small hockey country winning medal

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

hey whats up you guys

do you guys ever wonder if maybe a small country that was never dominant in hockey could win a Olympic medal, I mean there was a time when great Britain was the best team in the world so maybe oneday a new team will rise.

who do you guys think can be the next great hockey country, I think maybe Denmark or especiallybelarus could rise. if the infrastructure of Belarus was better I think they would be very good. and there are many more players from Denmark in the NHL now so they maybe are on the rise.

also many people fear the Swiss now, they did not lose to USA by much and they have a respected league so the sky is maybe the limit

[McAwesome 754]

With the systems being what they are today, there is simply too much of a gap between the elite-level national teams (Russia, Canada, Sweden, Finland, USA, Czech, Slovakia) and the rest of the world, money and population being the two biggest factors. That being said, I agree that Denmark is going to be a team to look out for in 2014, they are starting to get a lot of good players, being drafted by and actually playing for NHL teams (look for Frans Nielsen of the Islanders to be an All-Star next year). If the NHL players cannot participate in the Sochi Olympics and countries are having to rely on their national league players to fill their rosters, that will definitely hurt NA teams, but could work to Russia's advantage, especially if they keep luring big-name players back home with these big contracts (you could realistically see a mass exodus of Russian-born players jumping back to the KHL in 2013 for that very reason).

As cool as it would be for a country like Switzerland to shock the hockey world and medal, I don't see it happening.

[clutchngrab 12]

hey whats up you guys

do you guys ever wonder if maybe a small country that was never dominant in hockey could win a Olympic medal, I mean there was a time when great Britain was the best team in the world so maybe oneday a new team will rise.

who do you guys think can be the next great hockey country, I think maybe Denmark or especiallybelarus could rise. if the infrastructure of Belarus was better I think they would be very good. and there are many more players from Denmark in the NHL now so they maybe are on the rise.

also many people fear the Swiss now, they did not lose to USA by much and they have a respected league so the sky is maybe the limit

Go Lithuania!

[stillwater 186]

and there are many more players from Denmark in the NHL now so they maybe are on the rise.

Yeah, those 4 players should dominate and bring home the Gold for Denmark.

This is just a dumb opening post.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Yeah, those 4 players should dominate and bring home the Gold for Denmark.

This is just a dumb opening post.

I'm pretty sure the OP meant in the future, as these countries continue to develop their programs, not 2010 - if you have nothing of substance to contribute to a thread, stay out of it...

Read the forum guidelines again...

Edited February 17, 2010 by stevkrause

[Finnish Wing 110]

Finland has won the most olympic hockey medals since -88, and there's only 5million people living here. THINK ABOUT IT. :DDDDDDD

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Yeah, those 4 players should dominate and bring home the Gold for Denmark.

This is just a dumb opening post.

Seriously? Why bother posting if your just ganna be a ******. get outta here.

To the OP i just dont see any small country placing mainly because the bigger hockey countries are just to strong. Is it impossible in the future? No, but these smaller countries defiently gotta step up their game and start developing more players or else they will keep getting blown out on the national level. Russia, Canada, Sweden, USA, Finald are just to strong for these smaller countries.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Finland has won the most olympic hockey medals since -88, and there's only 5million people living here. THINK ABOUT IT. :DDDDDDD

based on your sign on name, im both shocked and appalled by what you are implying haha

[stevkrause 1,247]

With the systems being what they are today, there is simply too much of a gap between the elite-level national teams (Russia, Canada, Sweden, Finland, USA, Czech, Slovakia) and the rest of the world, money and population being the two biggest factors. That being said, I agree that Denmark is going to be a team to look out for in 2014, they are starting to get a lot of good players, being drafted by and actually playing for NHL teams (look for Frans Nielsen of the Islanders to be an All-Star next year). If the NHL players cannot participate in the Sochi Olympics and countries are having to rely on their national league players to fill their rosters, that will definitely hurt NA teams, but could work to Russia's advantage, especially if they keep luring big-name players back home with these big contracts (you could realistically see a mass exodus of Russian-born players jumping back to the KHL in 2013 for that very reason).

As cool as it would be for a country like Switzerland to shock the hockey world and medal, I don't see it happening.

I think you're dead on with all your points. :beerbuddy:

The systems from youth on up in the elite level countries are just LEAPS and bounds above these others and the talent gap really shows as a result of development...

With that that said, some countries (Switzerland, Denmark, Norway) are starting to develop their programs better and within the next 10-20 years, could start to put a dent in some of that gap, but that is where it needs to start - at the youth level and realistically, you are at least one full generation away from really developing a system as a result.

In reply to your other point, the NHL would be downright stupid to remove itself from the Olympics, this showcases your stars on a national level and helps grow an interest in the sport world wide, it also allows the players a chance to represent their country and I'm sure the NHLPA would fight that as well - the last thing the NHL needs to do right now is drive another wedge between the NHL and NHLPA... there are a litany of reasons why it would be detrimental for the NHL to pull out of the Olympics, but I don't feel like writing a novel...

[Finnish Wing 110]

To be honest, I think the hockey in Switzerland is getting better and better all the time. They've got enough recources to be good in the future, it's not about money. I think in 20 years they could be more than top8.

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

i agree with swiss they are good but finland is proof that small countries can rise, before the eighties people did not know about them very much, now they are regularly a force. sweden has also rose up in recent decades now they are one of the elite. also the gap is not too big, there are countries like belarus, germany, swiss, who are in between the elite teams and the not elite

also sorry about denmark, i didnt mean they would be good right away but their four players is a very good improvement for them, and its kinda impressive i mean 5 million people only, and a country obsessed with soccer. its not as cold in demark they have more of a german climate with a swedish style culture so hopefully the swedes can influence more of a hockey interest there

norway is also improving, per age skroder has been one of the best players in the elitserien in the last few years and he is norwegian

[TheUkrainian 49]

Go Ukraine!? I was saddened when they didn't make it into the Olympics this year.

Maybe if Ukrainian born players played for Ukraine instead of taking Russian citizenship...Zherdev/Zhitnik. At least Fedotenko stays true to his roots.

[jollymania 162]

No, Estonia is the next powerhouse

[Barrie 900]

Yeah, those 4 players should dominate and bring home the Gold for Denmark.

This is just a dumb opening post.

I think this is a dumb reply to the opening post.

To reply to the opening post. The Men's Olympic hockey isn't a sure thing like the Women's. Who would have thought the Czech Republic, a country of only 10 Million people would win gold in 1998? Almost anything is possible!

[RedFlag85 33]

Go Ukraine!? I was saddened when they didn't make it into the Olympics this year.

Maybe if Ukrainian born players played for Ukraine instead of taking Russian citizenship...Zherdev/Zhitnik. At least Fedotenko stays true to his roots.

Actually, you're really on to something. They have a sizable population, at around 47 million, and have already produced some talent. I'd say with in 10-15 years, they could be on the cusp of having a res[ected Hockey program.

[TheUkrainian 49]

They do have a good talent pool, but the facilities are far and few. When they were part of the Solviet Union they would "export" stars to big Russian cities and develop them there, so there wasn't a real need to build hockey facilities. They didn't do too bad in their first olympics (10/14) either. I think their hockey program can develop as well as their soccer program. They surprised the world in 2006 when they managed to reach the quarterfinals in their first showing ever and lost 3-0 to Italy.

[Tane 17]

I think Hockey is big enough in Switzerland, and is gaining enough steam For the swiss to become the 8th major hockey country. Right now there are 7 (US, Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech and Slovakia)

The odds are against them, but in such a short tournament, anyone can get a hot goalie, and win 3 games in a row. I said before in the WJC thread that winning a gold medal doesn't necessarily mean you're the BEST team. It just means you've won that tournament. The better your team is the better the ODDS are that you'll win. but really, Swiss beat Canada 2-0 in torino, Belarus knocked out Sweden on a fluke goal in Salt Lake City. 1980 Team USA, played the game of their lives at the right time, and carried that momentum to a gold medal. It can happen in a single elimination tournament.

I don't think it will, but I'll never say it wont'.

[martyrme19 73]

Finland is special though. Kids there are born with skates on their feet.

Thats why you see the "Flying Finns" coming down from the UP and dominating all around Michigan.

Daavatila, Pietila, Sturos, Kivisto, Lesperance, Helminen, etc. etc. - you always see those names dominating michigan hockey.

[RedWingAbner 13]

If the country ever takes to it, Australia will rise. They are currently like 39th in IIHF rankings, not so impressive, but there is a pro league there now.

[VanDer 58]

Ireland are the future of this sport!!