Please don't blame soccer, why is hockey falling off the map in Czech and Slovakia?

Mr Kanadensisk

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May 13, 2005
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As eluded to but lost in the other "international" thread we are clearly heading into an era where Czech and Slovakia are unlikely to be the hockey powerhouses they once were. From an outsiders perspective it just seems like they are losing interest in the sport. It also seems to me that hockey has been slowly declining in these countries ever since the fall of communism.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone tapped into the Czech / Slovak hockey scene of what is happening over there.
 

The Lollipop King

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Mar 9, 2008
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As eluded to but lost in the other "international" thread we are clearly heading into an era where Czech and Slovakia are unlikely to be the hockey powerhouses they once were. From an outsiders perspective it just seems like they are losing interest in the sport. It also seems to me that hockey has been slowly declining in these countries ever since the fall of communism.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone tapped into the Czech / Slovak hockey scene of what is happening over there.

They were powerhouses once?
 

The Fuhr*

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Aside from developing a few elite talents (Hasek, Jagr, Chara, Hossa) the counties have never been that special
 

Torts

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Aug 21, 2009
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the czech team looked pretty good on tuesday against canada until they found their rythem

after a couple off years i think czechs are making their way back up the hockey rankins

same goes for slovakia, i like the way both hockey markets are developing players
 

ThinMcWhistle

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Mar 26, 2005
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Maybe not Slovakia, but the Czech Republic definitely was something special.

Now Czechoslovakia was something special. They were definitely a powerhouse.

I have noticed a huge drop off from the two separate countries though in the last 10 years. I really honestly hope that they can return to their ways in the near future, and I believe that they will.
 

Tiranis

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Jun 10, 2009
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Hockey programs in both countries are badly mismanaged and fairly corrupt. The situation in soccer isn't that different actually... In Canada, USA, and Sweden junior hockey progression is well designed and money is spent efficiently, the same doesn't happen in Czech Republic (and I'm guessing that applies to Slovakia too).

With that said, I predict things will turn around over the course of the next 5-10 years as both countries are starting to figure out where the problems lie.
 
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smitty10

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Aug 6, 2009
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They were powerhouses once?

Clearly you weren't around in 1998. They were probably the best team in the world and won the gold at Nagano. They are still pretty strong and won the 2010 WC and have quite a few good prospects on their way up. I think they fell off for a while, but they're climbing back.
 

Ziostilon

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Feb 14, 2009
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Hockey programs in both countries are badly mismanaged and fairly corrupt. The situation in soccer isn't that different actually... In Canada, USA, and Sweden junior hockey progression is well designed and money is spent efficiently, the same doesn't happen in Czech Republic (and I'm guessing that applies to Slovakia too).

isn't Sweden downgrading now too?

didn't Naslund and a few other Swedes recently say they need more Swedes to play hockey
 

RedwingsnCudi13

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Aug 25, 2010
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We haven't had many good prospects in the past few years but with guys like musil and Frk coming in the next few years were starting to produce some good players
 

Tiranis

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Jun 10, 2009
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isn't Sweden downgrading now too?

didn't Naslund and a few other Swedes recently say they need more Swedes to play hockey

I'm not familiar with the situation in Sweden, but judging by the amount of quality prospects coming out of there I don't think it's the same issue. Perhaps there isn't as many kids getting into hockey as there used to be (becuase of soccer), but I doubt they have the same problems as Czech Republic and Slovakia...
 

Finnish your Czech

J'aime Les offres hostiles
Nov 25, 2009
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so in the not so distant future:

1. Canada-USA (tie)
3. Russia-Sweden (tie)
5. Finland
6. Switzerland
7. Czech
8. Slovakia
9. Germany
EDIT: 10. Denmark
11. Norway

how does that sound?
 
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EbencoyE

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Nov 26, 2006
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Pretty sure the Czechs just won the World Championship... how is hockey falling off the map there?

Junior hockey has no impact on the regular hockey world. Everyone knows only Canada cares about junior hockey. And the U.S. is good because they have such a large population and a ton of money.
 

RedwingsnCudi13

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Aug 25, 2010
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well if we go on a linear path, the swiss could very well surpass the czechs.

I'd also like to give an honourable mention to GB, I think they have a chance of being a high end div-1 team in 10+ years

In the Wjc yes Sui can surpass them but on the Olympic/ WC Level it might take a couple more " good " players the czechs just have far to many superior players in the late 20's and 30's for Sui to compete with but Sui has a bright future
 

Stats01

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Jul 12, 2009
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They were powerhouses once?

Uhm yeah they were..back in 2000 they held for the first time all three of..Olympic, World Championship, and World Junior Championships all in one year. Not even Canada has done that. To me that is powerhouse. They were really good back in the day earlier in the decade. now not so much. They've completely fallen off the map.
 

Canada4Gold

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Dec 22, 2010
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Pretty sure the Czechs just won the World Championship... how is hockey falling off the map there?

Junior hockey has no impact on the regular hockey world. Everyone knows only Canada cares about junior hockey. And the U.S. is good because they have such a large population and a ton of money.

Not true, look at what is happening with Slovakia, for a while there they had good quality players in their prime, however with those players declining they need to produce more players to take their place and they haven't been doing so, and it resulted in their bad performance in last years Wc and it will continue to happen until they produce young players.

The same will eventually happen to the Czechs(and everyone else) if they can't produce young talent, they isn't anywhere near as great of a turnover rate for the Wc than the WJC but eventually players do get old and retire and they need to be replaced
 

Rogalo

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Sep 9, 2004
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Aside from developing a few elite talents (Hasek, Jagr, Chara, Hossa) the counties have never been that special

Well I guess you just redefined the term special.

As for the topic of the forum - why Czech hockey is falling of the map.

1) Not enough funds - government seriously cut down on support of sports in general after 89 (which leads to points 2 & 3)
2) Problems with development programme (bad system of junior leagues, not enough qualified coaches & hockey equipment, confrontation with top teams...)
3) Lack of cooperation with schools (specialised schools concentrating on hockey lost a lot of funding after 1989 from the state)
4) Non-existence of an agreement between NHL and the hockey federation concerning the compensation of juniors leaving for NA. The clubs invest into development of players and wind up with nothing most of the time.
5) Corruption (coaches being paid for more icetime of players, nomination of less talented individuals, protectionism)

There is however a lot being done lately - especially with the development system. I´m positive and believe S. Lener (current director and head coach of Czech national teams) that we are gonna see results in 5 - 10 years time.
 

Ogopogo*

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Hockey is expensive to play. Every country could have a lot more kids playing hockey if the costs weren't so high.
 

zorz

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Mar 8, 2010
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I think we'll make it back up where we belong in few years (5-10?). It's a kind of sinusoid and we are on the bottom of that right now IMO. But I don't think years 1998-2001 can repeat. Circumstances in society are different now compared to 20 years ago and not better for hockey. And other teams like Canada and USA became much stronger and it will be tough to beat them not only for us in the future.

well if we go on a linear path, the swiss could very well surpass the czechs.
I'd also like to give an honourable mention to GB, I think they have a chance of being a high end div-1 team in 10+ years

I don't see it happening in "not so distant future".
 

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