Outside the Big 7
- Thread starter Hasbro
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joshjull
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Hasbro said:
I thought they really could have used Hecht and Sturm in that Czech game. Maybe could have capitalized on the PP.
Don't forget Austria, Vanek will lead them to Van in 2010
McJadeddog
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the teams on the outside seem to be gaining some ground.... and its not just this tournament, its been slowly happening for the past 10 years
e-e
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In three hundred years time we will be still be wondering if Pakistan will emerge. But never say never.PapaBear said:What about Pakistan?
Jazz
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Jazz
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Jazz said:
I know but historically why did hockey spread to Sweden and Finland but not Norway??? Look, there are 4 northern countries in Europe : Finland, Russia, Sweden and Norway. So why didn't the Norwegians build any rinks and start playing?
good question about NOrway.. i've always wondered that myself. They are located in a perfect location to be as into hockey as Finland and Sweden.. but what happened? why no NHLer, why no hockey?
Jazz
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I've read somewhere that back in the 1960s, Finland and Norway were at at comparative levels in hockey. Finland went on an ice-rink building-spree, Norway did not.shawn_kemp said:
Apparently there was someone high up in Norwegian sports who did want to built a bunch of rinks back then, but he lost some power struggle...I read this as secondary information so I don't even know how accurate it is....
Jazz
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Well, there have been a couple. Espen Knutsen, and Andreas Myrvold. Here is a prospect in the Columbus organization, Olle-Kristain Tol...(sp?) a defensemen.Leph28 said:
bert
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Germany has alot of nhlers. I think they are pretty close. In 10 years Germany should be in the big 8
Schubert, Sturm, Goc, Erhoff, Hecht, Kolzig im sure im leaving a few guys out but thats a pretty good start. Alot more nhl talent then any other nation.
Schubert, Sturm, Goc, Erhoff, Hecht, Kolzig im sure im leaving a few guys out but thats a pretty good start. Alot more nhl talent then any other nation.
Epsilon
#basta
Jazz
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shawn_kemp said:
Everyone is forgetting about the Danes (as usual) the other Scandinavian team whos hockey levels would be on a par (or better than) with Norway. Norway are not a bad hockey playing nation, and they have had NHLers in the past...namely Espen Knutsen, and there are quite a few players playing in the Elitserien. There are a few in NOrth America at the moment,
Marius Holtet, Iowa Stars drafted at #42 in 2002
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Columbus Blue Jackets (has played 5 games this season)
then there's some in the lower leagues, like Joakim Jensen in the QMJHL.
Norway does have rinks...how else could the 1994 winter olympics taken place??? They also have a national league, which the four top teams qualify further for the "Royal League". The Royal league includes the 4 top teams from Finland and Sweden, as well as (from 2007) the top 4 teams from Norway and Denmark all in a pre-season tournament against each other of the highest esteem. At the moment there are fewer teams from Norway and Denmark, but as they have shown they cna keep up they have been rewarded with more teams.
The Danes are the team to watch, they've got a great youth system and the league over here is improving dramatically. In 2010 I reckon Denmark will be present at the olympics
calgarylen13 said:
Uuh.. I think you're getting confused with their Football/Soccer royal league.
Because neither SM-Liiga nor Mestis teams participate in any such league..
That's leave us with Suomi sarja and lower teams.. ie non-professionals.
Raimo Sillanpää said:
I gave it the soccer name as I can't think of what the hockey one is called...but it is a competition, i'll keep you posted when the name comes to me (perhaps its structured a bit differently even, I haven't seen it going off what my home stay parent tells me)
Jazz
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Yes, you are correct, Norway and especially Denmark are finally making inroads recently. Denmark has really benefitted from increased funding in recent years. Another country to watch out for, but is about 5 years behind Denmark is Hungary.
They can win single games, but still a long way from taking the big leap. USA is in with a veteran team, and I am not surprised they failed in their first game against Latvia, but it was still the first game. Czech are known to be mood players, attitude players. They can mess up a game against a good team like Switzerland if they are not on their game. But how many times it would happen in 10 games between them? Maybe once.
The differencies are still huge. Germany and Switzerland are knocking on the door of top 7, but they wont get in before Slovakia opens the door and they wrestle for it. Why Slovakia? Well...they have great players right now, but no stars in the making. And goalies..they still have a lack of goalie depth and that is a big thing. I dont think even slovakia will drop out for germany and swiss, but with their junior production they seem to be the next candidate. Sweden still has a good core of players under 30, even though their next generation has not looked so hot. They also lack real goalie depth.
USA could have a momentary lapse in the next games, especially if there is a world cup in 2 years or so, but they have amazing talent coming up. So they are quite secure.
The differencies are still huge. Germany and Switzerland are knocking on the door of top 7, but they wont get in before Slovakia opens the door and they wrestle for it. Why Slovakia? Well...they have great players right now, but no stars in the making. And goalies..they still have a lack of goalie depth and that is a big thing. I dont think even slovakia will drop out for germany and swiss, but with their junior production they seem to be the next candidate. Sweden still has a good core of players under 30, even though their next generation has not looked so hot. They also lack real goalie depth.
USA could have a momentary lapse in the next games, especially if there is a world cup in 2 years or so, but they have amazing talent coming up. So they are quite secure.
swisdan
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