The real reason is the smart decision to create the USNDP. The rest is history.
- AdamFrench

So true

What organization sent an all star team to Canada?

Ice hockey wasn’t a thing during those times in the Phila. area as there were very few rinks in the city. The ones that did exist only had house leagues at places such as Scanlon and Tarken rinks.

So that being said would love to know who sent these supposed all teams to Canada.
- furio16

It was a combo team of gladiators, brick, north Philly, and others,,, my friend played in it, but it was 40 years ago

I currently have a kid in the "elite" system in Canada and I can openly admit that the USA is quite far ahead of us at the youth level. In my opinion it's because of many of the issues you raise, especially the fact that many ex pros have now settled into coaching and mentoring roles. I think, however, it is not the reasons that most people will think that these kids are benefitting from being taught by pros.
They of course are being taught skills at a very high level, but the #1 most important aspect of this wonderful game is that it is A TEAM GAME! Guys that have been there know this. Over anxious hockey dads in Montreal and Toronto do not know this. What has been happening for the last 5 or 10yrs is that yes little Billy has been training 7-10 times per week, and his skills are off the charts amazing, but he is lacking so many other skills needed to succeed, likely most of which is humility. Canadian hockey dads are signing up their sons for EVERYTHING, while shoulting at them from the stands and yelling at them in the car. The ex pros just watch...silently supporting their boy.

I feel bad picking on Easton Cowan but he is such a good example of a kid with such amazing skill and absolutely no game whatsoever. I'm guessing of course, but he sure looks like all of the other spoiled little brats that have outstanding skills, can toe drag and "michy" better than the rest, but just doesn't have the hockey IQ or desire to win. Most of these boys have 5 to 50.000 followers on IG and have their young hockey career out there for the world to see how amazing they are (at like 12yrs old). They've been told over and over again how they are the best, they're going to make the NHL, they're the best in North America according to their EliteProspects ranking, they're top 20 pts at the Brick tournament, etc. etc .etc.

Meanwhile, there is an ex NHLer out there...sitting with his 95th percentile height son, on a fishing boat....talking about the last Walking Dead episode they watched last night.

young elite hockey players in Canada are completely getting it wrong in my opinion, and they are going to, or have already, burn out and not LOVE the game like kids did 20yrs ago.

Watching our Canadian world juniors come over the line and try to toe drag through 3 guys...or watching one of our boys try to score with a low percentage shot on a 3on1 rather than (God forbid) pass it to a wide open teammate backdoor for HIM to get the goal, and the credit, and the stat, and the higher IG profile points.

Canadian elite youth hockey kids' dads are more concerned with their son's "stock" and his perceived profile and ranking, than they are concerned with his actual mental well being and his love for his sport. The Toronto and Montreal elite youth hockey scene has become very toxic and a great many of the boys look like they would just rather play Fortnite with their buddies. A Canadian elite 14yr old looks tired, sick of training, sick of getting yelled at by his chubby, backwards hat hockey dad that played Jr. B 25yrs ago with .......(insert big name here).

The USA kids are right now embarking on such a fun, innocent, exctiting hockey journey that Canadian boys did 20yrs ago. They look so happy, confident, and just content to play the game they love...the game Canadian boys used to love.

Canadian boys need psychologists and USA boys are just young wild and free.

Freebird is suuuuuuuuuuuch a fitting song for these guys!
- JLO961

I want to post this as a fan blog…fantastic….would that be ok?

Very soon Trump will has us #1 in everything.
What a glorious time to be alive!

Very soon Trump will has us #1 in everything.
What a glorious time to be alive!
- GodIsaCatholic

He’s gonna buy Canada didn’t you know?

He’s gonna buy Canada didn’t you know?
- ChrisMS

Yup👍

Very soon Trump will has us #1 in everything.
What a glorious time to be alive!
- GodIsaCatholic

So true
- Eklund

So why is the best hockey players Canadians

The real reason is the smart decision to create the USNDP. The rest is history.
- AdamFrench

First time they ever win 2 in a row. Do they win if Celebrini is playing?

First time they ever win 2 in a row. Do they win if Celebrini is playing?
- jribout

Oh and Connor bedard say hi

GTFO Here
- a1xfreakx13

this

GTFO Here
- a1xfreakx13

this

He’s gonna buy Canada didn’t you know?
- ChrisMS

Canada is 40 million people and 10 million square kilometres, that's gotta be 4 or 5 states. The resulting change to the balance of swing states might cause some buyer's remorse. Plus then you gotta select 1, 2 or 3 for French, English or Spanish. Gotta think these things through.

Also you think Mexicans took your jobs, wait till you get a load of Newfies.

Final step: Absorb Canada, and they'll never lose a hockey tournament again.
- Rare_Jewel

This would be best for everyone

Also you think Mexicans took your jobs, wait till you get a load of Newfies.
- Zezel

Damn straight, we are the king now!! USA USA USA

Also you think Mexicans took your jobs, wait till you get a load of Newfies.
- Zezel

What? When NHLers have been included, Canada has won. If you’re talking the last couple olympics without nhlers then that’s a stupid comment.
- TurdFergeson

it is a very stupid comment, thanks for pointing it out

So why is the best hockey players Canadians
- SlNlSTER

well, all 3 of them to be fair

*cough* Bedard *cough* Celebrini
- Aetherial

Voila

So if Canada wins gold next year are they the best again or do they have to win 5 in a row again to reclaim that title?

Just wondering.

Judging world juniors is kinda a silly metric as a lot of juniors players who are great on that stage cannot cut it in the NHL.

With that being said, it is pretty unquestionable that when looking at young talent, USA is closer to Canada than ever before.

Jack Hughes is still just 23, Faber, Caufield, Zegras, Boldy, Cooley, Knies, Gauthier, Sanderson to name a few. Plus, Hagens looks like the early lead for number 1 next year.

So if Canada wins gold next year are they the best again or do they have to win 5 in a row again to reclaim that title?

Just wondering.
- Cush29

Canada will not win again for several years. Hockey Canada needs a heart transplant...STAT.

Hold on a second!

Hockey Medals Comparison: Canada, USA, and Other Nations

World Men's Hockey Championship
1 Canada: 53 medals (28 gold, 16 silver, 9 bronze)
2 Russia: 47 medals (27 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze)
3 Czechia: 48 medals (13 gold, 13 silver, 22 bronze)
Compare: USA: 20 medals (2 gold, 9 silver, 9 bronze)

World Women's Hockey Championship
1 Canada: 23 medals (13 gold, 9 silver, 1 bronze)
2 USA: 23 medals (10 gold, 13 silver, 0 bronze)
3 Finland: 15 medals (0 gold, 1 silver, 14 bronze)

World Men's U20 Championship (Junior Hockey)
1 Canada: 35 medals (20 gold, 10 silver, 5 bronze)
2 Russia: 37 medals (13 gold, 13 silver, 11 bronze)
3 USA: 15 medals (6 gold, 2 silver, 7 bronze)

World Men's U18 Championship
1 USA: 20 medals (11 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze)
2 Canada: 10 medals (5 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze)
3 Finland: 12 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)

World Women's U18 Championship
1 USA: 16 medals (9 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze)
2 Canada: 16 medals (7 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze)
3 Sweden: 7 medals (0 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze)

Men's Olympic Hockey
1 Canada: 16 medals (9 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze)
2 Russia: 14 medals (9 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze)
3 USA: 11 medals (2 gold, 8 silver, 1 bronze)

Women's Olympic Hockey
1 Canada: 7 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze)
2 USA: 7 medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)
3 Sweden: 2 medals (0 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)


So, saying the USA is the new hockey power might be jumping the gun. Sure, they’ve done well lately, especially with younger players, but when you look at the bigger picture, Canada’s history and dominance still stand out.
For over 100 years, Canada has been at the top or right near it. In the World Men's Championships, Canada has 28 golds, while the USA only has 2. In Junior hockey (U20), Canada leads with 20 golds, and the USA only has 6. And in the Olympics? Canada’s got 9 golds in men’s hockey compared to the USA’s 2.
Now, yeah, Canada has dropped a bit in the last decade, but let’s not ignore the context. Hockey is expensive, and with the way things have been financially for Canadians, fewer kids are playing. Plus, with Russia banned from international competitions, the USA has had a much easier path to gold. Once Russia is back in the mix, it’ll be a whole different game.
Also, let’s talk population. Before Canada’s recent immigration boom, the country’s population was 35 million. The USA, even before the border crisis, had around 320 million people—nearly 10 times the size of Canada’s population. The USA has always had a much bigger talent pool to draw from, but even with that advantage, they’re still trailing in terms of historical achievements. Canada has done more with way less.
Women’s hockey? That’s always been a Canada-USA rivalry, but Canada still edges out with 5 Olympic golds and 13 World golds, compared to the USA’s 2 Olympic golds and 10 World golds. And don’t forget, these things go in cycles. The USA is doing great right now, but that doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way.
So props to the USA for what they’ve done lately, especially with youth hockey and the U18s. But calling them the power when Canada has dominated for over a century? That’s a stretch. Canada’s got the history, the passion, and the culture. We’ve been the best for so long, and it’s only a matter of time before we’re back on top.