As Caroline and I were watching Canada totally dominate Slovenia and then the US struggle with Latvia, Caroline became totally enthralled with the Latvian fans. Here were 1000 plus fans who flew all the way to Canada to watch their team for the most part get totally dominated for most of the games the team will play. Even the Slovenians had a couple hundred fans for their game. American fans were almost non-existant. The thing with the Latvians were that they were vocal through out the game cheering their squad on or good hockey in the Canada Slovenian game. They banged their drums, cheer, chanted and jeered the ref on bad calls. The question that Caroline then asked was "why is it that a group of us who have followed hockey for years have never done a pigrimage to the World Championships?" Some of the jerseys that the Latvian or Slovian fans wore showed the location and year for each of the championships they went to.
As for the hockey, Canada totally outclassed the Slovenian on every aspect of the game. The Heatley, Nash, Getzlaf line were a joy to watch. Kopitar had a couple of nice moments and scored on the five on three powerplay. Kopitar also played the penatly kill quite effectively going down and blocking shots. The saving grace for the Slovenians was their goaltender. He stopped 60 of 65 shots and was by far the star of the game. Everybody in the crowd and in the bar afterwards was talking about the continual brilliant saves that he made. There were at least 5 how did that not go in and numerous other saves that showed excellent positioning and skill. By the way the goalie still used the old leather pads as equipment. You give him the new lightweight high tech pads and he would be even quicker.
Latvia held the US to 4 powerplay goals. 5 on 5 and the americans struggled to break throught the Latvian Defence. Latvia brought a large defensive team that frustrated the Americans. This chippy affair gave the Americans at least 10 power plays but the americans gave up a few and except for a few timely saves by Thomas the Latvians should have and deserved a goal. Unfortunately the Latvians have no offensive ability and it showed on the poor passing on the powerplay and could not sustain pressure in the offensive zone.
GO CANADA GO
3 comments:
Glad to see that you are taking advantage of world class hockey on your doorstep! And yes, I have seen one major junior hockey tournament in Europe, when I was there in '91 (the year Tom Muir drafted for me). On another topic, just wondering whether you would still be willing to host a WD one year, and if anyone from out west would be willing to fly to Halifax. Given the right circomstances (money), I would.
I have suggested that the 20th Anniversary draft be held out here. Give everyone time to save for it. Caroline could host a wives day for those that bring signicant others on a vacation. If we have enough wireless we could do the draft at long pond (one of the birth places of hockey) in Windsor. Or at least make a pilgrimage to the spot over the weekend.
I know it isn't as sexy as the coast, but I'd like to throw beautiful Lethbridge into the ring as a possible host city for the draft....
Just a two hour drive from Calgary and already fixed up with Wireless!
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