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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Jan 3, 2009 22:30:54 GMT -5
To steal a phrase from Panger "holy jumpin"! You gotta love the World Junior Championship! Sweden-Slovakia was great. Canada-Russia was phenomenal!
That said...couple things. First thing...Nemchinov should never coach another game for Russia at any level, ever. Loved him as a player, but he's freakin clueless as a coach. I won't even get into Gayduchenko and Mayorov not being on the team, but you go into a shootout in a semifinal game and you don't use Filatov or Grachev??? I can understand Kugryshev being picked (although I would also have taken Klyukin over him, but that's just me)...but he shouldn't be going ahead of Filatov and Grachev. Chernov wouldn't even be an option. Nemchinov took some shots for his coaching at the Super Series, and this isn't going to help his cause.
Second thing...I'd really like to see the IIHF do away with shootouts in the medal round. It's a shame that a great game like this can't be decided by what made it a great game. I will never, ever be a fan of shootouts. Let the kids play the game to decide the winner. It's a shame either of these teams had to lose in such a fashion. Shootouts in the preliminary round? Meh, if that's what you want to do. Shootouts in what is basically a playoff game? No, don't like it at all.
Hopefully the Canada-Sweden game will match this Russia game. Best game of the tournament by far.
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Post by CalgaryGM on Jan 4, 2009 19:23:46 GMT -5
That was one exciting game. My heart was in my throat in the last minute. It goes to prove that if you don't give up, anything is possible.
GO Canada GO
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Jan 4, 2009 22:55:41 GMT -5
Yeah it was rather exciting, I must say. It's too bad Pierre decided to pile on Klyukin at the end though. Him icing the puck wasn't why Russia lost that game. They had at least three chances to clear the puck in the final 15 seconds. It's also sad that Kulikov tried to eat the puck in front of the net and ended up putting it right on the tee for Eberle, as I have loved Kulikov's play in this tournament. It's too bad this tournament will end tomorrow, but it should be fun! Good luck to the boys from Canada. I don't have to like it, but I will be rooting for them.
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Jan 5, 2009 1:10:28 GMT -5
You gotta love it Gorbs. America loves a winner. And Team Canada is a TEAM of winners!
GO CANADA GO! GO CANADA GO!!!!!
Bring on the Swedes. Have fun settling for silver Sweden! ...... Again........
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Jan 5, 2009 22:41:34 GMT -5
I TOLD YOU! I told the world! Team Canada CHAMPIONS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!
5
5 boys 5!
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SJSharks
Minor League Grinder
Posts: 472
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Post by SJSharks on Jan 5, 2009 22:52:52 GMT -5
That lineup of red and white with gold around their necks never gets old. Go Canada Go!
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Jan 5, 2009 23:40:16 GMT -5
Amen Kurt! Amen to those comments.
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WildGM
Minor League Grinder
Posts: 210
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Post by WildGM on Jan 6, 2009 8:54:16 GMT -5
Congrats to Canada for the 5th gold in a row. I am very happy that my prospect Markstrom was named the tournaments best goalie.
Go Markstrom Go!
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Jan 6, 2009 9:38:54 GMT -5
And it's all over. Very exciting tourny for the most part (I'm looking at you team USA). First of all, congrats to Canada. Not their most talented team (certainly not lacking in that area, just sayin'), but you won't find a team that works harder than the one wearing the leaf too often. There were quite a few great performers in this tourny. I wish I had enough time to talk about all of them, but I don't. That said, I feel the need to talk about one youngster I hope to see in the NHL soon: Russian defenseman Maxim Goncharov. I've been fortunate enough to see him a few times in Russia this year, and now at the WJC. This kid has everything you want in a dman. Great skater, big time shot, passes are usually on the money, plays a physical game and is strong positionally. Scoring five goals as a defenseman in this tournament is pretty significant. Hard to argue with the best at position: G - Jacob Markstrom, SWE D - Erik Karlsson, SWE F - John Tavares, CAN Love this tournament and I'm sad it's over. Already excited about next year. Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic and Finland in the same group. WOW. Which, of course, means the US will lose to Canada again. Awesome.
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