Anyone watch the Canada-Finland game last night?  I guess there are more players on Team Canada than Cowan and that McKenna kid but I don't know who they are, other than the goalie's mom who was a curler and was shown at the game with a drink in her hand (lol).  I am hoping Yager is more visible next game, saw him out there but didn't see him doing much.  

That 5 minute penalty for ‘Kneeing’ is an absolute disgrace.  Shouldn’t have been a penalty at all.  The Canadian’s leg didn’t even move.  Just a pathetic call after a review.

And not to mention the missed high stick and then also the cross check which led to a diving call to even things up.  Just horrible officiating right now.  Lots of missed calls on Canada

I'm not going to excuse the pathetic play of Canada.  They need to pull their head out of  their ass.  Looks like they want to go home early again

27 minutes ago, captaincanuck12 said:

And not to mention the missed high stick and then also the cross check which led to a diving call to even things up.  Just horrible officiating right now.  Lots of missed calls on Canada

I'm not going to excuse the pathetic play of Canada.  They need to pull their head out of  their ass.  Looks like they want to go home early again

Yup.  Then a Check player gets his knee out on a Canadian and it’s called tripping? And no review ??  WTF?  Just a complete joke.

Fitting end to the tournament for Canada.  They deserve this fate... Left a bunch of their top scorers at home in favor of role players... How'd that work out for ya.  Four Nations will be a disaster for Canada too

Cameron is an awful coach. Put together a shitty roster and then sees the most undisciplined tournament maybe ever by a Canadian team. That's all on him. 

https://x.com/Hockey_Robinson/status/1875028722044285006?s=19

Wow... No wonder they looked like dog ****.

 

5 hours ago, captaincanuck12 said:

https://x.com/Hockey_Robinson/status/1875028722044285006?s=19

Wow... No wonder they looked like dog ****.

 

As opposed to euro teams who actually got to sleep on their flights I suppose. 

 

SIMMONS: Canadian hockey is fine - Hockey Canada is not

4 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

SIMMONS: Canadian hockey is fine - Hockey Canada is not

I normally don’t like Simmons but he’s not wrong at all. I mean I say this as a father to a daughter who has no interest in playing hockey, thank god cuz equipment is 5000 a year now a days so while I agree with Simmons, hockey has actually become a sport that only the rich and I mean really rich can play now and that’s a Canadian hockey and hockey Canada problem.  I bought her a stick so we can play in the BYR and even that was like 100$. For a piece of whatever it is. It ain’t wood lol. 

Edited January 9, 20251 yr by Goalie

Yes, if the Bobby Orrs and Gordie Howes were born today at the same socio-economic level they were at in their generations, they'd have no hope of ever making it to the NHL as they never would be able to afford the equipment and wouldn't get on a hockey academy team as their parents couldn't afford the $30 - $40k per year fees and would just play house league and quit hockey at age 16.  Hockey is the most elitist sport in the world now, I'd say.

I coached football here in Calgary for many years at all levels. From atom (8-9) to pee wee (10-12) to bantam (13-14), high school to spring league (15-17 no grade 12's can play) & high school (15-18). At every level, the teams in the leagues provided the equipment at no charge. Teams fit their players & with the exception of the bantam league which owns all of their equipment & is stored in a warehouse somewhere in Calgary, the rest of the teams fund & replenish their own equipment storing it themselves in their own clubhouses.

One of the attractions for kids to play football is that for a fee of $500-900 everything is provided for the players. Fees have shot up since Covid. the cost of equipment, especially modern helmets have increased significantly. A portion of the fees charged does go back to the leagues themselves but teams use the remainder of the fees to help finance running a team. Parents must provide a post dated cheque for up to $1500 if they decide not to return the equipment before a certain date on the cheque. It's a lot of money but only gets cashed if equipment is not returned. Why can't hockey do this?

Edited January 9, 20251 yr by SpeedFlex27

It's wild the costs associated now... No wonder soccer and basketball are skyrocketing in popularity. 

I really think Goaltending is the issue still. Who is the last superstar Canadian goalie? Price? It was pointed out to me that European amateur clubs buy the equipment for the kids including goalie equipment. How much do parents have to shell out? Hopefully this loss we really have a hard look at our grassroots level....

4 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's wild the costs associated now... No wonder soccer and basketball are skyrocketing in popularity. 

I don't know,  the community clubs around here are jam packed full of kids playing hockey.   I am very thankful that I have two girls who are much more interested in significantly cheaper hobbies

Soccer + Basketball is skyrocketing because of immigration. I don't think those sports are taking away potential superstars for hockey.   I think the popularity of hockey elsewhere is helping those countries catch up (surpass?) Canada.  

 

I needed to buy a new pair of skates for myself. 400$ right there. That’s kind of on me but I’ll use them and do. There are cheaper pairs but. 

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

It's wild the costs associated now... No wonder soccer and basketball are skyrocketing in popularity. 

When I started playing hockey all of my equipment was second-hand, purchased from a kid's parents.  Do people still do this?  I don't know if they even bother any more.  There is a Second Hand Sports store here in Kelowna, but not sure how many parents bother buying second hand hockey equipment.  To me now it's all the other costs associated - ice time, travel (gas, hotels) and the time.  Hockey is a huge time eater for parents.  

8 hours ago, bb1 said:

I really think Goaltending is the issue still. Who is the last superstar Canadian goalie? Price? It was pointed out to me that European amateur clubs buy the equipment for the kids including goalie equipment. How much do parents have to shell out? Hopefully this loss we really have a hard look at our grassroots level....

Probably like football in Calgary. The fees are a higher but they cover the cost of the equipment. Hockey need not be for the rich & elite but things won't change, I beleve. 

18 hours ago, kelownabomberfan said:

When I started playing hockey all of my equipment was second-hand, purchased from a kid's parents.  Do people still do this?  I don't know if they even bother any more.  There is a Second Hand Sports store here in Kelowna, but not sure how many parents bother buying second hand hockey equipment.  To me now it's all the other costs associated - ice time, travel (gas, hotels) and the time.  Hockey is a huge time eater for parents.  

The second hand market is done through marketplace more so then the stores these days.   However I work with and know of several people who "have" to buy the newest and greatest gear each year because it seems to be a status symbol kind of thing.      Part of being in the hockey culture I guess?  

2 hours ago, Brandon said:

The second hand market is done through marketplace more so then the stores these days.   However I work with and know of several people who "have" to buy the newest and greatest gear each year because it seems to be a status symbol kind of thing.      Part of being in the hockey culture I guess?  

yes it's kind of a thing I see with hockey parents I know too - "If I don't buy the latest and greatest knee pads and all the other kids have them then my boy isn't going to make the NHL!!" - every tiny possible thing is now a competition - have to keep up.  It's like all of these "cling ons" I call them, people who run these apps that for a large fee will post video of your kid that they promise they will show to scouts - the margins now are so small between most players that any little advantage may be the difference between getting drafted or getting an offer to a US scholarship, or so they are told and so they think.  The money these parents are spending is just insane, I have to think a lot of them don't have much if any retirement savings as all disposable income is going into funding the hockey dreams of their children.

28 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

yes it's kind of a thing I see with hockey parents I know too - "If I don't buy the latest and greatest knee pads and all the other kids have them then my boy isn't going to make the NHL!!" - every tiny possible thing is now a competition - have to keep up.  It's like all of these "cling ons" I call them, people who run these apps that for a large fee will post video of your kid that they promise they will show to scouts - the margins now are so small between most players that any little advantage may be the difference between getting drafted or getting an offer to a US scholarship, or so they are told and so they think.  The money these parents are spending is just insane, I have to think a lot of them don't have much if any retirement savings as all disposable income is going into funding the hockey dreams of their children.

I've seen where some families do have the money... while others try to "keep up with the Joneses".    Doing silly things like maxxing out credit cards, going on trips they cannot afford, and buying luxury vehicles so that they are not excluded and left out.   Some people take being in the hockey culture way to serious,  as if life is over if they aren't "in the club".      

 

26 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I've seen where some families do have the money... while others try to "keep up with the Joneses".    Doing silly things like maxxing out credit cards, going on trips they cannot afford, and buying luxury vehicles so that they are not excluded and left out.   Some people take being in the hockey culture way to serious,  as if life is over if they aren't "in the club".      

 

When they show the parents in the stands at the World Juniors cheering on their kid I always feel happy for those families that their son is playing for Canada, but I have to wonder as to how much that also fuels all the tens of thousands of other parents watching on TV and thinking "If I just spend another $10k on a private coach and another $40k on another year at that Hockey Academy then that's going to be me and my wife one day on TV"....

Edited January 10, 20251 yr by kelownabomberfan

48 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

 $40k on another year at that Hockey Academy then that's going to be me and my wife one day on TV"....

I agree with you. But on the flip side...how many kids actually get the world juniors...without that kind of training? I'd say almost none.

12 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

I agree with you. But on the flip side...how many kids actually get the world juniors...without that kind of training? I'd say almost none.

Exactly, and yet all that money, all that training, and we get our ass kicked by Latvia and Czechia.