Sweden vs Norway!!!

With Detroit knocked out of the Stanley Cup Sweden has got some of their best players on the park (Zetterberg)

HEJA SVERIGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tak Tak hej hej!

I used to work for a Swedish Bank and those Swedish guys are proper serious about their Ice Hockey and very, very good at it.

Great game to watch, even though I've never played myself.

the Swedish national hockey team I've always thought has some of the best uniforms in all sport





I taped the USA-France game from this morning to watch later.

a swedish GOD

His club is actually called Mjölner ( the hammer of Thor)



http://eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=285

In Norse mythology, Mjölnir ( /ˈmjɒlnɪər/ or /ˈmjɒlnər/ myol-n(ee)r; also Mjǫlnir, Mjollnir, Mjölner or Mjølner) is the hammer of Thor, a major god associated with thunder. Distinctively shaped, Mjölnir is depicted in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome weapons, capable of leveling mountains. Though generally recognized and depicted as a hammer, Mjölnir is sometimes referred to as an axe or club.[1] In the 13th century Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson relates that the Svartálfar Sindri, the brother of Brokkr, made Mjölnir while in a contest with Loki to see who could make the most wonderful and useful items for the Gods and Goddesses in Asgard.
The Prose Edda gives a summary of Mjölnir's special qualities in that, with Mjölnir, Thor:

What they don't say is

I hope the Danes qualify for the Olympics. They've got their best ever group of players when all available and all are pretty young. Definitely the country that has improved the most over the last 10 years with it not being odd to see Danes drafted in the 1st round anymore.

Games live on the IIHF official youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/1stvenue/featured
Finland-Belarus 3rd period

No real fan would have felt the need to put Ice into the thread title.

Fixed.

Correct. It's comparable to Rugby Union World Cup.

Says the man from "Scotland"

Hockey for you Anglo Saxons means Indian grass hockey

I'd say the Swiss personally.

The International Rugby Union Fan's Guide to International Ice Hockey:

New Zealand are Canada - spiritual guardians of the game, a tinge of arrogance from their fans on viewing it and provides some character to a population usually described as genteel and nice, had a long drought in winning anything (Canada went 50 years between Olympic gold medals and is 19 years without a Stanley Cup, New Zealand went 24 years between Rugby World Cups), don't handle defeat well, who's the New Zealand rugby version of Don Cherry? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raEgZDBk-ys

Australia are the USA - usually the big brother to their neighbor in all sports but in this sport they uniquely take the junior seat at the table, game only popular in certain segments of the country, usually just happy if they can upset their neighbors to see their fans react angrily but every now and then can take the top prize

England are Russia - think they're the center of the world in the sport, not those filthy degenerates from the other side of the planet that call themselves the spiritual guardians of the game, flash a lot of money around, a decline of sorts has set in after a long period of great success, holding the next true World Championship (2015 in rugby in England, the 2014 Olympics in hockey in Russia)

Ireland are Germany - Neighorn once here: "this comparison would be rancid if they understood"

Wales are Finland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfJqcOp7QIs , can never win on the big stage globally so they make up for it by acting like beating their neighbors is the most awesomest thing ever, all their best players have left their domestic league, have a natural inferiority complex to their neighbors borne out of being subjugated for centuries that they use their national team as a surrogate for

Argentina are Switzerland - a team that's there underneath the top teams, most respect them and know they have to try to beat them but you'd never look at them and think they're going to win the whole thing, most people categorize their style of play as quite dull and if you beat them it'll usually be a low-scoring affair

South Africa are Sweden - have their ups and downs but have won world titles often enough to be a largely successful country in the game historically outside of the top two, produce a lot of top players that go play in other countries' leagues

Samoa are Kazakhstan - can be quite the bruisers although they seldom beat the top boys and are benefactors of almost their whole playing base playing and coming from New Zealand/Russia

Scotland are Slovakia - one of the top tier historically but just barely as the likes of Argentina/Switzerland have probably passed them by, probably on the downslide but can still give a few teams fits

USA are Norway - a country you'd think would be better at the sport but for some reason few people play the game there as the game has a reputation amongst the general population of being psychotic

Namibia are Ukraine - had a short period of success after independence from the mother country but not long after it went downhill

Georgia are Latvia - only been independent for about 20 years, usually just making up the numbers at the bottom end but have passionate fans, DEATH TO RUSSIA!!!

That covers everyone major in both sports except for French rugby and the Czechs.

You're a saffer you fucking mong - you are probably the second most Anglo Saxon people on earth.

Czechs = France ?

Damn. I did forget the French, although I don't feel like that's a strong analogy. I don't think there's a ton of politics and melodrama in the Czech hockey team (for that it would be the Russians).

Yeah, the Swiss have improved a bit too. But they've had some guys in the NHL for awhile it seems. Feels more like the Danes have come out of nowhere starting with players born in 1987.

Czechs = South Africa

Fluked a championship in the 90s.

Slovaks = Italy

Produce a couple world class players (Chara/Gaborik/Hossa) but not enough overall talent to really have a chance at anything other than the occasional upset.

I would have thought Kazakhstan are Namibia or Namibia are Kazakhstan. However it goes.

A group of guys who don't look like most of their countrymen with a playing base of 1000 and a fanbase half that. And don't know what rain is.

...and your description of Scotland would be...?

Scotland = the Swiss

Great post!!

You can find the guide to field hockey over at Mumsnet.

Under the post 'Sports safe for my daughter to play?'

Hehe, and my daughter plays the ice version - full on. And loves it. Every game she bemoans the fact there is no full on hitting.

The Danes have been sending their promising junior players to Sweden. The Swedish development system is outstanding, and Denmark's proximity to Sweden has had a great impact on Danish hockey. I believe there are a couple of Danes in the CHL, also.

Hockey (field) is a surprisingly fun game. Plus its players have full sets of teeth

+1

That blue one is nice. Problem is, unless they do a polo shirt version, you can't wear that outside.

The guys that come out of nowhere always have my respect.... Anze Kopitar.
There is now an Australian 18 year old that is playing in the Czech Replubic who should be drafted in the top 3 rounds this coming NHL draft! Nathan Walker (A third rounder is still a long shot but you never know!).


Snooze... what level is she playing at next year?
Zippyette # 1 going into grade 12 (3rd year midget)
Zippyette # 2 going into grade 10 (1st year midget)

Once the Aussies get a sniff of success in the NHL they'll be off this men's field hockey gag.

I hope he does well.... but he is a wee little oompa loompa more suited to the European game.

Have you seen how footy players dress in Oz when the temps dip below 10 degrees?

USA 7, France 2

Americans were sloppy early. Puckhandling and passing were poor. TSN announcers said they'd only practiced together for two days. French were only down 3-2 midway through the 2nd. After that point, U.S. dominated.

I know the French aren't good compared to the top of the hockey world but when the U.S. had the puck in the offensive zone near the goal the French wouldn't challenge the puck at all, and there was one goal Okposo scored where he had no one on him and just played target practice aiming for the small area between Cristobal Huet (I'd wondered what happened to him, he now plays in the Swiss league) and the crossbar and scored.

Sounds like the Snoozette wants to play rugby. Don't close that door on the poor girl.

Fuck these Swede fans are lame. They draw even from 2 down in an elimination game and they stretch, stand up, and clap a bit.

More padding than American football, is this the girly version of hockey

ever been hit by a puck at speed before?

Sorry Zippy, just seen this now. She is heading in to second year Bantam (Grade 8 right now), and my boy is heading in to first year Peewee. Good times.

I've watched a few of the rep level midget games and they are fun to see. Girls are bloody aggressive once they lace up the skates.

shame the girls rules don't allow hitting.

No , I imagine it would sting a bit though.

It seems the players use to be rather manlier and less frightened of getting hurt