World Junior Championship: Canada vs. Russia

[Arathorn136]

So, for those of you that are interested in Hockey, what do you think about the outcome of the Gold Medal game that concluded not but 5 minutes ago?

Here's a breif recap.

Canada was up 3-0 by the end of the second period. Things looked pretty great for the Canadians. They had a solid 3 goal lead over Russia. Essentially, they had a home crowd, as 3/4 of the spectators in the Boston stadium were Canadian supporters.
In the beginning of the third, however, Russia scored 3 goals in the first five minutes, tying the game with Canada. Not giving any leeway, the Russians ploughed on, scoring not once, but TWICE more, to bring the score to 5-3. With some solid goalkeeping and good tactics, the Russians managed to oust Canada in the World juniors, making this Canada's second defeat inhe final in two years.
Well, there went that hope for the gold.

[Richie_B]

I didn't see that game but I think ice hockey looks like a really great sport; plenty of physicality and skill needed to be good. The Clint Malarchuk injury video put me off slightly but nonetheless...




Not forgetting poor Zednik, but Clint's was more graphic.

[Skirata]

Looks like the better country won.

[Ghost101]

Well, potentially what happened is what happens in every single sport no matter what.

I'll give you a good example of what I'm trying to say.

I play on an intense volleyball team in gym. I know how to play, the people on my team know how to play as well. We play together as a team very well, but sometimes we go up against a team that is better than us. Playing games best out of three, sometimes we'd lose the first game, but win the next two. Want to know why?

The winners of the first game had too much hubris. They were too cocky. They let their guard down, believing that their lead will sustain them and allow them to plow for the win. Not so, the losing team, if they are serious players, will take advantage of the guard being down and slip a few points here and there until it is brought even again. The original winners are now in shocked, but they are not warmed up and not playing at the skill the original losers were. Long story short, losers become the winners because they did not become cocky, unlike the former winners.


Hope that may potentially make any sense

[Lucas101]

Great game, looks like we just ran out of gas after that American game though. Oh well theres always next year, its weird to go 2 years without gold after winning it for 5 years in a row

[Richie_B]

Well, potentially what happened is what happens in every single sport no matter what.

I'll give you a good example of what I'm trying to say.

I play on an intense volleyball team in gym. I know how to play, the people on my team know how to play as well. We play together as a team very well, but sometimes we go up against a team that is better than us. Playing games best out of three, sometimes we'd lose the first game, but win the next two. Want to know why?

The winners of the first game had too much hubris. They were too cocky. They let their guard down, believing that their lead will sustain them and allow them to plow for the win. Not so, the losing team, if they are serious players, will take advantage of the guard being down and slip a few points here and there until it is brought even again. The original winners are now in shocked, but they are not warmed up and not playing at the skill the original losers were. Long story short, losers become the winners because they did not become cocky, unlike the former winners.


Hope that may potentially make any sense

Holding on to a lead and not getting carried away is the trait of a good team though. Often it is the manager/coach who drills this into the players' minds. Also, some teams get severely demoralised when they are losing and subsequently start fighting amongst themselves, thus allowing the team that's winning to bury them even further. I'm speaking from experience on that.

(My team won the county championship for hurling.)

[Arathorn136]

Well, potentially what happened is what happens in every single sport no matter what.

I'll give you a good example of what I'm trying to say.

I play on an intense volleyball team in gym. I know how to play, the people on my team know how to play as well. We play together as a team very well, but sometimes we go up against a team that is better than us. Playing games best out of three, sometimes we'd lose the first game, but win the next two. Want to know why?

The winners of the first game had too much hubris. They were too cocky. They let their guard down, believing that their lead will sustain them and allow them to plow for the win. Not so, the losing team, if they are serious players, will take advantage of the guard being down and slip a few points here and there until it is brought even again. The original winners are now in shocked, but they are not warmed up and not playing at the skill the original losers were. Long story short, losers become the winners because they did not become cocky, unlike the former winners.


Hope that may potentially make any sense

Yeah, I agree with what you are saying. I play competitive soccer as well as highschool volleyball, basketball, and rugby. In all of those sports (except rugby, we don't seem to have that issue as much) I have had losses even though we were up by a fairly large margin of points. It all comes down to what you are saying. Much of the time, defeat goes to the early winners. It all comes down to who is more cocky, and who is more determined.
There have been occasions where the winning team will sustain their lead because they are on top of their game, and aren't being cocky. My honest opinion is that the most determined and prepared team usually wins.
I recently had this scenario happen, about 3 weeks ago playing basketball. My team went into it determined and ready to play, while the other team went in cocky, and based our performance on the past year's. To say the least. We won. 71-13. Just goes to show.

Great game, looks like we just ran out of gas after that American game though. Oh well theres always next year, its weird to go 2 years without gold after winning it for 5 years in a row

I know, right? I enjoy watching junior hockey, even though I don't play the sport, but to see the guys get beat like that...

[Wildor]

T'was Buffalo, not Boston, by the way.


Bad coaching would account for some of this debacle, in my opinion. I cannot believe our man didn't even call a time out to cool our boys down and give them a chance to regroup. And knowing how to protect a lead is not something that will come natural for juniors. It's something that must be taught, and even some professionals have a hard time with it. But it can be done. I don't know what went on in the room between the second and third period, but a good coach would have had his team playing patient, defensive hockey and looking to capitalize on the other team inevitably opening up and taking chances.

Hell! I should have been there...

[Bammboo]

Me home land of canada lost the the russia? how can this be when america beat russia the very first time it started?