the more I look at it the more I think Canada will obliterate Russia but will have a tougher time with the likes of Sweden and the USA.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Is the big ice argument that Volchenkov (2nd-3rd pairing) will play better with more space than Taylor Hall (3rd-4th liner)?

Hall will be so flabbergasted by the extra width that he'll be unable to get past him? Yeah Canada needs to make sure the olympics are on North American ice from NOW ON

Is the big ice argument that Volchenkov (2nd-3rd pairing) will play better with more space than Taylor Hall (3rd-4th liner)?

Hall will be so flabbergasted by the extra width that he'll be unable to get past him? Yeah Canada needs to make sure the olympics are on North American ice from NOW ON
- Morris

completely lost on the big ice.

some people hear something once or twice and regardless of truly understanding it, they take it is an unequivocal fact and make it their own.

stamkos and Giroux are gonna be so ineffective on that completely mystical and foreign surface.

completely lost on the big ice.

some people hear something once or twice and regardless of truly understanding it, they take it is an unequivocal fact and make it their own.

stamkos and Giroux are gonna be so ineffective on that completely mystical and foreign surface.
- hugefemale dog77

More ice surface is a problem of speed. If Canada doesn't have a speed problem, there's no ice problem.

If Canada has a speed ADVANTAGE (which they very well might), the worst you could say is that they won't be able to fully use that advantage if they're unfamiliar with the bigger ice. But that's probably not true either when you're talking about world class skaters such as Giroux, Crosby and Hall.

completely lost on the big ice.

some people hear something once or twice and regardless of truly understanding it, they take it is an unequivocal fact and make it their own.

stamkos and Giroux are gonna be so ineffective on that completely mystical and foreign surface.
- hugefemale dog77

Crosby with extra space will suck too.

Crosby with extra space will suck too.
- daeth

true. poor guy.

he struggles so badly to find room and create opportunities with much less time and space over here.

imagine how screwed he is with way more of it??

Do they play on international sized rinks at the WJC when they play in Europe?

If so how do we explain the fact that they got a medal in 9 out of 10 of the tournaments that were held in Europe from 1993 to 2008?

With the skating and puck handling ability of Duncan Keith, you can tell he will have nightmares about this tournament.

Do they play on international sized rinks at the WJC when they play in Europe?

If so how do we explain the fact that they got a medal in 9 out of 10 of the tournaments that were held in Europe from 1993 to 2008?
- daeth

Good question. It could be that a Russian selected to the NHL who never plays in the WC or WJC has less experience on big ice than a north american.

Do they play on international sized rinks at the WJC when they play in Europe?

If so how do we explain the fact that they got a medal in 9 out of 10 of the tournaments that were held in Europe from 1993 to 2008?
- daeth

they do. and Canada has had huge success on the big rinks.

check this banger link out.
as if I hadn't already, it blows his entire premise out of the water.

http://www.iihf.com/home-...d%5D=187&cHash=34358868c3

but the best part is;

SALT LAKE CITY 2002 WAS PLAYED ON THE BIG ICE!!!!

2010 was the only time it was played on the nhl ice.

ENDER ENDER

The Belleville Bulls play on an international sized rink too.

but the best part is;

SALT LAKE CITY 2002 WAS PLAYED ON THE BIG ICE!!!!

2010 was the only time it was played on the nhl ice.

ENDER ENDER
- hugefemale dog77

Well that just about ends this.

they do. and Canada has had huge success on the big rinks.

check this banger link out.
as if I hadn't already, it blows his entire premise out of the water.

http://www.iihf.com/home-...d%5D=187&cHash=34358868c3

but the best part is;

SALT LAKE CITY 2002 WAS PLAYED ON THE BIG ICE!!!!

2010 was the only time it was played on the nhl ice.

ENDER ENDER
- hugefemale dog77

Salt Lake City' Peak arena is TWO METERS narrower than International sized ice.

I wanted to post something here onto epic posts to capture the stupidity, but there hasn't been one all-encapsulating comment yet.

The fact that there's only been one pro-era olympics on small ice makes me laugh though.

here's some tidbits from that olympics:

The biggest surprise of the tournament was Belarus, 0–3–0 in Group D play, knocking off 3–0–0 Sweden in quarterfinal play. After that upset, the Swedish media held their players responsible for the loss, even going as far to publish their NHL salaries. The players responded by not returning to Sweden during the NHL break, although that was unlikely since the Olympics were held in the same continent as their NHL teams and play resumed soon after the Olympics ended.

Another major surprise was the silver-medal finish of Team USA, which was not considered a contender as it was steeped heavily in over-30 veterans. Although it retained most of the players from the 1998 team which had performed below expectations, this time it was coached by Herb Brooks, who had been responsible for the "Miracle on Ice" over the Soviet Union during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Despite being close to the ends of their NHL careers, Mike Richter and Phil Housley put up phenomenal performances. Brett Hull, John LeClair and Mike Modano formed the "Divine Line" which led the tournament in scoring. USA and Russia played to a 2–2 tie in their group game, drawing some comparisons to the famous 1980 Miracle game. Ending up, USA finished second behind Sweden in the round robin results. USA and Russia met again in the semi-finals of the tournament. The USA's victory over Russia came coincidentally on the 22-year anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice", the upset of the Soviet Union team, at Lake Placid in 1980. The Americans stormed out to a 3–0 lead for the first two periods, before withstanding a furious two-goal rally from the Russians to advance.

Further, Russia barely squeaked by Belarus 6-4 in the round robin and got pelted with 49 shots by the geezer Yanks in the Semis. They and Sweden arguably had the most trouble of any top team on big ice.

Salt Lake City is in North America.
- Doppleganger

This seems an awful lot like you thought Salt Lake City was played on smaller ice:

And ever since the "playing field" was levelled in 1998, Canada has NOT medaled anywhere else except on the smaller ice in North America.
- Doppleganger

This seems an awful lot like you thought Salt Lake City was played on smaller ice:




- Morris

Then there's this

lets not over analyze this okay.

Since the NHL pros have been participating in the Olympics, Canada's two golds have come on North American sized ice. The same ice that all the Canadian Pros have played on for their entire lives. They have yet to win of Olympic sized ice. These my friend are facts.

You'll also have to admit that playing in your home country gives the home team a bit of an advantage, and I just don't see how the Russians can lose, if NHLers are going to compete in 2014, in Russia.
- Doppleganger

Page 11

Can't believe we've been bored enough to let this go on this long

Then there's this


Page 11

Can't believe we've been bored enough to let this go on this long
- daeth

yep.
i really hope he's not expecting us to buy that he didn't think salt lake was the small ice.

he's been good for a chuckle though..

I wanted to post something here onto epic posts to capture the stupidity, but there hasn't been one all-encapsulating comment yet.

The fact that there's only been one pro-era olympics on small ice makes me laugh though.

here's some tidbits from that olympics:



Further, Russia barely squeaked by Belarus 6-4 in the round robin and got pelted with 49 shots by the geezer Yanks in the Semis. They and Sweden arguably had the most trouble of any top team on big ice.
- Morris

yeah it's funny, that "ice size is overrated" link i posted was pretty eye opening.

Canada's been very successful on the big ice and Russia has been very successful on the small ice
it's all a total myth.

now that we've basically dispelled the big ice conversation, it really comes down to the other two. and while home ice in an event like this can certainly be a factor, having the best and deepest roster in unequivocally the most important factor

The Belleville Bulls play on an international sized rink too.
- daeth

wow.

i didn't know this.

sounds like we're gonna need as many ex bulls players as we can get if we want any chance at competing on the big ice

wow.

i didn't know this.

sounds like we're gonna need as many ex bulls players if we want any chance at competing on the big ice
- hugefemale dog77

One of the Q teams (I forget which one) plays on a smaller than regulation rink (I think the neutral zone is only 35 feet instead of 50 or something. It's breakaway central

This seems an awful lot like you thought Salt Lake City was played on smaller ice:




- Morris

It WAS player on smaller ice, not NHL sized ice, but two meters wider than NHL and two meters narrower than International sized ice.

But the larger ice is not the one single thing that I've been pointing at, as to why the Canadians are NOT the favourites going into the Sochi games, the Russians are. This is not my opinion, it's the actual Odds generally accepted as the current ranking.


Every link I posted has rated the Russians as the favourites................and NO they're not all betting sites.

I've yet to see one link posted that claims the Canadians are the Favourites.


Clearly playing at home, in front of Russian crowds, on extremely familiar ice to them, give the Russians the edge in the ranking/odds over the Canadians.

Let's see something other than some poster's opinion that says otherwise.


And making pronouncements like "Canada has Sidney freaking Crosby" is not saying much when you consider that since he last won the Hart, as the NHL's MVP way back in 2007, Ovechkin has won it 3 times since 2007, Malkin once and only one Canadian, Perry, since Crosby in 2007.

I just don't believe the larger ice surface is that much of a disadvantage for a team like Canada.

They may not simply have the best depth of talent to choose a team from, but also specifically the best collection of skaters. I mentioned Grioux and Hall and if I mentioned Crosby it was because of high quality skating specifically vis a vis the larger ice argument.

I think that if we picked Thornton, Lucic, Getlaf, Eberle, Benn, Ladd, Neal, Clarkson, Clowe, Horton, Doan and Kane, then we might have some speed problems. I think we'd fair better on the big ice if we got a few quicker guys in there.

BTW, in 2002', when Canada won the Gold medal, it was an international sized Ice Surface.

BTW, in 2002', when Canada won the Gold medal, it was an international sized Ice Surface.
- RogerRoeper

nice catch Rog

nice catch Rog
- Pie

Was NOT International sized ice........it was TWO METERS narrower than International ice.

The thought of making sure there is a an equal amount of right handed vs left handed dmen on Team Canada is ridiculous.

Can you imagine a scenario where say: Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Crosby, Sakic were all available and were told sorry, we cannot take the best players, only the best for the position we are looking for.

Bring the best players. They are elite athletes who get used to adjusting.