Sochi 2014 - Winter Olympics

Luke, Fitz etc, what do you make of Carter, Doughty etc complaining about the larger rink size over here?

Getting excuses in for under performing (Crosby, Kane etc)?

 

It's a bit of tough adjustment for the players, but Jesus, these guys are the best in the world. I always thought the NHL should adopt the larger rink size.

 

Oh my god... I'm really upset with this bronze medal game showing. I'm serious when I say this...This is not the USA spirit I expect from my American top level skilled athletes. Pathetic.

 

Watched the game again this morning, some of the Finnish plays were quality - but perhaps because USA weren't putting 100% into it.

 

Ovechkin for example had a horrid tournament and complained about it, because he actually had to put in some graft whereas normally when I see him in the NHL he just waits for the puck - I gather on the larger rink it makes teams a lot more tactical and defence minded, whereas Canada/USA like the more physical nature of the game on a smaller rink.

Ovechkin though has no excuse, he grew up on the larger rinks!

 

From what I know, there are plenty of Swedes playing in the NHL. The entire Canadian roster plays in the NHL also. If the Swedes and Canadians can adjust to the larger rink size, why can't the Americans?

I'm not having a go at you at all Fitz, but these seem like some very hollow excuses coming out of the American camp.

 

There are, but the Swedes will all have played the larger rink size at some point.

Canada 1-0 up at the second and about to go on a PP

 

Crosby scored a nice solo goal, all his own hard work. Can't see Sweden getting anything from this anymore

 

Ok, but what about the Canadians? They all play on NHL sized rinks yet they coasted to the final.

 

Yeah but until the final they've basically limped over the line.

So Canada won 3-0, Sweden never really in it apart from at 0-0 when that puck wouldn't drop in the net.

Also it's come out that Nicklas Backstrom was pulled before the game because he failed a drugs test after the semi, for taking Claritin

 

Loved the winter olympics as per usual. Sochi has been pretty good, aside from the terrible speed skating judges.

 

GB1 Bobsleigh achieved their goal of top 6. Pretty ****ing stoked for them. From having no funding after Vancouver, John Jackson's ruptured achilles last year it has been a tough run. Only 0.11 seconds from a medal and their highest finish since Nagano I'm pretty proud of team that is led by my old man.

 

Carter and Doughty are Canadian... Stop being racist against Americans!

 

Confirmed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/winter-olympics/26312069

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...strom-sits-out-gold-medal-game-with-migraine/

 

Yes, it was a great effort. So close.

Obviously you would know far more than me, but I thought that the funds were withdrawn but then re-instated after an appeal, and the funds are being used for some high tech innovation and electronic monitoring systems, etc. I seem to remember something like £3m?

 

Exactly that. The appeal was led by my Dad and few others but they still continued to work through that. £3m is for the whole team and not just the Olympics, I believe.

 

Why are you not in Sochi Chris?

 

Is ChrisG's dad John Candy?

 

Oh, the people complaining about the rink sizes are Canadian and not American? Whoops! I just assumed sour grapes etc. Fair enough, sorry Fitzy!

 

I think it lends credence to the criticism of the rink size. Still, I don't agree. I think the NHL (the 'N' of which is supposed to be Canada, isn't it?) should be aligned with the world game.

That being said, I believe I've heard the NHL won't be consenting to send their pros to the Olympics going forward. I understand there is a sort of Hockey World Cup in the works, and amateur hockey players will go to the Olympics, and that I also wholeheartedly agree with. If it's done like football (just not with the risible FIFA), I can get aboard that.

 

Ah sorry about the thrashing Fitz!

The bronze was all about Teemu Selänne, generally regarded as the greatest hockey player to ever come from Finland. Before his last game he gave a rousing speech to his team mates about siezing the moment. The team who mostly idolise Teemu just had to put it all on the line for this man. It helped too that Rask was in goal as the game was fairly even in shots on goal.

For Finland these hockey games are the equivalent of the World Cup or Superbowl or whatever. It is Finlands national sport and the sheer team spirit they can muster to overcome a lack of big names is pretty much unique in hockey. I am sure Finland would have given Canada more of a game than the Swedes yesterday but there you go. The swede goalie could be critisized for the goals he gave.

As for 2018 I believe the NHL players will demand to go there like they did here. From interviews and twitter I think they loved to be part of the games and the fears about security etc were totally unfounded. I don't understand the injury excuse either, do precious players not get injured in NHL games? Would there be no injuries during the two weeks they were not in Sochi? Strange argument.

I think it probably is time to choose one standard rink size. I don't hear any players complaining about the bigger surface.

Btw Teemu the oldest player in the tournament(43yrs) won the overall 'Most Valuable Player' as voted by the worlds hockey media! A fitting end and great tribute.

 

Now it's all over I'd just like to say what a bunch of godawful garbage it all was and I'm glad normal television schedules will resume. We're a nation without any winter sporting pedigree at all - except bizarrely in the tea tray thingy - so any money spent on it by the BOA is a horrendous waste. £13.5m according to the Telegraph.

 

Now the countdown to the real event begins, 10 days until the Paralympics!

 

Good job, Finlandia!

 

Tell that to the athletes and those that are employed in winter sports. Many of the athletes aren't "professional" this isn't their job unlike those in the Summer games, they'll be heading back to the other jobs in the next few weeks. A mere £13.5m is spent of the whole winter team compared to around £262m for the summer team which draws in a hell of a lot more sponsorship too.

 

Surprised by this UEA!

 

Blame the Gulf Stream for blighty rainy warm England and a low inclination to Winter sports. Compared to the rest of Northern Europe, Britain is positively tropical. No wonder the Vikings visited so often and stayed so long.

 

I think that UEA needs a visit from Constable Cuddles.