twelve
Registered User
- May 19, 2005
- 182
- 0
It's not a good idea to underestimate the world championships as some of the posters here are doing. Especially as it seems that some European leagues are (very) slowly closing the gap between the quality of hockey played there and in the NHL. Yes, there's a lot of prestige attached to the Stanley Cup, but 'noblesse oblige': The NHL has to make sure that it stays the best. And the best way to show that it's still the best is through comparison, like in the world championships. Also, the worlds are a great place to see the talents playing in other leagues, in order to select the best players for NHL drafts.
I think it's dangerous for Canada to underestimate the world championships. Till now, the team always ended up somewhere in the top group. But imagine if the team ended up ninth three times in a row, due simply to the fact that too many good players couldn't or wouldn't play for their country..! It wouldn't matter that the best national league was in NA, the loss of prestige for the hockey country would still be huge. To show lack of interest in the worlds when the own team wins most of the time is possible, to show the same lack of interest when the own team starts to loose one time too often, would be seen as ridiculous.
I don't think that Canada will end up ninth any time soon, but if the attitude of the players asked to play for their country at the world championships gets worse, there might come a time when the selection that is on the roster just isn't enough. I'm convinced that the attitude of the fans and players reflect on each other, and that players of a country are motivated more to play for the national team when they are assured of the regard of their fans. So it is also up to the fans to show interest in what kind of hockey is played on an international level.
I think it's dangerous for Canada to underestimate the world championships. Till now, the team always ended up somewhere in the top group. But imagine if the team ended up ninth three times in a row, due simply to the fact that too many good players couldn't or wouldn't play for their country..! It wouldn't matter that the best national league was in NA, the loss of prestige for the hockey country would still be huge. To show lack of interest in the worlds when the own team wins most of the time is possible, to show the same lack of interest when the own team starts to loose one time too often, would be seen as ridiculous.
I don't think that Canada will end up ninth any time soon, but if the attitude of the players asked to play for their country at the world championships gets worse, there might come a time when the selection that is on the roster just isn't enough. I'm convinced that the attitude of the fans and players reflect on each other, and that players of a country are motivated more to play for the national team when they are assured of the regard of their fans. So it is also up to the fans to show interest in what kind of hockey is played on an international level.
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