Go Canada Go!
Lowetide
January 05 2011 06:49AM
This is Jordan Eberle scoring one of the most famous goals in the game's history. The timing (perfect) and the degree of difficulty (impossible) add to the appeal of this photo. Tonight in Buffalo, a new chapter will be written.
I believe there are several reasons for the immense popularity of the World Junior championships. For one, we all have way more leisure time than in the past (certainly compared to 1970) so the potential market is mammoth for advertisers. This means more money is available, which means that networks are going to improve the coverage.
Add to that the exceptional talent on display during the lockout season (a spike season for the WJ's) and the fact that TSN is run by smart people and you have one of the major events on the Canadian sports calendar.
I don't think the Americans (or enough of them) have discovered this tournament and that's a shame. Those American kids played a home game that didn't feel like one; I doubt their performance had anything to do with the semifinal's outcome (Canada was perfect) but it has to be galling for the USA to see that kind of invasion.
I'm tearing up thinking about it.
Team Canada plays the Russians tonight in the Gold medal game. Canada plays in the final game every year it seems, but it's a battle every time. This version of Team Canada appeared to lack skill at the beginning, but those fears have eased as the tournament rolled along.
Russia is a wildly inconsistent country in international play. Sometimes they play lights out and other times they look disinterested. The Russian club that came over for the CHL series this season was stronger and that was the first indication that something might be brewing for Mother Russia.
This group started slowly and then improved as the tournament wore on, a classic Canada trick going back many years.
The Swedes play the USA in the pissed off game at 1:30pm today; the Russians and Canada play at 5:30 pm. TSN has the television, Team 1260 the radio.
Bless you boys. Win today and you can sing the anthem and bring home the Zeta-Jones.
@TimeTraveler
If there were no girls on this page, would reading a hockey blog be acceptable at work with your female supervisor behind you? Just Curious.
Sincerely,
A 35 year old with a horny teenager's obsession with bathing suit girls.
Go into your browser and turn off the images.
Its easy.
That way the rest of us who can look at girls are not harmed (yes harmed) by those who can't.
Girls, hockey, beer.
Three great tastes that taste great together.
When you get caught can't you just go back in time and change history?
Funny how the hype was all about revenge on the US and it ends up being the classic Canada Russia game.
This should be a barn burner. Either team can win here. Russia won't turtle in the corners.
edit... Wow, who is that girl? K Z jones?
Worst rant ever.
This guy is probably a vegetarian who asks his dinner host not to serve any meat at the party because it offends him.
Can we punish him with more (and larger) boobs please?
Thanks.
Canada needs to come out flying like they did vs the Americans to plant that seed of doubt in the Russians' heads.
Some quick Canadian goals and the Russians' will to win will die faster than a flock of blackbirds in Louisiana.
If you have to ask, then you can't afford it...
That's no swim suit!
*high fives around*
At what work place would surfing hockey sites instead of working be okay but pictures of beautiful women are unacceptable?
no, we need more girls in bikinis!!! And GO CANADA GO!!!
It was in Sweden in 07 and the Czech Republic in 08. I actually like that better, to me international hockey is synonymous with waking up early to watch it. And then it doesn't interfere with NHL games.
holy smoke Team Canada rode this b1tch Oiler style
I don't think I've ever seen a team play a perfect game and then play a game like this one. Wheels came off and they couldn't get it back on the road.
Congrats to those Russian kids, and to our side too. Played their hearts out.
You do God's work sir.
I'm no doctor but i feel a couple more images of Catherine Zeta-Jones may be in order LT, no words/story is required, these images alone may soothe our wounded souls.
Thank you for your consideration sir.
Great post as always LT.
/rant
My bitch about this post is that many of us read this blog at work in a PC atmosphere.
I can't risk opening up this page when my female supervisor is behind me.
Whoever has the horny teenagers obsession with bathing suit girls needs to remember this.
Thanks
/rant off
In some ways I cheer against Canada only to help increase interest in the game in the US and elsewhere. Alas, we seem poised to win this thing yet again. Sigh.
It's kind of like the NCAA tournament with only 8 teams and Duke ends up in the final year after year. Yeah it's exciting basketball, but it doesn't make for a very interesting line in Vegas.
On another note I'm pleased that Switzerland and Germany keep getting stronger. International Hockey seems like it's a 4-team race (Canada, US, Russia, and Sweden), with dark horses in the Czechs and Finland, and a Slovakian team that can compete on any given night.
I believe that we'll see Switzerland medal in a major tournament over the next 20 years, and see Germany reach a level of competitiveness on par with Slovakia or Finland.
This will do a lot to help promote the game internationally.
Can't wait to see if our guys can execute another essentially flawless performance. I have a feeling the Russians may be a lot harder to beat the second time around.
As a 31 year old with a horny teenager's obsession with bathing suit girls, I do understand that there are times it is acceptable to be reading a hockey blog at work. I also understand there is likely no time a female supervisor is going to think viewing the aforementioned bathing suit girls is acceptable at work. I suggest setting your browser to load images at this site on demand rather than automatically.
Nice article LT, and I'll say that I was thrilled to see our boys play such a strong and complete game against the US the other day. However, I have to admit I find myself cheering against Canada at times only to increase the perception of competitiveness in this tournament. I'd prefer if we won 1 out of every 2 years, instead of 4 out of every 5.
I attribute it to the strength of Hockey Canada, as opposed to the weakness of our opponents. The US program is scattered and political.
It's excellent hockey, don't get me wrong, but akin to the NCAA tournament if Duke were to make the finals year after year. Hardly a compelling line in Vegas.
On a tangent note, I am pleased however that Switzerland and Germany's programs seem to get stronger every year. I'll bet that the Swiss manage to medal in a major tournament sometime over the next 20 years, and that the Germans become competitively on par with the Slovaks or Finns over that time.
Oops. Double post. Sort of.
Note to site admin...
The schedule tab on here is saying Vancouver is in Rexall on Friday. That game is a road game on the coast
(there should be a "contact us" tab on the site maybe?)
Are you sure on the leisure thing, LT? Every stat I see shows work week greater now and nominal wages flat since 1970. Throw in the fact most of those households had their own worker in the wife/mother... and I can't see how they had less time (and that's the way I remember it too). Household income was lower then though with one paid worker.
Let's not kid ourselves, this tournament is only popular in Canada. We have been in 10 straight gold medal games-this is why the popularity of the tournament has risen, everyone likes to be a winner.
Wait until 2013 and 2014 when the tournament is overseas and see who the real fans are...when we play a Swiss team at 6 45 am on a Tuesday or something.
She's definately a screamer... and she'll carve her initials in your back.
....what were we tawkin bout again?
The TV rating won't change if the tournament is overseas. Instead of watching live we will just PVR the game and watch it later. The only part affected will be the bars will open really early or stay open really late.
God Bless the Zeta-Jones...and Go Canada!
Hopefully we see the Canadian team from the Can/US game, and not the team from the Can/SWE game tonight.
Money.
Nice to see this was met with the predictable replies. It's probably not a big deal to the unemployed or self-employed but it's a pain for most to have to censor a hockey site because some people can't be arsed to head over to a skin site to satisfy their needs.
Something wrong with Woodguy's suggestion?
Blocking images is completely in your control.
In firefox go to: tools > options > content, then click on the 'exceptions' button beside 'load images automatically', then enter - http://oilersnation.com/ - in the pop-up box.
If you use ie or safari, instructions should be equally simple.
You will no longer be bothered by the images that others find... inspiring.
cheers
GO CANADA!
Don't piss off the Hockey Moms Association For Moral Cleanliness and All-around General Stopping People From Enjoying Their Lives Association of Redundancy Again. Just don't.
Now get the F*** back to work!
Props to whomever updated the Catherine Zeta-Jones pic to the better one. Shows dedication! Kept up looking at Zeta Jones photos long after you had posted one. Good work
Don't know if you folks had seen it yet, but it sounds like the all-star game might be worth watching this year.
Might be interesting...
You will no longer be bothered by the images that others find... inspiring.
Brilliant.
Thanks Woodguy, Ice, for the image hider advice. Will come in handy...haha.
I'd buy that for a Dollar!!!
@jake
Now you can browse Adult websites.. you know.. for the articles... for realsies!
LT,
The first picture of ZJ was more... inspiring.
Any chance it can return?
Just got home, who won the bronze?
Cableguys buddy Mr. Google isn't being nice to me...
@Wanyes bastard child
USA, eat it Sweden!
Edit:Sorry Lander, I wish you all the best in OKC next season.
I'll have a look, but don't know if I can find it.
Not every employed person has a supervisor lurking over their shoulder.
this game just got depressing
@Pension Plan Puppets
Nice to see this was met with the predictable replies. It's probably not a big deal to the majority or employed, who have the privilege of surfing while at work, but it's a pain for most to have to see censorship on a hockey site because some people can't be arsed to head over to a hockey site to satisfy their needs til they are finished work.
wow. just. wow.
An el-foldo of biblical proportions.
neither was yo momma so i put her ass to work
Epic Failure......Enough Said.
wow....i guess thats what happens when you sit back and don't play. Too many stupid moves by not getting the puck out of their zone.
no eberle on this team.
haha ya I was just saying to my buddy that it was like watching the Oilers play
The Hockey Gods aren't liking us here Alberta one must say.. To be a fan of the WJ's and the Oilers today.. Painful, truely painful.
Now one has to wonder, what team will we see next year here?