Would you switch country allegiance if you could?

[Canuck21t]

Yes, it was one of the greatest countries in the world to live in. Wait 10 years and you will see what I mean. Sweden has HUGE problems.

I bet you hate Malmö now eh?

 

[BobDobolina]

Exactly. I would even call that treacherous.

Because he doesn't root for the home team of men chasing around a piece of vulcanized rubber with a stick? Who cares

 

[Jablkon]

Peter Nedved story should be warning one for everybody who wants to try it. The most paradox is fact that he played for Czech republic in World cup 1996 as this was not IIHF event. Imagine to represent Canada in OG 1994 and play for your country again just two years later! Hey buddy didnt you play against me two years ago??)) I am not shocked that we completely blowed out there....

I also never forgot him being 41 and celebrating bronze medal in WC like he would won Stanley cup. He would probably never admit that but when you make a complete picture of this story, you can see that there was something weird on it for him. He finally got satisfaction with that bronze medal....

 

[1Gold Standard]

If I were in Kevin Lalande's shoes, or any other Canadian player playing overseas without any prospects of ever playing for my National Team, sure I'd do it without a second's hesitation. As a professional I want to play at the highest level possible, and if some country wants to pay me a ******** of money in the process, then my first responsibility is to be the breadwinner and support my family. I'll leave the defending of the Canadian flag at international competitions to the real elite players of the NHL.

although I hear the President of Belarus is not at all thrilled with his team's 7th place finish and 1/4 final drubbing... perhaps citizenship for our boy Kevin will be revoked.

 

[EbencoyE]

IIHF rules don't allow players to just pick and choose who they play for.

Any player representing a nation has citizenship in that nation and has played hockey there for at least 2 years. These players aren't "traitors" they are just representing their new adopted homes.

So, if the question is would I represent a country I have citizenship in, live in, and play hockey in? Sure, why wouldn't I?

 

[Bure80]

For some reason I've always wanted to be a Swede so yeah I would
Sedin Sedin Vogel that's probably the best line in hockey

Name sounds more like you have to play with Plachta,Wolf and Co.

 

[chokei]

Considering the situation I'm in and considering what the prospects of Switzerland playing in international tournaments are - no, I wouldn't.

BUT.

If you are a player that has to really make a decision, you already are in a completely different situation. Those guys usually have connections to the country they switch to and, don't forget that, do have the passport of that country as well, which is tied to some requirements they have to fulfill.

Rick DiPietro (Torino 2006 ) or Ryan Gardner are two Canadiens that come to mind that played for Switzerland. Because they never would have been able to play for Canada. But also because they started a new life here and liked it.

 

[tmlmatus]

I would only play for teams I identify with, if the Slovak team didn't pick me, I'd play for Czech republic, and if they didn't pick me I'd play with the scrubs on the Canadian team. (just kidding, dont take offense )

 

[Siamese Dream]

IIHF rules don't allow players to just pick and choose who they play for.

Any player representing a nation has citizenship in that nation and has played hockey there for at least 2 years. These players aren't "traitors" they are just representing their new adopted homes.

So, if the question is would I represent a country I have citizenship in, live in, and play hockey in? Sure, why wouldn't I?

Lol "new adopted homes"

Half of the Canadian players who came over and played for Great Britain buggered off back to Canada when they retired from hockey, just like Korea's new crop of players Swift, Radunske and Testwuide will when they retire.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

USA fan only.

However I'm eligible for both Team USA and Team Italy...

If Italy were to call, I'd listen...

 

[SenzZen]

Without going through the entire thread, I'm sure many who do this do it because they can't make a living at hockey in the NHL, and many European leagues have restrictions on the number of imports a team can carry. So more than likely it's a way to play pro while getting a decent amount of coin. And if that vaults you up the depth chart for the country you became a citizen of- gravy.

I was friends in grade school (in Ottawa) with a guy who played pro in Italy for years, married an Italian, and ended up cracking the Italian team. Was that his Endgame? I doubt it.

 

[Pominville Knows]

I was friends in grade school (in Ottawa) with a guy who played pro in Italy for years, married an Italian, and ended up cracking the Italian Olympic team in Sochi. Was that his Endgame? I doubt it.

They did not even play in Sochi, but i guess you mean some qualification tournament?

 

[SenzZen]

They did not even play in Sochi, but i guess you mean some qualification tournament?

Sorry I was thinking of the WC last year.

 

[wings5]

I doubt many Russians would switch.

 

[kmart]

I wouldn't change for nothing.

I love my country and live in it because i chose to do so. I tried to establish in a some countries ... but came back after 1-2-3 years. I if would have stayed, maybe i would love the other country. My blood, however, would remain Swiss forever.

you and all the other " i would never do it " guys would change it for the money/career advantage. its easy to isolate the op question

 

[lettuceAA]

I'm Canadian and rarely care if they win or lose unless I've bet on them. I watch international play for entertainment not nationialism (form of racism). Who cares what imaginary lines people were born in?

 

[kk87]

No. I'm too proud a Canadian to even consider doing that.

 

[Urbanskog]

I'm Canadian and rarely care if they win or lose unless I've bet on them. I watch international play for entertainment not nationialism (form of racism). Who cares what imaginary lines people were born in?

Trust me, there are no "imaginary lines". Or if you think so, just try to casually walk over the US-Mexico border.

 

[LittleKev6D9]

I WOULD NEVER!!! I'd rather die than play for another country. I've always said that when it comes to America and it's athletes, I'm the biggest patriot in the world. It goes George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Mel Gibson in The Patriot, me. USA could be participating in Women's Duck, Duck, Goose and I will be watching and I will be into it.

It's different for someone like Anze Kopitar who plays for an underwhelming team like Slovenia and would probably make any other team in the world.

But I would still rather sit out than play for another country. The Olympics are a great event, but it's not what is going to define these players' careers. It will be NHL success.

 

[NewLife]

What about France? You'll wear the same colors and a bird.

 

[tony d]

Nope, if I'm not good enough to make team Canada i don't want to join another roster.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

What about France? You'll wear the same colors and a bird.

Half the teams in the elite tourney have those three colours.

 

[Back in Black]

If you have lived in the other country for a while and know the language, then I have no problem with someone playing for another country. However me personally, I don't think so.

I would play for that Country, and would try real hard but my allegiance would still be with Canada.

Brett Hull had dual Citizenship and couldn't make Team Canada, hence he played for Team USA.

Nedved somehow managed to play for Canada in the 90's. Don't remember the circumstances though.

 

[Falling Snow]

Daniel Sprong wants to play for Canada over his home Netherlands.

too bad i was hoping he play for the Netherlands

 

[Juggernaut27]

If I wasn't good enough to play for Canada and had the chance to go to the Olympics playing for *snicker* Team Holland, then ya, I would. I got the dual citizenship.

Hup Holland

This I can accept.

This isn't 'I can't make my national team so I'm throwing a hissy fit and going to play for national teams most hated foe!' or some such thing...