Aivis Kalnins: USA beats Russia and advances to WJC semi-finals

I didn't get to watch... how did Woll look?

I didn't get to watch... how did Woll look?
- SolidGoldBricks

The first period was kinda shaky but he picked it up in the 2nd, I'd say it was a very good game for him.

I know they've been having weather issues in Buffalo, but the arena was less than half full.

WTF?

Attendance for the whole tournament has been horrible and somewhat embarrassing. St.Louis bid on the tournament and should have won.Blues fans would have come out in force to watch the USA's 4 St.Louis kids and our 2 Canadian prospects.

Attendance poor for several reasons:

1. Overestimation of demand after tournament was here recently and twice in Toronto
1a. Individual Game tickets sold far too late after demand for packages were evident
2. Walkup sales probably affected somewhat by near zero temps for nearly the whole tournament
3. Last night a rush hour storm caused a pileup on the thruway and people to stay home once they got there
4. The tournament always sells poorly in the states, and it wasn't that great last year for prelim rounds or non-Canada games in Canada either.
5. Noon or 4:00 workday games will never sell out
6. Its fashionable to bag on the attendance, but I know several local people while I was sitting at the game were bagging on the attendance on my social media feeds from their own couch.
7. Oh and the Sabres are terrible and have killed our will to watch hockey no matter who is playing

Attendance poor for several reasons:

1. Overestimation of demand after tournament was here recently and twice in Toronto
1a. Individual Game tickets sold far too late after demand for packages were evident
2. Walkup sales probably affected somewhat by near zero temps for nearly the whole tournament
3. Last night a rush hour storm caused a pileup on the thruway and people to stay home once they got there
4. The tournament always sells poorly in the states, and it wasn't that great last year for prelim rounds or non-Canada games in Canada either.
5. Noon or 4:00 workday games will never sell out
6. Its fashionable to bag on the attendance, but I know several local people while I was sitting at the game were bagging on the attendance on my social media feeds from their own couch.
7. Oh and the Sabres are terrible and have killed our will to watch hockey no matter who is playing
- jasona93

All very valid points,all the more reason to have St.Louis host it.

Attendance for the whole tournament has been horrible and somewhat embarrassing. St.Louis bid on the tournament and should have won.Blues fans would have come out in force to watch the USA's 4 St.Louis kids and our 2 Canadian prospects.
- meyrman

USA Hockey awarding Buffalo the tournament twice in a row was probably not smart (though selfishly, I love that they did it), but make no mistake, the only venues in the US that will be well attended for this tournament are ones that Canadians can get to. The interest simply isn't there for Americans. Now, St. Louis might have drawn slightly better than Buffalo for USA games due to the local aspect of it, but it would have been offset by poor attendance at other games.

It's a shame too, because the World Junior Hockey Championship is the most underrated event in sports.