Torpedo

[Ric Flair]

I recall during the '02 olympics the announcers saying that Sweden plays the torpedo system. They were then corrected that the Swedes actually play the big ice system. I was kinda confused on the differences of the two. Could someone explain each style?

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[H/H]

It's actually kinda the same thing. Torpedo hockey was what they called it when Hardy Nilsson introduced it in Djurgården in the Swedish Elite League. Then he called it Big Ice in the olympics because it wasn't a pure version of the torpedo hockey, since the olympic team didn't have time enough to fully learn to play that system. So it's basically right in the middle of the torpedo system and the usual 2 D-men/3 Forwards line up.

 

[Ric Flair]

Thanks for the info H/H but I'm still not sure what the torpedo system is. Could you outline the basis of it?

 

[PredsFan77*]

In the traditional hockey formation, responsibilities are divided simply among three forwards (left wing, center, right wing) and two defensemen, whose duties and placement more or less conform to their names. The Torpedo converts two of those forwards into super-forwards (the "torpedoes") and sends them into the corners of the offensive zone, where they press the opposition relentlessly for half-minute spurts, or else they hang high in the defensive zone for fast-breaking outlet passes. Two more players become all-purpose "halfbacks," who quarterback the offense from the top of the face-off circles and are relied upon to work the corners (fighting off the opposing torpedoes) on the defensive side. A lone, central defenseman (the "libero") protects the front of the net for his goalie and brings up the rear on the offensive attack.

 

[H/H]

Well, it was a system developed to maximise the benfits of playing without red line offside.

Instead of the usual 2 D-men/1 Center/2 Forwards line up, it utilizes 1 Libero (basically a defensemen), 2 Halfbacks and 2 Torpedos (forwards).

The torpedos job is to forecheck hard from the wings and on offense go to the net and create scoring chances. The Halfbacks are combining defensive and offensive duties pretty much like 2 way centermen while the libero does the defenseman's job and carries the puck and sets up the passes from the defensive zone.

 

[hillbilly]

hope this link helps http://www.insidehockey.com/maestro/torpedo.html

 

[Ric Flair]

Hey thanks alot guys.

 

[HockeyFans]

Is Sweden using the torpedo system in the world cup?

 

[Seiza]

Is Sweden using the torpedo system in the world cup?

No! That would be yet another reason to sack coach Hardy Nilsson!

 

[Kronblom]

No, they will not play Big Ice Hockey in this tournament. It will be Small Ice Hockey, that was actually a joke from Hardy Nilsson himself.

 

[H/H]

No! That would be yet another reason to sack coach Hardy Nilsson!

And bring in who? Whether you like it or not, he's probably the best coach available.

 

[PredsFan77*]

And bring in who? Whether you like it or not, he's probably the best coach available.

Foppa's poppa

 

[H/H]

Foppa's poppa

Oh, dear god NO!.

 

[mattihp]

Foppa's poppa

Nah, bring in another Kent instead...

 

[Leo Naphta]

And bring in who? Whether you like it or not, he's probably the best coach available.

First of all, to avoid any silly confusion, they can obviously not change coach right now. But, they could have replaced Hardy back in may, or during the summer - someone else (Anders Hedberg or Wallin) could have selected the roster.

There are at least two coaches that in my opinion are far superior than Hardy, viz. Conny Evensson and Pär Bäckman. Though Evensson is retired, he would probably have accepted to coach the team during the World Cup, and then returned to retirement. Evensson is probably the best Swedish coach ever and would obviously do a better job than Hardy. As for Bäckman, they would never appoint him since he is far too outspoken, but he is one very good coach - anyone remember when he turned Färjestad from relegation candidates into champions in 15 months?

As for the rest, other more or less plausible candidates - Bendelin, Wikegård, Kent Forsberg, Curt Lundmark, Kulon Lennartsson - have one advantage over Hardy: They have never lost to Belarus.

 

[mattihp]

As for the rest, other more or less plausible candidates - Bendelin, Wikegård, Kent Forsberg, Curt Lundmark, Kulon Lennartsson - have one advantage over Hardy: They have never lost to Belarus.

I heard that annoying bald finnish-hating guy on tv3 is looking for a coaching job The only guy I've heard who can turn Finland scoring a goal to a bad thing

 

[H/H]

First of all, to avoid any silly confusion, they can obviously not change coach right now. But, they could have replaced Hardy back in may, or during the summer - someone else (Anders Hedberg or Wallin) could have selected the roster.

There are at least two coaches that in my opinion are far superior than Hardy, viz. Conny Evensson and Pär Bäckman. Though Evensson is retired, he would probably have accepted to coach the team during the World Cup, and then returned to retirement. Evensson is probably the best Swedish coach ever and would obviously do a better job than Hardy. As for Bäckman, they would never appoint him since he is far too outspoken, but he is one very good coach - anyone remember when he turned Färjestad from relegation candidates into champions in 15 months?

As for the rest, other more or less plausible candidates - Bendelin, Wikegård, Kent Forsberg, Curt Lundmark, Kulon Lennartsson - have one advantage over Hardy: They have never lost to Belarus.

Pär Bäckman :lol The players will tune out that loudmouth within two weeks. His screaming and theatrics maybe works on young 20 year olds in MoDo, but players who've been at it for a while just finds him annoying, which is also why he failed miserably in Malmö.

Evensson would be a good choice, true, but as you said, he's retired.

True, Kent Forsberg never lost to Belarus (just damn close though in the World Championships in 1998 when his son bailed him out at the last second). But the game against the Finns in Nagano '98 speaks for itself. One of the downright STUPIDEST tactical games by a swedish head coach ever.

Hardy is a proven winner, he won the championship two straight DOMINANT years in the Swedish Elite League.

 

[Leo Naphta]

Pär Bäckman :lol The players will tune out that loudmouth within two weeks. His screaming and theatrics maybe works on young 20 year olds in MoDo, but players who've been at it for a while just finds him annoying, which is also why he failed miserably in Malmö.

Evensson would be a good choice, true, but as you said, he's retired.

True, Kent Forsberg never lost to Belarus (just damn close though in the World Championships in 1998 when his son bailed him out at the last second). But the game against the Finns in Nagano '98 speaks for itself. One of the downright STUPIDEST tactical games by a swedish head coach ever.

Hardy is a proven winner, he won the championship two straight DOMINANT years in the Swedish Elite League.

It's not like Bäckman is all about screaming. And the last time I checked, Bäckman had won the championship three times, one more than Hardy.

As for Kent Forsberg, he did have an odd tactic against the Finns, but the main reason Sweden stank in that game was Ulf Samuelsson, and Hardy isn't exactly using a clever tactic himself, is he? And Hardy is hardly a proven winner in international hockey.