NHL Season 2011-2012

[ben79]

If I imagine a society where I had to fear for losing my mother tongue, I can begin to empathize with the French Canadians. I've felt a little pissed at them sometimes when a few of them talk about separating from the rest of Canada (prematurely, IMO), but I can understand how they are protective of their identity.

This got me thinking for a few seconds. It would be awesome if NHL teams were regional teams. So the players came from the area of the team. The Leafs and the Canadians would dominate.

yep you need to speak and grow up in Québec to fully understand how it is and how it's been since the creation of hockey in montreal in 1870's --- and if it was regional teams wow that would be awesome .. montreal would have like 57 stanley cups

[keiths31]

If I imagine a society where I had to fear for losing my mother tongue, I can begin to empathize with the French Canadians. I've felt a little pissed at them sometimes when a few of them talk about separating from the rest of Canada (prematurely, IMO), but I can understand how they are protective of their identity.

This got me thinking for a few seconds. It would be awesome if NHL teams were regional teams. So the players came from the area of the team. The Leafs and the Canadians would dominate.

I understand the fear of losing their mother tongue is the driving force behind this. That being said, I didn't see the same uproar when an American owned the team.

And the NHL was a regional team to an extent back in the Original Six days. Montreal had all of Quebec and all the French-Canadian players. Other teams sponsored junior teams as a way of securing the rights to the players at a young age.

[Timminz]

If I imagine a society where I had to fear for losing my mother tongue, I can begin to empathize with the French Canadians. I've felt a little pissed at them sometimes when a few of them talk about separating from the rest of Canada (prematurely, IMO), but I can understand how they are protective of their identity.

This got me thinking for a few seconds. It would be awesome if NHL teams were regional teams. So the players came from the area of the team. The Leafs and the Canadians would dominate.

yep you need to speak and grow up in Québec to fully understand how it is and how it's been since the creation of hockey in montreal in 1870's --- and if it was regional teams wow that would be awesome .. montreal would have like 57 stanley cups

Hockey was not created in Montreal.

[ricthefirst]

It was not created in Montreal, but the first "modern" indoor ice hockey game was played at Montreal, and Montreal was the centre for the development of the modern version of the sport

[TheProwler]

Speaking of history...I was referring a game in Galt yesterday (part of Cambridge, Ontario) and I looked at a big banner that said something to the effect of "The World's oldest operating hockey arena." I think it said it opened in 1922. I wonder if that's right...

[Serbia]

I would not care one bit if Detroit were coached by a Russian who couldn't speak English - as long as he could communicate with his team, and as long as he were as good a coach, or better, than Mike Babcock, I'd be fine with it. To me, it's more important to be able to communicate with your team than it is with the media. Pavel Datsyuk spent years communicating with the media through an interpreter, and very poorly at times as well, and yet, because we recognized his pure talent, Detroit still loved him.

And also, keiths beat me to the punch, but along the line of that "regional" idea, I was going to say: "Yeah, welcome to the early 1900's".

[TheProwler]

And also, keiths beat me to the punch, but along the line of that "regional" idea, I was going to say: "Yeah, welcome to the early 1900's".

Detroit would have a good shot at being right after the Canadian teams if the NHL were regional. You guys would get players from Windsor to London...right?

[Army of GOD]

Every team in the south would be terrible.

[Timminz]

Every team in the south would be terrible.

They wouldn't exist.

[whitestazn88]

caps finally looked good all round yesterday

[General Brock II]

caps finally looked good all round yesterday

Couldn't care less how Washington performs, s'long as they're not in the top 8. The Leafs are struggling a little, right now... It's saddening to see.

[Army of GOD]

Every team in the south would be terrible.

They wouldn't exist.

YOU WOULDNT EXIST

[Timminz]

Every team in the south would be terrible.

They wouldn't exist.

YOU WOULDNT EXIST

Your mother wouldn't exist!

[Serbia]

Every team in the south would be terrible.

They wouldn't exist.

YOU WOULDNT EXIST

Your mother wouldn't exist!

Serbia's mom exists, hence the rest of you exist. [/therrad]

[Army of GOD]

Wow.

So I was at the Rangers/Flyers game tonight and it was fucking insane. I've never been to a NHL game before (I've been to MSG though to watch the Knicks) but it was a great experience, even if I hated both of the teams that played. It was absolutely electric, I couldn't help but cheer when the Rangers scored.

[Serbia]

Next, you've got to go to a playoff game.

[Army of GOD]

Next, you've got to go to a playoff game.

Highly doubtful this year due to financial reasons (I'm a poor f*ck), but I definitely plan on it eventually.

[TheProwler]

Tickets to see The Leafs at home are very hard to come by...there's a bunch of boring Bay Street suits with season tickets that take up 3/4 of the stands...and when they don't go to a game, they usually give their tickets away to some other stick-in-the-mud. The real fans have a hard time getting tickets.

[keiths31]

World Juniors started today. Yay!

[Timminz]

Tickets to see The Leafs at home are very hard to come by...there's a bunch of boring Bay Street suits with season tickets that take up 3/4 of the stands...and when they don't go to a game, they usually give their tickets away to some other stick-in-the-mud. The real fans have a hard time getting tickets.

It's actually cheaper, a lot of the time, for someone from Toronto to fly to Florida to see the Leafs. The game on in Florida right now has got as many Leafs fans as Panthers fans.

[ben79]

i just wanted to say that u.s.a. junior team lost against finland, yes that is right against finland !

[Serbia]

i just wanted to say that u.s.a. junior team lost against finland, yes that is right against finland !

And are you aware that Finland is annually one of the international powers in ice hockey? There is no shame in losing to Finland, unless you are either Sweden or Russia (geographical rivals) or Canada (ITZ ARE SPORT WE CANT LOSE TO NO ONE LOL).

[keiths31]

And are you aware that Finland is annually one of the international powers in ice hockey? There is no shame in losing to Finland, unless you are either Sweden or Russia (geographical rivals) or Canada (ITZ ARE SPORT WE CANT LOSE TO NO ONE LOL).

And Canada beat the Fins quite soundly in the opener (though Finland looked much better against the Americans). I watched the Fin-USA game and it was a great game until the third period when the Fins managed to bring it up another level. The Americans are a good team and I can't wait for the New Years Eve game between them and Canada. Love this tournament. Go Canada go!

[ben79]

i just wanted to say that u.s.a. junior team lost against finland, yes that is right against finland !

And are you aware that Finland is annually one of the international powers in ice hockey? There is no shame in losing to Finland, unless you are either Sweden or Russia (geographical rivals) or Canada (ITZ ARE SPORT WE CANT LOSE TO NO ONE LOL).

you are actually right serbia, but since we destroyed finland 8-1 i was expecting more from u.s.a.

p.s. : did you guys saw the swiss-sweden game .....swiss are getting better every year !

[sensfan]

I know! The canadian fans were chanting, 'Go Swiss Go!' Too bad they lost...

Canada can't get cocky! 5-0 against the Czech is solid, but I'm worried about the goalies! They could be better.
It's a no-brainer against the Danes tonight. Wouldn't be surpirsed if Wedgewood gets his last start of the tournament tonight, and then ride Visentin all the way. Denmark should be gone 9-0.