What is the logic behind Russia playing early today & Canada late

[Sammy*]

It makes no sense.
And Im Canadian.
Canada should be in the early game, having played earlier yesterday.

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[Confucius]

It has to do with the U S. They want their team playing during primetime. Canada just happens to be the opponent.

 

[mymkovski]

Host country gets the late game. Meaning USA plays at the 7:30 Eastern time slot no matter what.

This ended up being unfair for the Russians with the quick turnaround, but dem da breaks in the world juniors.

 

[bruinsfan46]

Uh this thing called TV ratings. Of course they're gonna put Canada-US as the primetime game, the tournament is a business. US was always gonna play in the 7:30 game and Canada was gonna play early if they didn't play the US.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

This happens to teams every year. Not sure why it has become such an outrage this year.

 

[13 others]

They want the popular game during prime time.

 

[Sammy*]

But couldnt they have flipped yesterdays games?

 

[dmacgreg37]

But couldnt they have flipped yesterdays games?

That's where TV comes in. TSN wants Canada in the early Sunday game. They had other commitments last night (hence the tape delay of the other Semi). 3:30 PM EST (like yesterdays game) is a good time for a game for Canadian TV on a Sunday.

 

[sepHF]

Host country gets prime time games, though I agree with the OP it SHOULD be the other way around for fairness sake.

 

[dystemper]

does the OP realise that if canada beat sweden, they would have played in the early semi-final game, but they lost it so they end up matching against the americans.

 

[PensBeerGeek]

The only logic is television. TV brodcasts dictate all else, plain and simple.

 

[joe89]

Two very easy factors. USA is hosting the tournament, and Canada(TSN) has the inside track on broadcasting games and choosing times when Canada plays.

 

[Bakayoko Ono]

North American bias.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

For TV ratings obviously. Also the fact that people who live out West will be able to catch the game if they worked today. It's all about TV. I prefer seeing the game on tonight rather then earlier even though it's on during the same time as my NHL club.

 

[Brock Anton]

USA/Canada on primetime = ratings.

 

[dmacgreg37]

North American bias.

Not bias. North American caring. Canada actually care about the tournament, therefore our TV gets first dibs. Prior to TSN, and somehwat CBC before it, carrying this tournament, it was a nothing tournament in empty arenas. Now it's a monster tournament held in (mostly) full NHL arenas.

 

[Statsy]

Two very easy factors. USA is hosting the tournament, and Canada(TSN) has the inside track on broadcasting games and choosing times when Canada plays.

It would be Hockey Canada that actually gets the say, not TSN.

 

[dmacgreg37]

It would be Hockey Canada that actually gets the say, not TSN.

And who do you think HC turns to first? Their life partner TSN.

 

[dawgweed]

You guys are all close but not quite on target.

The divisions are determined by the previous year's results. After that the schedule is then determined by the host country. USA Hockey determined the schedule in a manner they hoped was best for them and it worked for them. They can obviously be lobbied and influenced; I don't doubt that TSN did their best to get a favourable TV schedule.

Canada playing in the late game today was just a "side affect" of the initial scheduling.

 

[dmacgreg37]

You guys are all close but not quite on target.

The divisions are determined by the previous year's results. After that the schedule is then determined by the host country. USA Hockey determined the schedule in a manner they hoped was best for them and it worked for them. They can obviously be lobbied and influenced; I don't doubt that TSN did their best to get a favourable TV schedule.

Canada playing in the late game today was just a "side affect" of the initial scheduling.

You're missing the key. Look at the schedule. It says something to the effect of USA will play in QF or SF late game if they make the game. If Canada makes the QF or SF and USA does not, they will play the early game. Obviously that is something that Canada would've gotten. The US can only determine the pool schedule order and when their QF/SF game would be.

 

[Shrimper]

Prime time ratings means more viewers, also being at 7:30 most people are either at home for the night or in bars and pubs which will show the game and get it shown even more than if it was at say 5:00PM.

 

[Davebo*]

However it's figured out, it works for all groups - in North America folks will be home from work - and it's prime time. In Europe, they get to watch their game at a decent hour - they aren't up until 02:00 in the morning watching hockey.

 

[milhouse7]

USA always gets the late game and Canada always gets the early game, unless of course they play the US. This is to maximize the television coverage for both the US team and Canadian team instead of competing against each other for viewers.

Through the whole tournamant Canada and US never played at the same time.

 

[Caeldan]

It makes no sense.
And Im Canadian.
Canada should be in the early game, having played earlier yesterday.

If anything Russia-Sweden should've played a couple hours earlier in the day so that way home country fans could get a chance to see the game at a reasonable hour.

 

[Evil Romano]

It has to do with the U S. They want their team playing during primetime. Canada just happens to be the opponent.

Canada has more veto than the US - despite the fact that the Americans are hosting this year. The Canadians can always put their "diplomatic" power into the issue; controlling who is playing when and where. The Canadians always - and evidently ALWAYS - get the best times, the best locker rooms; the best opportunities, if they have the chance to. Mark my words - it is almost conspiratorial.