I hate to say "I told you so", but I knew neither team would win a medal in men's hockey.
For Canada, it was particularly sad:
- Only once in the final 12 periods of hockey did they manage to score
- Shut out completely in 3 of the last 4 games
- Final record of 2-4 (incl. a SO loss to the Swiss)
Where did they go wrong?
Started with naming Quinn, Hitchcock and Martin as coaches - all 3 had a big influence on the naming of the team and all lean towards experience vs. youth on their own teams. They were completely convinced that the same Salt Lake team would work here - even though on a bigger ice and with tighter rules, an entirely different type of team is required.
Of the top 10 Canadian goal scorers in the NHL, only 4 made the team.
Big, immobile defencemen like Blake, Pronger and Foote made the team instead of quicker guys who can move the puck. (Though it wasn't their fault that Niedermayer got injured - the biggest loss to the CDN team)
Same on forwards: Thornton, Bertuzzi, Richards, etc. who were all almost invisible and generally slow. Quick, gifted players like Crosby, Staal, Spezza, Kariya, Cheechoo were left off the starting roster or team altogether.
Of course, guys that anyone would have agreed should be there like Iginla, Sakic, Nash, St.Louis didn't play well at all.
The bright side? In Vancouver in 2010 on a smaller rink and with home ice, Canada will most likely bring home the Gold.
For Canada, it was particularly sad:
- Only once in the final 12 periods of hockey did they manage to score
- Shut out completely in 3 of the last 4 games
- Final record of 2-4 (incl. a SO loss to the Swiss)
Where did they go wrong?
Started with naming Quinn, Hitchcock and Martin as coaches - all 3 had a big influence on the naming of the team and all lean towards experience vs. youth on their own teams. They were completely convinced that the same Salt Lake team would work here - even though on a bigger ice and with tighter rules, an entirely different type of team is required.
Of the top 10 Canadian goal scorers in the NHL, only 4 made the team.
Big, immobile defencemen like Blake, Pronger and Foote made the team instead of quicker guys who can move the puck. (Though it wasn't their fault that Niedermayer got injured - the biggest loss to the CDN team)
Same on forwards: Thornton, Bertuzzi, Richards, etc. who were all almost invisible and generally slow. Quick, gifted players like Crosby, Staal, Spezza, Kariya, Cheechoo were left off the starting roster or team altogether.
Of course, guys that anyone would have agreed should be there like Iginla, Sakic, Nash, St.Louis didn't play well at all.
The bright side? In Vancouver in 2010 on a smaller rink and with home ice, Canada will most likely bring home the Gold.
Comment