This is my team - We be strong and free baby!
Yesterday the Swiss beat the favoured Russian team at the World Junior Hockey Championship. I was shouting “davai Swiss!” (Go Swiss! in Russian) with Irina cheering her homeland. I was rooting for the underdog I told her, and the red color of the Swiss jersey reminded me of Canada I guess. Today there’s a Canada-Swiss game coming up at 5pm and I’ll certainly be cheering for Canada, but hoping the Swiss can give them a good challenge. It was in the 1950s that the Russians/Soviets began competing in earnest at the stellar levels of play that we always expect from them. Canada invented the game a half century before. And these days it is said that 5-6 teams could win the senior championships, be they the worlds or the Olympics (Teams like Canada are heavily favoured but hot goal-tending especially can propel any team into the finals). Is there really a reasonable level of parity in the international hockey scene? Certainly not in women’s hockey, where the championships seems to see-saw back and forth between the Canadians and Americans. This year I predicted a Canada-Sweden rematch at the World Juniors, and I think we just might get there yet. There is certainly a minor discrepancy between the talent on display at the junior (u20) level and that of senior teams. Perhaps it’s a question of what professional development does to a player. Canada may supply more than 50% of the players to the NHL and have more than half the top 20 scorers which indicates a serious level of skill, but when you put any 20 players on the ice who are used to competing at elite professional leagues, anything can happen. The Swiss team has players as young as 17/18 playing their Elite league (one of the best leagues in Europe as those who watch the Spengler Cup might already know). Apparently they populate the junior systems here and a couple have NHL experience. It all adds up to a serious polish and readiness to play with anybody – so watch out Canada. Today should be a dandy if the Swiss can carry over their fine play from yesterday. Canada is shooting for six straight Gold medals. they have won 6 of the last 13 years (almost 50% overall).
Interestingly at the senior World Championship, Canada has won 3 times in the last 10 years. Canada has won 1 of the last 3 Olympics. The under-18 has one 2 of the last 10 Worlds. If you have a comment please feel free to join the discussion.
Canada World Junior Results last 13 competitions:
2009 – Can - Win 5-1 over Sweden
2008 – Can – Win 3-2 over Sweden
2007 – Can – Win 4-2 over Russia
2006 – Can – Win 5-0 over Russia
2005 – Can – Win 6-1 over Russia
2004 USA
2003 Rus
2002 Rus
2001 Cze
2000 Cze
1999 Rus
1998 Fin
1997 Can
