is Ovechkin, and for all his talent and personality, compare his achievements to the humble smaller man to which he is compared. Sidney Crosby was on the team that beat OV in 05 in the World Juniors, the Penguins have beat Washington in the playoffs on two Stanley Cup runs, and last week Crosby's team beat the Ovechkin led Russians badly. Why? Crosby wasn't always the key, but the fact is he is a great player willing to do what it takes and submerge his ego which creates the culture to bring the whole team higher. Like Gretzky, Crosby's quiet determination makes those around him play better. Finland needs their guy like that. I always thought Selanne to be that player, but perhaps he wasn't enough by himself.

The problem was, Mark, there were no roles. It was like watching a Russian team. No changes no matter what happens. No real line changes after being destroyed by the US in 10 minutes.

[Tomi]

I'm sure the coach didn't tell Jokinen beforehand that he was going to be put into the 4th line and given very little ice time no matter how well he played. Jokinen played well, some others didn't and still got much more ice time. I would be pissed of also if I were Jokinen.

According to the coach every player did get material in advance, dont see why Jokinen would have been left without.
The point is that when playing in a team that has promised 100% comittment, the players are supposed at the same to put their own egoistic ambitions a side, that same is expected also from Jokinen.
The whining to the press after the tournament does not only make him look like a pussy but unloyal to his team mates aswell.

[schmenke]

Kind words from NBC's Brian Williams : :)

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=54484.html?cid=rss

[Mark in Oshawa]

Last bit of Irony? Everyone talked about how warm Vancouver was, but today's forcast for Sochi is identical to Vancouver's, 10c and partially sunny. London, the home of the summer games? 8c ....lol

[Mark in Oshawa]

The problem was, Mark, there were no roles. It was like watching a Russian team. No changes no matter what happens. No real line changes after being destroyed by the US in 10 minutes.

Well as I said, the coaches didn't enforce the discipline. If a player thought he was misused, Vancouver wasn't the place to voice the thought. Listen, in the end you likely got the medal you would have received anyhow, so I suppose a cynic might think it all worked out in the end, but I know the Finnish people and their team didn't want to see a Bronze medal win, they wanted to be in the Gold Medal game with a chance to win. I hope for your sake a different management effort is put together. Maybe the Finnish federation would do well to have a summit of hockey minds and figure out what sort of team and management they want in future "Best on Best" tournaments like the Olympics. Hockey Canada really has an "autopsy" on every tournament to look at what worked, what didn't, which players were team players and which ones were not and why. It will get side tracked from time to time (as Torino proved) and they will tend to give veterans too much credit for past accomplishments, but in the end, the picking of the team and its General Manager is usually a right pick, and failure is never rewarded.

[markabilly]

As to USA v Canada, the only two events I watched were those (men vs women) I could not tell if the better team won thsoe games are not, but clearly, Canada was the more fired up team in both events. And for that reason, truly deserved their victories.

Abiut the only time I saw the USA fired up was at the end of the third period, where they put it into OT. Just my casual thoughts from a casual observer

[Mark in Oshawa]

As to USA v Canada, the only two events I watched were those (men vs women) I could not tell if the better team won thsoe games are not, but clearly, Canada was the more fired up team in both events. And for that reason, truly deserved their victories.

Abiut the only time I saw the USA fired up was at the end of the third period, where they put it into OT. Just my casual thoughts from a casual observer

I wont comment on the women's game, I missed it. The men's game, I am going to slightly disagree. The USA was there from the start, and they had a grim deterimination. They knew they had to get the first goal though, and they didn't get it. Canada was winning the battles along the boards and that is what gave me confidence. In the first, Canada controlled the puck most of the period, and in the second they sat back a little. In the third, they let the US gain confidence and momentum, but I never did get the feeling the USA ever felt like they could control the game until that last desparate scramble when they had the goalie pulled at the end of the 3rd. In OT, they were almost doomed tho. Canadian teams have a great history of not cracking because the teams are always picked with guys who have experience. The youth of the USA picks bit them. I give them full marks tho, they worked hard, but I think I put them down as a favourite to win in Russia. Most people I talk to all agreed the USA isn't going to fade. It wont be a Miracle on Ice if they win in 2014. They have quit picking teams of fuzzy cheeked college kids and now pick guys who have not only NHL experience, but came through the crucible of the Canadian Junior leagues. For A Canadian fan, the American teams are a mirror image.....and THAT is why the emotion of the final goal was great. It was relief...because we know we may have to share "our" game.....but we were not ready to let it happen yet. Not on home ice, and not at this Olympics.

[markabilly]

it was the fuzzy faced amateurs that i loved about the games of years past, but alas those years are gone, and with respect to hockey, there will never ever be another lake placcid because those guys now do not get to go.

As far as I am concerned that was the very last truly great game in Olympic history, because while pros may have been on the other side it was college kids facing them

(indeed the russian team warmed up for the games by going around and smashing the pro hockey teams of both the USA and Canada in the events leading up to the games),

instead it is our best pros against the best pros of everyone, and the idea of pure competition without any motivation except to win, has gone

i could see there were times when USA had some fire, and the last two minutes the team was truly fired up as though they simply forced the puck into the net but it was clear to me that Canada was playing as hard as possible the whole game.

[Mark in Oshawa]

it was the fuzzy faced amateurs that i loved about the games of years past, but alas those years are gone, and with respect to hockey, there will never ever be another lake placcid because those guys now do not get to go.

As far as I am concerned that was the very last truly great game in Olympic history, because while pros may have been on the other side it was college kids facing them

(indeed the russian team warmed up for the games by going around and smashing the pro hockey teams of both the USA and Canada in the events leading up to the games),

instead it is our best pros against the best pros of everyone, and the idea of pure competition without any motivation except to win, has gone

i could see there were times when USA had some fire, and the last two minutes the team was truly fired up as though they simply forced the puck into the net but it was clear to me that Canada was playing as hard as possible the whole game.

I can just tell you this: AS noble as the amateurs in the Olympics (funny how the Russians were never really amateurs but no one did anything about it) were, and the Miracle of 1960 and 1980 were both great accomplishments, the reality is the best players playing the best players with no restrictions has given us some of the most fantastic games every played. By any account, last Sunday's game was one of the most intriguging and exciting efforts anywhere.

[F1boat]

Congratulations for the Canadian fans! Great Olympics! You are probably very happy that you bested both Russia and the USA in hockey!

[Mark in Oshawa]

Congratulations for the Canadian fans! Great Olympics! You are probably very happy that you bested both Russia and the USA in hockey!

Well, Beating the USA was cathartic but also tinged with a bit of sadness because they play like us, and the GM of the team also in his full time job is the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Beating the Russians? it never gets old, and after what some idiot writer said in Pravda about Canada and Canadians, I was mad we didn't beat them 16-3. I don't mind Ovechkin, he is a charismatic and fun guy; but for the most part, the Russians come off as dour sucks who cant take criticism or adversity.

It was just fun because Canada rarely gets to stand on top of the world and for 2 weeks, we did......