Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: The Final Four, Hot Latvian Prospect, Heritage Classic Five Vancouver Canucks are still alive as the Olympic hockey tournament narrows to four teams. Back at home, the Canucks are back at practice and the promotional machine is gearing up for the Heritage Classic.

the Latvian tender deserves an honourary gold medal for his performance today. that was absolutely amazing

the Latvian tender deserves an honourary gold medal for his performance today. that was absolutely amazing
- The_Kuze

this

the Latvian tender deserves an honourary gold medal for his performance today. that was absolutely amazing
- The_Kuze

That was ridiculous goaltending.

this
- Artyukhin76

I believe you are over your limit for good goaltenders.

How the hell did the ref behind the net not see the player put his hand on the puck.

But yah, The Goalie was absolutely sensational.

Thanks for mentioning Kenins, Carol

Missed the game today, so I didn't see how he played.

He came highly regarded by Marc and Eric Crawford, and had a decent camp—better than the other more-touted Latvian invitee, Indrasis.

There is some confusion about his height.

A few sites have him at 6'4"-5", but most have him at 5'11" to 6'.

I think the latter is correct. But I wish it was the former...

Anyone else having trouble accessing our pool right now?

Let's be brutally honest here Carol. The Canadians are going to win this tournament. They will beat the U.S in an NHL style game and then beat Sweden/Finland (prob Sweden) in the final. They are too strong. But it is good to see the rest of the world closing in to Canada.

Anyone else having trouble accessing our pool right now?
- vancity787

Nope.

But I'm using the IPhone app.

Nope.

But I'm using the IPhone app.
- Fosco

Desktop seems to be working fine as well.

Let's be brutally honest here Carol. The Canadians are going to win this tournament. They will beat the U.S in an NHL style game and then beat Sweden/Finland (prob Sweden) in the final. They are too strong. But it is good to see the rest of the world closing in to Canada.
- walshyleafsfan

Overly optomistic my friends.

Desktop seems to be working fine as well.
- Chest Rockwell

I really didnt want to give up Stalock But I need the starts...

I really didnt want to give up Stalock But I need the starts...
- vancity787

Yeah. I overpaid to get him but he rounds my goaltending nicely.

That being said, I have a couple decent goalies available if anybody is looking for one.

Overly optomistic my friends.
- vancity787

You think the U.S will beat Canada?

You think the U.S will beat Canada?
- walshyleafsfan

It's well within the realm of possibility...

It's well within the realm of possibility...
- Fosco

Well yes but to be fair, other than maybe 4 teams in the whole tournament, it is always within the realms of possibility

Thanks for mentioning Kenins, Carol

Missed the game today, so I didn't see how he played.

He came highly regarded by Marc and Eric Crawford, and had a decent camp—better than the other more-touted Latvian invitee, Indrasis.

There is some confusion about his height.

A few sites have him at 6'4"-5", but most have him at 5'11" to 6'.

I think the latter is correct. But I wish it was the former...
- Fosco

I think he stood out in this tournament because he hussles. How many Canucks do that? Not many is the answer. He'd be a better 4th line option than what we have now.

Well yes but to be fair, other than maybe 4 teams in the whole tournament, it is always within the realms of possibility
- walshyleafsfan

This statement appears slightly different than your "brutally honest" post earlier.

You also seemed to take issue with Vancity's comment that your claim was overly optimistic.

Have you had a change of heart?

The U.S. has a great team, and appear to be bringing a higher level of play than the Canadians so far.

I still think Canada will win gold, but I won't be surprised in the least if the U.S. does.

Thanks for mentioning Kenins, Carol

Missed the game today, so I didn't see how he played.

He came highly regarded by Marc and Eric Crawford, and had a decent camp—better than the other more-touted Latvian invitee, Indrasis.

There is some confusion about his height.

A few sites have him at 6'4"-5", but most have him at 5'11" to 6'.

I think the latter is correct. But I wish it was the former...
- Fosco

My pleasure. Thanks for the intel, especially when it's positive!

I did notice some variation in his height on a couple of sites I checked.

I used the current stats from Eliteprospects.com, who seem to be most up-to-date on the European leagues. They say he's 6'0". Canucks.com lists him the same but Hockeydb.com has him at 6'4." I figured maybe he had a late growth spurt?

Makes sense about the Crawfords: Marc's the coach of Kenins' Swiss League team, the Zurich Lions.

I think he stood out in this tournament because he hussles. How many Canucks do that? Not many is the answer. He'd be a better 4th line option than what we have now.
- therealagent

Dale Weise hussled, he just never did anything productive... ever.

I did like what I saw from Kenins today. Mind you, I was quite impressed by what I saw from everybody on the Latvia Team today.

How crazy was that set play off the faceoff that lead to the Latvia goal? You just know somebody is going to try that in the NHL sooner or later.

This statement appears slightly different than your "brutally honest" post earlier.

You also seemed to take issue with Vancity's comment that your claim was overly optimistic.

Have you had a change of heart?

The U.S. has a great team, and appear to be bringing a higher level of play than the Canadians so far.

I still think Canada will win gold, but I won't be surprised in the least if the U.S. does.
- Fosco

Absolutely not. I understand the not being overly confident excuse, but I myself am not Canadian. So I don't have to worry about that. The Canadian's are the strongest team by a country mile and have performed within themselves all tournament. In my opinion they will come out on top once again. I like the fact the rest of the world is catching up. I think that will only improve the Olympics/NHL/KHL. It's good to see. Unfortunately, for the U.S. I don't see Kessel or JVR being much of a factor against Weber, Pietrangelo, Keith or Bouwmeester. In which case, they will have to grind it out. And, in that case, I think Canada wins. And then wins the finals. (The old cliché of "there's no easy games" for athletes ring true)

You think the U.S will beat Canada?
- walshyleafsfan

From what I've seen, it looks like the US has been playing top notch hockey over the entire tournament so far. So, I could very easily see the US not only beating Canada but winning Gold (hopefully I've now jinxed Kesler et al)

What's really disconcerting, is that Canada's strength was going to be its offense. Notwithstanding that Olympic goaltending on the majority of the teams has been excellent, there just simply is no excuse for failing to score when you have the kind of potent line-up the Canadians have. And yet goals have been harder to come by than trying to find chocolates within 10 miles of Fosco's house

Who would have possibly thought that up to this point, Canada would have only scored 11 goals! moreover, that half of those have been from the blue-line.

The plus side of course is that Team Defense has been excellent, which will be a much more important factor now that we are in the medal round. Still, I don't think anyone would have expected such a dearth of goals. Perhaps just play Doughty and Weber the entire game

Edit: it's incredible that we are seeing such amazing parity in this year's hockey tournament (has there even been one complete blow-out?). It's stunning to see how much progress all the countries have made since the Vancouver games

From what I've seen, it looks like the US has been playing top notch hockey over the entire tournament so far. So, I could very easily see the US not only beating Canada but winning Gold (hopefully I've now jinxed Kesler et al)

What's really disconcerting, is that Canada's strength was going to be its offense. Notwithstanding that Olympic goaltending on the majority of the teams has been excellent, there just simply is no excuse for failing to score when you have the kind of potent line-up the Canadians have. And yet goals have been harder to come by than trying to find chocolates within 10 miles of Fosco's house

Who would have possibly thought that up to this point, Canada would have only scored 11 goals! moreover, that half of those have been from the blue-line.

The plus side of course is that Team Defense has been excellent, which will be a much more important factor now that we are in the medal round. Still, I don't think anyone would have expected such a dearth of goals. Perhaps just play Doughty and Weber the entire game
- Zogg

Concerns all noted. However, I 100% believe Canada are playing to the level of their opponents. Patronizing? Sure. But wait till they play the Americans, and they will kick out of their funk. A dodgy game today, could've been exactly what they needed in the quarters. if they won 6-0. So what. That's what the world would've expected. Now it's game on for two games. Back home on Monday. Just you watch.

Absolutely not. I understand the not being overly confident excuse, but I myself am not Canadian. So I don't have to worry about that. The Canadian's are the strongest team by a country mile and have performed within themselves all tournament. In my opinion they will come out on top once again. I like the fact the rest of the world is catching up. I think that will only improve the Olympics/NHL/KHL. It's good to see. Unfortunately, for the U.S. I don't see Kessel or JVR being much of a factor against Weber, Pietrangelo, Keith or Bouwmeester. In which case, they will have to grind it out. And, in that case, I think Canada wins. And then wins the finals. (The old cliché of "there's no easy games" for athletes ring true)
- walshyleafsfan

Canada might be the better team by a country mile on paper but haven't shown it on the ice. 0-0 after 40 v Norway, 2-1 OT win v Finland, late PP goal to win 2-1 v Latvia - none of these results set the confidence meter real high.

We're all Canadian here and I don't think anyone is being unduly pessimistic, just noting what we've been seeing on the ice and weighing that up with what we think Canada are capable of. If they find the form that they found against Russia in 2010 then no one can ever hope to stop them. Any less and there will be battle for each and every win. And for an Olympic tourney that's as it should be.