もちろん、バンクーバー五輪のアイスホッケー各国代表のジャージの事ですよ。このブログの事ですから。

ベラルーシ

カナダ

中国

チェコ

フィンランド

ドイツ

ロシア

スロバキア

スウェーデン

アメリカ

ラトビア

ＩＯＣのスポーツ連盟ロゴ使用禁止令が下りてしまったので、ほとんどの国はレトロ調なデザインになってますね。皆が皆レトロだから、逆に新鮮味が無くなってしまった。まあ、逆に言えば変に頑張りすぎてるデザインも無いんだけど。レトロユニ好きなんだけどなー。

Today, according to an Olympic article from CTV in Canada, Rene Fasel (IIHF President) said that Gary Bettman was dead wrong in his assessment that the Olympics were worthless to th NHL. That when the games are played outside of North America, the benefits are less.  Fasel made the point that almost 14 billion worldwide watched the Olympics in 06, a number that clearly dwarfs potential audience in North America. While Fasel is correct in his assessment of Bettman’s statements regarding the Olympics, Bettman is not entirely off-base.  The NHL lacks any sort of nation prospect presence that football, baseball and basketball has within the US, outside of Frozen Four and when someone breaks the Memorial Cup. The Olympics offers just that sort of attention that the NHL needs for its youth.  While at the same time, the World Championships can offer the IIHF international exposure and a pan-European presence that the WCCH and the Olympics currently lack.  The NHL’s involvement with the Olympics, as well as its relationship with the IIHF  and the World Championship, needs to reevaluated.

While the Olympics are important and do draw an international TV audience of upwards of 14 billion, the hockey competition is rather limited.  Every four years, we see the same 8 super powers (US, Canada, Russia, Detroit, et al.) fight for medal contention, while  lesser squads like Italy, France, or Latvia compete to lose.   Looking at the rosters for the United States, there has been very little diversity since the 96 world cup team, and dynamic Canadians like Sidney Crosby are left off their national teams for role players like Shane Doan.  Not to take anything away from Shane Doan, or players like him, but they are hardly the marketable players that are Sidney Crosby in ‘06 and in all likely hood, Steve Dueschne and Jon Traverse this coming Olympiad.  The numbers do not lie.  As Rene Fasel has stated, it would be foolish for Gary Bettman to ignore a potential audience of  14 Billion just to have the NHL season get ignored during the media hype that is the olympics.  However, this is the time where the NHL can take a page out of FIFA’s playbook and make the Olympics about prospects.

In the United States, hockey fans have had to put with essentially the same national team  roster.  Aside from a retired Hull and a Rick Dipeatro replacing a Mike Richter in 06, the national team has not had any infusion of fresh blood and talent. This year, fortunately, players such as Tim Thomas, Zach Parise, and Patrick Kane are rounding out the US Olympic cast.  But what Pens prospect and Philly native Eric Tangradi?  He’s a strong forward who can play wing and take faceoffs whose career was unknown in the US because he went to play junior in Canada.  The Olympics would be a perfect time to a player Eric Tangradi to be introduced to a national TV audience in the US.  Americans, without a minor league team, junior or college program near by their NHL teams hardly get know any prospects.  The Olympics is the perfect opportunely for the NHL to introduce the prospects, since they lack a large of collegiate feeder like football or basketball has.  Fans across the world would’ve been introduced to a duel between Crosby and Ovie 3 years earlier, had the NHL followed this route.  Also, not to mention the big game experience that would help these younger players compete for roster spots on their NHL clubs.   With a mature Crosby, Ovechkin, and a US national team infused with new blood, fans in the US and the world will see great and inspired competition.  In keeping step with FIFA’s model, the IIHF and NHL would naturally reserve roster space for veteran players.  Thus making the threats of defection from foreign stars like Malkin and Ovechkin moot.   

The NHL and the IIHF will benefit tremendously with their partnership for this coming games.    However, they lack a coherent plan that will help them to ride the wave of positivity that arises from the Olympics.  Post Olympic hockey enthusiasm can be best captured through the world championships.  Unlike the NHL’s World Cup of Hockey, the world championships are concentrated in one or two countries and attack a large media and fan presence.   The games are covered by TSN and Universal Sports in North American and by Sky sports in Europe.  Not to mention, Shalke FC’s soccer stadium is hosting a sold out game between Germany and the US.  The field for this tourney is greater than the Olympics and the WCCH and offers a chance for the smaller hockey nations like Italy or Slovenia to compete against top flight teams.  However, these teams lose some of their best players for parts of the tournament to play in the NHL playoffs.  Ovechkin joined the Russians after qualifications due to the Eastern Conference Semis.  As with the US in 1980, the chance for a team like Germany to defeat a hockey power like Russia, the US, or Canada can provide excellent opportunities for growth of the sport within that country.  Even just a solid game can do wonders for the sport’s exposure and the benefits would be greater than the premier games in Europe.  However,  the NHL and IIHF need to arrive at an agreement  as to when the Worlds would take place and when the NHL season would end, in order to achieve this.  The NHL is not going to drop any games and hockey in July is not an option for the IIHF, since that would be nearly a 3 month break between the Euro seasons and the start of the tournament.  But, where there is a will there is a way.   Maybe tightening up the playoffs to end in May and start the tournament in June or simply move the tournament to September and of course would be a mainly veteran affair.

The emotion that is emitting from Fasel and Bettman’s inability to admit an initial mistake suggests that  an agreement can be made.  And, looking at the good will fall out of tournaments past and the need for money, the NHL and IIHF will come to terms with the Olympics. Hopefully offering hockey fans, worldwide, multiple opportunities to watch great hockey.

I got to go to the announcement of the activities that will be going on at Molson Canadian Hockey House today!!  It was a very nifty event to be at!  It was held down at the display suite at Concord Place (I’ve written about the area before!).  Now, Miss 604 (local blogger and podcaster) has already written about it brilliantly, so really I can only add my own personal experiences for the day.

Artist's sketch of the feature bar in Molson Canadian Hockey House

Now, remember, I’m a newbie when it comes to reporter- or press-type things, so right off the bat I was sort of enthralled that the press kit came on a 1GB memory stick that says “Molson Canadian Hockey House”.  Sweet!!  Next up there were appies being offered (very tasty!! – food in the MCHH will be taken care of by Wolfgang Puck Catering) as well as beverages.  Yup, that’s right Molson Canadian!  The 3D model that Concord Pacific has in their display suite had the new features of Concord Place during the Olympics on display; which at 81,000 square feet, MCHH is the main feature of the exposition area.  Vision Co, the execution and PR people behind MCHH say that this is going to be the largest free-standing, temporary structure ever built in Canada!  It is about the equivalent of 5 hockey rinks!

Concord Pacific's 3D model of Concord Place including Molson Canadian Hockey House!

Now, not all of it will be public access.  As I’ve mentioned before, a portion of the tent will be devoted to the International Ice Hockey Federation as well as a portion to Hockey Canada.  For the Hockey Canada part, this is where all of the teams can go to hang out with their families and friends.  Cool!!  (Note to self – get more Team Canada friends!! ).

But for the public part, this is the area for hockey fans.  It won’t matter where you’re from or who you’re cheering for (though I imagine Canada will always be the favourite).  Unlike the National Houses, this House is about the sport of Hockey!!  And I think that’s a pretty wonderful thing!!  Doesn’t hurt that they will have 40′ HD screens to watch the games on!  (As well as other sports, wouldn’t want to miss the other activities just ’cause hockey’s on).

They are planning hockey trivia, hockey karaoke and other hockey related activities.  And for entertainment, the theme is along the lines of “free-style”.  Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies has been made the “Executive Director of Entertainment”!!  There will be bands!  There will be comedians!!  There will be hockey legends of past and present (got to see Stan Smyl today!!)!!  There will be a lot going on.  If you’d like to find out more, check out Molson Canadian Hockey House here.  Passes are predominantly sold in 4-day blocks (or waves as they called them today) and while they’re not cheap ($1700 – $2000 per person, depending on the days) they do guarantee you access from 11am to 2am for your four days, with unlimited food and beverages (I’m sure there are some rules on this somehow… if nothing else BC liquor laws, but I’d rather think of it all in a fun and happy way!!).  It does seat about 2,000 people at any time, so it’s big!  It’s also going to need a big staff, in the range of 1,000 to 1,200 people (I don’t know where you can apply yet, but I’ll try to find out).

Tyler Stewart - Executive Director of Entertainment for MCHH and a vital part Barenaked Ladies

Anyhow, what it all boils down to is that this is going to be a happening and wonderful place to be!  Something to think about when it comes to Olympic hockey… there is only one nation that has ever won gold while hosting the Winter Games, and that’s the USA.  I’d say that’s about to change!  Go Canada Go!!

(And yes, I’m going to investigate our icemaking, and how lucky it may be ;P ).

__________________________________________________________

Other news -

I got a tweet from Birks (jewellery) today that Jennifer Heil has designed a line of jewellery for them but can’t find any of the designs yet.  I will post them when I find them.  Can anyone help??

*     *     *     *     *

A random question… Where is all the Vancouver 2010 in Vancouver??  Odd question I know, but seeing as I work predominantly in the Canadian Olympic Committee section of the Olympic Superstore in the Bay Downtown, I see a lot of Team Canada uniform gear everyday.  But I also see it on the streets already!!  People love this stuff (I even have customers that recognise me when I’m strolling in my sweater!!).  I really do think this is great, but I also wonder if maybe because the first thing people see when they enter the Olympic Superstore is the Team Canada uniform gear that maybe they’re missing the Vancouver 2010 gear…?  Could it be?  ‘Cause I’d be sad if people are missing out on Ilanaaq, the Inukshuk, or Quatchi, Miga, and Sumi (and of course Mukmuk!!).

Have you seen people wearing Vancouver 2010 gear?  Do you have Vancouver 2010 gear??  If you do, send me a photo to post on an upcoming blog!  I will send  an Air Canada Olympic lapel pin to the first five readers that send me a photo where they’re wearing their Vancouver 2010 with pride!!  (oohhh…. contests, I like contests!!).  Email me your picture at 2010vanfan@gmail.com!!

I was walking along Davie Street today when I saw a sign that caught my eye…

Free Olympic Tattoos for medallists?!

West Coast Tattoos is offering free Olympic tattoos for Olympic medallists (don’t know about Paralympic tattoos for Paralympic Medallists).  I am also unsure about their use of the logos, but then, I didn’t know that West Coast Tattoos had moved either!  It was a whole bunch of surprises all at once.  However, I do think it’s a pretty sweet offer.  I am not a tattoo sort of girl, but I have always said that if I was involved in a huge, bigger-than-me sort of event, I would get it tattooed on me.  My example was always “Say, if I went to the Olympics”.  Now, I am not likely to ever get to the Olympics as an athlete.  But I certainly get why you would get a tattoo if you were.  So, Olympic athletes, if you want a tattoo, I’d say take them up on the offer (I have always heard good things about them).  Oh, and West Coast Tattoos have moved off of Davie Street.  Check the link above if you’re interested.

I also spent some time today learning about Concord Place.  Real estate developer Concord Pacific has a large plot of so far undeveloped land on the north side of False Creek.  They are going to be leasing out their land for Vancouver 2010 to be a “community exposition site”.  Sounds intriguing.  The Concord Pacific showroom will remain, but will be joined by others.  So far, the released list of tenants includes Hockey Canada, the International Ice Hockey Federation, Molson Canadian Hockey House and the Government of Saskatchewan.  I have previously reported on Molson Canadian Hockey House (don’t forget to sign up with them if you want to get up-to-date news and info on access!).

Schematic of Concord Place's layout on the north side of False Creek.

The Government of Saskatchewan’s area will consist of two structures, a business centre and an entertainment venue featuring Saskatchewan hospitality, entertainment and food.  They’re also going to have a pavilion in Whistler for the Paralympic Games!  It sounds like they’re really going to put a lot into this and I’m looking forward to getting to Concord Place and checking out the exhibitions we already know will be there, as well as the exhibitions that are going to be announced in the near future (and yes, I will be announcing them as I hear about them!).

Gotta get to work early in the morning so I’m going to say goodnight and bonne nuit!

EUROPA NEWSWIRE.
Sep 1 2009

ITAR-TASS 03: MOSCOW, RUSSIA. AUGUST 31, 2009. Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin and the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Rene Fasel, (R-L, mid row) chat as they watch the Russian national hockey team’s open training session at Megasport Ice Palace. (Photo ITAR-TASS / Maxim Shemetov) Photo via Newscom

It’s almost certain that the San Jose Sharks have pulled out of their venture in China with the China Sharks, the only Chinese entry in the Asia Legue. First, in a recent IIHF article, it was announced that China has hired Belarussian Andrei Kovalev to coach both the national team and the Chinese Asia League team (doesn’t say Sharks).

China hired former Belarusian national player Andrei Kovalev as its new head coach. He signed a contract through April 2010.

The 43-year-old has plenty of international experience as a player. Kovalev played in eight World Championships and two Olympics with Belarus. He also won U20 gold with the Soviets. He played for Dynamo Minsk and Dynamo Moscow in the Russian and Soviet league before a two-year stint in North America in the AHL and other minor leagues, and 13 years in Germany. He ended his playing career in 2007 with Yunost Minsk.

After retiring, he worked with Yunost before becoming the assistant coach of HK Vitebsk.

Kovalev will be assisted by Chinese coaches and he will also be the head coach of the Chinese team in the Asian League. The club is located in a new 8,000-seat arena in Shanghai and it’s the strongest club team in the country.

Then in the Blades-Bucks preseason games over the weekend, apparently people were given pamphlets for the upcoming Asia League season with a team named “China Dragon”.

Removal of Sharks personnel (especially coach) from the Chinese team, and the addition of Kovalev definitely indicates a change in direction away from the Sharks, but with the China team’s opening game quickly approaching on 24 September, they’ll have to get their act together in a hurry. And it looks like yet another year where top level Chinese hockey is changing directions with no clear long term plan.

シャークス行きだったはずの元西武の石岡敏が結局東北フリーブレイズと契約しました。

そしてシャークスの公式ＨＰでもアジアリーグの公式ＨＰでも全く音沙汰が無い。２ちゃんではサンノゼ・シャークスとの提携が終わっていて、今シーズンはアジアリーグ不参加との噂も…真相はいかに？

でもＩＩＨＦのニュース記事では、中国代表とチャイナ・シャークスの新ヘッドコーチは、国際経験豊富なベラルーシ人のAndrei Kovalev 氏に決定したそうだとか。てか、ベラルーシ人を新ヘッドとして採用してる時点で、もうなんかサンノゼとは離れていってる感じもする。

On September 28th and 29th, the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks will take on ZSC Lions for the 2009 edition of the Victoria Cup in Zurich, Switzerland. In case you weren’t aware, the Tori , establisted in 2008 to the celebrate the 1st organized hockey game in Montreal’s Victoria Rink,  is the NHL’s  proxiey war in its Cold War with the Russian KHL.  In an effort to help establish the NHL name brand in Europe, a team selected by the NHL/NHLPA/IIHF challenges the winner of the Champions Hockey League to a winner take all match, on Euro Ice, Euro Rules, and Euro Refs.  Its kind of the NHL’s way to say to the European Club Leagues, if you can’t  beat them figuratively and get them to contractually agree that the NHL is the best to play, then we’ll beat them literally until they sign the dotted line.

 ”We hope the Victoria Cup continues to be an annual event which sees the best of the NHL play the best club team in Europe,” said Ken Yaffe, an NHL International executive, at a press conference before the opening rounds of the World Championship

Here’s the TSN Article:

The game is scheduled Sept. 29 at the Hallenstadion arena before the Blackhawks move on to Helsinki, Finland to open the NHL season against the Florida Panthers with a two-game series Oct. 3-4.

“Our dream is to have the Stanley Cup champions play in the Victoria Cup,” IIHF President Rene Fasel said. “I hope Chicago wins the Cup this year.”

The Blackhawks lead the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal.

The New York Rangers won the inaugural Victoria Cup last October by beating Metallurg Magnitogorsk of Russia 4-3 in Bern.

Zurich defeated Magnitogorsk over two matches in January to win the first Champions Hockey League title and earn the Victoria Cup invitation.

ZURICH — Ice hockey’s governing body cancelled next season’s European club championship on Monday because of financial problems with sponsors.

The International Ice Hockey Federation said the Champions Hockey League would not be played but could return in 2010, backed by the National Hockey League.

It had set a mid-June deadline for the NHL to invest and save next season’s competition after original sponsor Gazprom pulled out.

“After months of negotiations we came to the conclusion that it is better to postpone the Champions Hockey League (and) restart in 2010-2011,” IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement.

“As the original investors unexpectedly withdrew from their three-year agreement after the inaugural season as a direct result of the worldwide economic recession, and given the current economic environment, we believe it is better to take the necessary time and ensure conditions are right for the continuation of the league,” Fasel said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he believed the CHL could still offer a solid foundation to develop the game internationally.

“We have advised the IIHF of our willingness to offer resources and strategic contributions toward the pursuit of that objective,” Bettman said.

The league was launched a year ago with Russian energy supplier Gazprom as main sponsor and 10 million euros (C$15.6 million) in prize money.

The inaugural championship was played with 12 teams from seven countries and was won by Swiss club Zurich Lions.

An expansion to 29 teams from 22 countries next season was originally planned, but that was scaled back and it was set to repeat in the same format.

Fasel said the organizers felt “deep regret” toward clubs, and their fans, who had qualified for the next CHL.

“We are committed to come back stronger than ever and we will immediately resume our negotiations with the National Hockey League,” he said.

The cancellation Monday does not affect the million-dollar Victoria Cup challenge match which pits the European champion against an invited NHL side.

Zurich will face the Chicago Blackhawks on its home Hallenstadion ice Sept. 29.

Oilers top Jagr list for NHL return
Sylvinho to leave Barca

Brasil – Foto: http://deganihockey.blogspot.com/

SUÉCIA É CAMPEÃ DA TOP DIVISION
Foto: http://www.inlinewm.de

Classificação final – TOP DIVISION
1º Suécia
2º EUA
3º Alemanha
4º Finlândia
5º Eslovênia
6º República Tcheca
7º Canadá
8º Eslováquia

DIVISION I
1º Áustria
2º Grã-Bretanha
3º Brasil
4º Hungria

Resultado dos últimos jogos:http://www.inlinewm.de/index_en.php?nav=schedule
Brasil 10 x 0 Taipei
Brasil 3 x 5 Grã-Bretanha
Brasil 4 x 3 Hungria

Classificados para 2010:
JAPÃO e AUSTRÁLIA

Foram rebaixados e não jogarão em 2010 o mundial da IIHF:
ÁFRICA DO SUL e TAIPEI

Informações do site: http://www.bauruhockey.com.br

Gols brasileiros no mundial:

Ingolstadt, ALEMANHA – de 6 à 14 de junho de 2009.

Jogos do Brasil na 1ª fase:
Domingo, 7 de junho – 15h – Brasil  X  Hungria

Segunda,  8 de junho – 15h – Brasil X África do Sul

Terça, 9 de junho – 19h – Inglaterra X Brasil

Informações no site:  http://www.inlinewm.de/index_en.php

Acompanhe as notícias também pelo blog – http://deganihockey.blogspot.com/

トップ・ディビジョン

５月７－２３日　ケルン、マンハイム、ゲルゼンキルヒェン（ドイツ）

Aグループ: ロシア、ベラルーシ、スロバキア、カザフスタン
Bグループ: カナダ、スイス、ラトビア、イタリア
Cグループ: スウェーデン、チェコ、ノルウェー、フランス
Dグループ: フィンランド、アメリカ、ドイツ、デンマーク

Ｃグループ以外は全て死のグループになる可能性がありますね。

ディビジョン１

Aグループ ４月９－１５日　Tilburn（オランダ）

オーストリア、ウクライナ、日本、リトアニア、オランダ、セルビア

Bグループ ４月２４－３０日　Ljubljana（スロベニア）

ハンガリー、スロベニア、イギリス、ポーランド、クロアチア、韓国

日本の相手のリトアニアとウクライナはおなじみの相手だけど、セルビアは新鮮だしオーストリアはチャレンジになりますね。

ディビジョン２

Aグループ ４月１１－１７日　メキシコ・シティ（メキシコ）

オーストラリア、ベルギー、スペイン、ブルガリア、メキシコ、トルコ

Bグループ ４月１０－１７日　タリン（エストニア）

ルーマニア、エストニア、中国、アイスランド、イスラエル、ニュージーランド

メキシコは世界選手権初開催？

ディビジョン３

Aグループ ４月（未定）　アテネ（ギリシャ）

ルクセンブルグ、ギリシャ、アイルランド、アラブ首長国連邦

Bグループ ４月１２－１８日Yerevan（アルメニア）

北朝鮮、南アフリカ、モンゴル、アルメニア

嬉しい事に、世界選手権参加国が増えたのでディビジョン３が２グループに拡張！アラブ首長国連邦は初参加、アルメニアは不正選手使用の２年出場停止期間を経て復活（しかもホスト国として）、モンゴルはビザ問題で今年不参加でしたのでリベンジ、ギリシャも新アリーナで（多分）初開催、と見所満載です！

Does Dany Heatley feel resentment as to Russia beating Canada 2-1 for their second win victory in a row at the IIHF World Hockey Championships.

“I don’t think it’s a dynasty by any means. They’ve got some great young players but so do we.”

Shane Doan fired a player’s glove in frustration during the third period.  It landed somewhere in the stands of PostFinance Arena.

But the star of the game was Radulov who scored the game winner in the second period of the game.  The Russians played a tight defensive unit with only 13 shots on goal.  The Canadians attempted to improve their offense with a total of 27 shots but precision was placed in question.

It was the final day of the World Hockey Championship. Canada was seeking revenge from the loss in the finals to Russia in Quebec City last year while Swedes and the Americans battled for bronze.

Gold Medal Game
Russia 2 vs. Canada 1 – The battle of the hockey powerhouses came to an disappointing finish for the Canadians as the Russians defended their gold medal in a rematch of the Quebec City finals last year. Jason Spezza gave the Canadians an early lead, but Oleg Saprykin scored a powerplay goal to tie the game. Alexander Radulov scores what would be the game winning goal in the second period. The Canadians dominated in the offensive zone, forcing Ilya Bryzgalov to make 37 saves. Solid goaltending prevented Canada from snatching another goal medal victory. Meanwhile Dwayne Roloson made 15 stops for Canada. The Russians currently have a 25-24 edge over the Canadians in world titles.

Bronze Medal Game
Sweden 4 vs. U.S.A. 2 – Sweden took advantage of the young undisciplined American team as they scored all four of their goals on the powerplay on their way to win the bronze medal game. After a scoreless opening frame, Jack Johnson scores a powerplay goal five minutes into the second period to give the Americans the lead. Loui Eriksson responded later in the second period to tie up the game. Two and a half minutes later, Tony Martensson’s pass was deflected off Johnson’s stick to give Sweden a 2-1 lead. Joe Pavelski tied up the game early in the third as he wrists a shot past Liv. Unfortunately, penalties proved to be the downfall of the Americans as David Backes’ tripping penalty led to a powerplay goal by Carl Gunarsson. The Americans never battled back and more penalties were thrown out when Ryan Suter and Dustin Brown were sent to the box late in the game. Johnny Oduya sealed the deal with the empty netter. Sweden’s starting goaltender Jonas Gustavsson returned home to be with his ailing mother, so Stefan Liv was thrusted into the starting position. He made 37 stops to prevent the Americans from obtaining the bronze medal.

Three Stars of the Day:
1. Ilya Bryzgalov (Russia) – 37 saves
2. Stefan Liv (Sweden) – 37 saves
3. Alexander Radulov (Russia) – 1 goal

So, as you my or may not have heard, Avs heartthrob John Michael Liles played for Team USA at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. It’s surprising how little attention this tournament gets, and I’m not talking about ESPN, I’m talking about in just general hockey circles. I guess its just tough to keep up with it while the first round of the NHL playoffs and its eight series are going on. Anyway…

Who won?
Gold medal game between Canada and Russia is on Sunday.

So how did Team USA do?
They finished 4th, not bad. The lost in the bronze medal game to Sweden 4-2.

April 25 Latvia W, 4-2
April 27 Austria W, 6-1
April 29 Sweden L, 5-6 OT
May 1 France (qualification) W, 6-2
May 2 Russia (qualification) L, 1-4
May 4 Switzerland (qualification) L, 3-4 OT
May 6-7 Finland (Quarterfinals) W, 3-2
May 8 Russia (Semifinals) L, 2-3
May 10 Sweden (Bronze Medal) L, 2-4

Ok, so how was Liles?
Let me preface this analysis with that I watched a grand total of zero minutes of this tournament, but the numbers say he was pretty good. He played in all 9 games, and averaged a point a game. He finished with 1 PPG and 8 assists. He was a plus 3, only Jason Blake was better (+5). He wore number 15. He was not voted by coaches has one of Team USA’s three best players.

It was semi-final Friday at the Ice Hockey World Championships today. Russia battled the USA in one game while Canada met Sweden. The winners would have their tickets punched to Sunday’s championship final.

Russia 3 vs. USA 2 - Round two between the Cold War rivals was far closer than Russia’s 4-1 qualification round win six days ago. This was evenly played, back and forth war between the two hockey and world superpowers. But as it was last week, the Russians prevailed once again but it was far from easy. After a scoreless first period, the Americans were first off the mark with a goal by Dustin Brown. At the mid-point of the period, the Russians stormed back with two goals scored by Ilya Kovulchuk and Alex Frolov. Before the period was done, Kyle Okposo put one by Ilya Bryzgalov to knot things up. The game stayed tied until the final 107 seconds when Konstantin Gorovikov tipped one by Robert Esche off an Alex Radulov shot to win the game. The win sends Russia to the gold medal game where it looks to repeat as champions when they play Canada.

Canada 3 vs. Sweden 1 - After playing down to their quarter-final opponents, Canada found another gear in the semi-final game against Sweden. Canada got on the board quickly and never looked back to seal their place in the finals. Derek Roy scored twice to lead the Canadians offensively. Shawn Horcoff scored the other Canadian goal. Canada scored their first three goals unanswered, including two scored 45 seconds apart in the second period. Loui Eriksson scored the lone Swedish goal in the third period to end the shutout bid. Canada’s next game against Russia is a rematch from last year’s championship final with the Canadians looking for revenge.

Three Stars of the Day:
1. Derek Roy (Canada) – 2 goals
2. Ilya Kovulchuk (Russia) – 1 goal, 1 assist
3. Dwayne Roloson (Canada) – 25 saves

Sunday’s Schedule:
Third Place Game – Sweden vs. USA
Championship Game – Canada vs. Russia

The second pair of quarter-finals was on the schedule at the world championships today. Latvia looked for a monumental upset of Canada while Sweden was battling the Czech Republic for a birth in the final four.

Canada 4 vs. Latvia 2 - It was closer than it should have been but that’s what happens when you underestimate your opposition. Canada played down to the level of Latvia for the first half of the game but eventually turned up the jets and won the game. Edgars Masalskis made 44 saves to keep the Latvians in the game. Despite the high shot total, the Canadians never had many good chances until the mid-point of the second period. Until Canada got going later on, the Latvians were able to match Canada stride for stride. Steve Stamkos and Dan Hamhuis led the way offensively with a goal and assist each. Dany Heatley and Matt Lombardi had the other Canadian goals. Herberts Vasiljevs and Guntis Galvins scored the pair of Latvian goals. Canada moves on to the semi-final round against Sweden.

Sweden 3 vs. Czech Republic 1 - A battle between two European rivals that are better known for offense firepower turned into a goaltenders duel. Sweden’s Jonas Gustavsson made 33 saves to out duel Jakub Stepanek for the win. Like the other four semi-final games, the first period was scoreless but Sweden scored two power play goals in the second period to take the lead. The Czech’s looked like they were back in the game when Petr Cajanek scored a shorthanded goal with 11 minutes to go. However, Stepanek let in a soft goal to Kenny Jonsson to seal the deal for the Swedes. The other Swedish goal scorers were Matthias Weinhandl and Dick Tarnstrom. With the quarter-final win, Sweden moves on to face the Canadians in tomorrow’s semi-final round.

Three Stars of the Day:
1. Steve Stamkos (Canada) – 1 goal, 1 assist
2. Matthias Weinhandl (Sweden) – 1 goal, 1 assist
3. Edgars Masalskis (Latvia) – 44 saves

Friday’s Schedule:
Russia vs. USA
Canada vs. Sweden