Ice Hockey World championships April 24 - May 10 in Switzerland!

I know to some of u ice hockey isn't really big sport but at least here in Finland.

Anyway, since ice hockey world championships are starting today, I just wanted to ask are u going to watch them and if u are which country do u think is going to win.

Some Finns would Flame me from this but I don't see our team heading no further than the Bronze match maybe. The winner is ether Canada or Russia (like last year). Hey, but surprises can happen.

Like the world cup? it's the same thing right?
Anyway, if Canada is in it, i'll watch, as long as it doesnt interfere with my Devils games. It playoffs right now.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and i pick Canada to win. Russia is certainly a contender though.

IIHF championships aren't very known in America in general (however they were in Canada last year and Russia won). The reason is probably NHL. That's why only European teams have their best teams there (although we have most of our normal national team members still in NHL. u probably know some (Teemu Selänne, Tuomo Ruutu and Olli Jokinen).

It's not too big here exactly for that reason. The NHL. Because the NHL playoffs starts right around the same time every year, everyone is preoccupied.

Yeah, the fins are missing some big players there. Same with Russia actually. (Ovechkin and Malkin are prime examples.)
I'ts a little hard to predict the world cup winners because so many teams (other than teams like france or china) are missing big players due to the NHL. I find the Olympics to be more accurate because you get all of the best embassadors for each country.

This is the only time I care about hockey.

Well I think there are only five to six candidates to win the championship:
Canada
Russia
Sweden
Finland
Czech republic
and maybe USA

About the Olympics, I don't really think there is much difference in the results compared to world championships. I mean the last time Sweden won and we were second (surprise surprise they won us).

I'm a huge NHL fan, but I've never really followed the international side of the sport, maybe I'll pay attention this year.

So is the tounament over? I havn't really been following.

Quarter final today and tomorrow.
Today:
USA-Finland
Russia-Belarus
Winners of these games will play against each other Friday in the semifinals, my guess is Russia-Finland.
tomorrow:
Sweden-Czech Republic
Canada-Latvia
My guess for the semifinal is Canada-Czech Republic.

The final and the bronze game will be on Sunday.
I am hoping for Finland-Canada final.

Yeah, i want Finland/Canada too. Didn't the Fins take Canada to shootoout for their first loss? They will be good compitition.

You guys keep me informed. OR ELSE.

I want to be able to gloat about the prowess of my nation.

The semi finals tomorrow will be:
Russia-USA (**** we went and lost to Americans)
Canada-Sweden

I got half of my expectations right.

Fins lost to US? Wow. I actually didn't see that coming. I was thinking

Gold- Canada (I may be a teeny bit bias)
Silver- Sweden
Bronze- Finland
Bronze loosers- US

Originally Posted by Koulatio

Fins lost to US? Wow. I actually didn't see that coming. I was thinking

Gold- Canada (I may be a teeny bit bias)
Silver- Sweden
Bronze- Finland
Bronze loosers- US

Neither did I. We have won USA almost every time we have played against them in 2000's.

Well Russia can be confirmed to get to the finals. I'm not totally sure of Canada since their facing Sweden (those guys piss me of). They can do anything. Seen some of the games they've played against us?

(those guys piss me of).

The Sweeds or the Canadians?

I havn't watched too much of the tournament. If Canada makes it to the finals, ill watch that. I'm pretty caught up in the NHL playoffs at the moment.

Which NHL team do u support? I have many teams to back (Anaheim, Carolina and Detroit; just guess why?) although I can't watch the games here since u have to pay extra for them.

Well, dispite living in Canada my entire life, i a swarn my alligence to the New Jersey Devils. My favourite team by far. I'm also a huge fan of Marty Brodeur and Scott Neidermayer, so that's part of the reason why i started to like the Devils.


Right now i'm following Anaheim because Scott is on the team, and the Devils have been eliminated (by the damn Hurricanes i might add )

The semis have been played and it's final time (on Sunday).

The gold game:
Canada-Russia (surprise surprise)

The bronze game:
Sweden-USA

Should be exiting. Do you know when the gold game is?

9:15 pm Finnish time. That's GMT +2.