U18 Worlds: Why Didn't More People Attend?

The big joke for the last 10 days has been the attendance numbers for the IIHF Under-18 World Championships. Let's say, the event wasn't well attended. In other words, the U18's looked more like a Big Ten Hockey Championship tourney. Very few hockey fans showed up to watch some of the best 17-year-old hockey players in the World.

Today, people are asking why didn't more fans attend IIHF U18 World Championships at the Ralph Englestad Arena? There are a number of reasons for this.

First, in my opinion, the ticket prices were too high. Especially in today's economy. Also, there was a long playoff run by the home team. I can imagine that the fans spent a lot of money on the Midwest Regionals and the Frozen Four. I wonder if the fans are saving their money and looking forward to summer and other things. Don't forget, UND hockey season ticket renewals come out very soon, those aren't cheap either.

Second, the food prices were way too high. In the Lamp Lighter Lounge, I saw extreme nachos for $10.00. That's three dollars too much. I took a look at their buffet and there's no way it was worth $10.00.

Think about it, there was a single UND recruit in the tourney, Tyson Jost, who set team Canada's record for points, was amazing during the tourney.  UND is lucky to be getting him. From talking to other fans, I don't think they were interested in watching other team's recruits.

As for the Canadians not attending the U18's, there are probably a couple of reasons. I have a theory. The World Juniors is their measuring stick games. A lot of Team Canada's best players are playing in the CHL playoffs, so this might not be the best Canadian U18 team. I've heard this argument before, and I think there's some merit to it.  Maybe, Canadians just aren't into the U18 World Championship. Something to consider.

To add on that point, why should they come to Grand Forks, all of the games are on TSN. They don't need to travel to watch the games. The exchange rate is a bit low, too. The same could apply to the low attendance numbers by USA fans. All of the games were on the NHL Network. Most of us get that channel.

It's my opinion, that if they had lowered the ticket prices from the start, maybe more people would have come to the games. It's just a thought.

Chicago Blackhawks: name Kevin Dineen assistant coach

#470744863 / gettyimages.com

For those keeping track at home. Former Denver Pioneer hockey player and Team Canada women's national ice hockey team head coach Kevin Dineen has been hired as an assistant hockey coach by the Chicago Blackhawks.

NHL.COM -- Kevin Dineen coached the Canadian women's national team to a gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and most recently coached Canada's men's under-18 national team to a bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in April.

He coached the Panthers for two-plus seasons before being fired on Nov. 8, 2013. Under Dineen, the Panthers won the Southeast Division title in 2011-12 and went 56-62-28 in 146 games. Dineen also coached the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League from 2005-11. He was the AHL's coach of the year in 2005-06.

"I am thrilled to join Joel Quenneville, a future hall of fame coach, and Mike Kitchen, as we strive to reach the ultimate goal in professional hockey," Dineen said. "After spending time speaking with [president and CEO] John McDonough, Stan Bowman and [vice president of hockey operations] Al MacIsaac it is easy to understand why the Chicago Blackhawks are considered one of the top franchises in all of professional sports. Starting with [chairman] Rocky Wirtz and continuing through the rest of the organization, the measure of success is very high in Chicago. I look forward to supporting the coaching staff and working with some of the best players in the National Hockey League."

Team Canada 2014 Olympic Roster

Centres Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks and Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks face-off during a game on December 16, 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Forwards

Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Jeff Cater, L.A. Kings
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh Penguins – Ferris State
Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
Rich Nash, New York Rangers
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Patrick Sharp, Tampa Bay Lightning – Vermont Catamounts
John Travares, New York Islanders
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks – North Dakota

Defenseman

Jay Bouwmeester, St Louis Blues
Drew Doughty, L.A. Kings
Dan Hamhuis, Vancouver Canucks
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks – Michigan State University
Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators

Goaltenders

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes

Snubs from Team Canada – Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning, Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks, Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes, Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers, Dan Boyle, San Jose Sharks - Miami University

Team Canda: Matt Dumba "will not" be disciplined further for kneeing Karlsson

Team Canada got some good news today. Their defenseman Matt Dumba "will not" be suspended for kneeing Sweden's Erik Karlsson. Dumba is the only member of team Canada that is currently an NHL player.  

TSN.CA -- Hockey Canada was informed by the International Ice Hockey Federation on Monday that defenceman Mathew Dumba will not be disciplined further for kneeing forward Erik Karlsson during Team Canada's 3-0 loss to Sweden in a pre-tournament game for the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Dumba was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the incident.

Any suspension would have been a blow to Canada's defence, which already has Griffin Reinhart serving a three-game suspension once the World Junior tournament begins on Boxing Day.

Mark me down for no! (Canada's Jersey)

Yeah... pic.twitter.com/DkiCb2KBV3
— The Canadian Game (@ItsCanadasGame) November 21, 2013

Mark me down as not being a fan of the jersey.

Team Canada Jersey's

Apparently, these are the team Canada Olympic jersey's. They've been leaked today. I must admit, that I am not a fan of these at all.

Toews sporting Canada's Olympic Jersey

Canadians making fun of The USA jerseys and then they come out with this?😂 #karma pic.twitter.com/iVO7y47WQ8
— The Beauts Life™ (@TheBeautsLife) September 6, 2013

I don't know about you, but Canada's Olympic jersey is, well, unimpressive.

Canada's 2013-14 National Men's Team Orientation Camp Roster

Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews  has made the team Canada Orientation Camp Roster. Also, three Boston Bruins Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand have made the roster as well. Team Canada's camp will be on 25-28 August, 2013. 

Goaltenders
Corey Crawford	L/G	6'2"	208	12/31/84	Montreal, Que.	Chicago Blackhawks(NHL)
Braden Holtby	L/G	6'2"	203	09/16/89	Lloydminster, Sask.	Washington Capitals (NHL)
*#Roberto Luongo	L/G	6'3"	217	04/04/79	Montreal, Que.	Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Carey Price	L/G	6'3"	209	08/16/87	Anahim Lake, B.C.	Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Mike Smith	L/G	6'4"	215	03/22/82	Kingston, Ont.	Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Defense
Karl Alzner	L/G	6'3"	217	09/24/88	Burnaby, B.C.	Washington Capitals (NHL)
#Jay Bouwmeester	L/G	6'4"	212	09/27/83	Edmonton, Alta.	St. Louis Blues (NHL)
*Dan Boyle	R/D	5'11"	190	07/12/76	Ottawa, Ont.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Drew Doughty	R/D	6'1"	208	12/08/89	London, Ont.	Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Mike Green	R/D	6'1"	207	10/12/85	Calgary, Alta.	Washington Capitals (NHL)
Dan Hamhuis	L/G	6'1"	209	12/13/82	Smithers, B.C.	Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Travis Hamonic	R/D	6'1"	206	08/16/90	St. Malo, Man.	New York Islanders (NHL)
*Duncan Keith	L/G	6'1"	200	07/16/83	Penticton, B.C.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Kristopher Letang	R/D	6'0"	201	04/24/87	Ste-Julie, Que.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Marc Methot	L/G	6'3"	231	06/21/85	Ottawa, Ont.	Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Dion Phaneuf	L/G	6'3"	214	04/10/85	Edmonton, Alta.	Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Alex Pietrangelo	R/D	6'3"	201	01/18/90	King City, Ont.	St. Louis Blues (NHL)
*Brent Seabrook	R/D	6'3"	221	04/20/85	Tsawwassen, B.C.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Marc Staal	L/G	6'4"	207	01/13/87	Thunder Bay, Ont.	New York Rangers (NHL)
PK Subban	R/D	6'0"	216	05/13/89	Toronto, Ont.	Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Marc-Édouard Vlasic	L/G	6'1"	205	03/30/87	Montreal, Que.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Shea Weber	R/D	6'4"	233	08/14/85	Sicamous, B.C.	Nashville Predators (NHL)
Forwards
*Patrice Bergeron	R/D	6'2"	194	07/24/85	Sillery, Que.	Boston Bruins (NHL)
Jeff Carter	R/D	6'4"	210	01/01/85	London, Ont.	Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Logan Couture	L/G	6'1"	200	03/28/89	London, Ont.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Sidney Crosby	L/G	5'11"	200	08/07/87	Cole Harbour, N.S.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Matt Duchene	L/G	5'11"	200	01/16/91	Haliburton, Ont.	Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Jordan Eberle	R/D	5'10"	184	05/15/90	Regina, Sask.	Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
*Ryan Getzlaf	R/D	6'4"	221	05/10/85	Regina, Sask.	Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Claude Giroux	R/D	5'11"	172	01/12/88	Ottawa, Ont.	Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Taylor Hall	L/G	6'1"	194	11/14/91	Kingston, Ont.	Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
Chris Kunitz	L/G	6'0"	193	09/26/79	Regina, Sask.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Andrew Ladd	L/G	6'2"	205	12/12/85	Maple Ridge, B.C.	Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Milan Lucic	L/G	6'4"	220	06/07/88	Vancouver, B.C.	Boston Bruins (NHL)
Brad Marchand	L/G	5'9"	183	05/11/88	Hammonds Plains, N.S.	Boston Bruins (NHL)
*#Rick Nash	L/G	6'4"	213	06/16/84	Brampton, Ont.	New York Rangers (NHL)
James Neal	L/G	6'2"	208	09/03/87	Whitby, Ont.	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
*Corey Perry	R/D	6'3"	210	05/16/85	Peterborough, Ont.	Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
*Michael Richards	L/G	5'11"	200	02/11/85	Kenora, Ont.	Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Patrick Sharp	R/D	6'1"	199	12/27/81	Thunder Bay, Ont.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
*#Eric Staal	L/G	6'4"	205	10/29/84	Thunder Bay, Ont.	Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Jordan Staal	L/G	6'4"	220	09/10/88	Thunder Bay, Ont.	Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
#Martin St. Louis	R/D	5'9"	185	06/18/75	Laval, Que.	Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
Steven Stamkos	R/D	6'0"	190	02/07/90	Unionville, Ont.	Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
John Tavares	L/G	6'0"	199	09/20/90	Oakville, Ont.	New York Islanders (NHL)
*#Joe Thornton	L/G	6'4"	225	07/02/79	St. Thomas, Ont.	San Jose Sharks (NHL)
*Jonathan Toews	L/G	6'2"	210	04/29/88	Winnipeg, Man.	Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

Why Canada’s world junior loss to U.S. should not come as a shock

Here is a good read that I found in the National Post, a major newspaper from Canada. I would have to say that contrary to public belief, the Canadians aren’t going to win a WJC every year. It’s just not possible. I also don’t think that it’s realistic to expect them to win a medal every year either. There are good hockey players all-over the world. The USA has closed the gap between us and the Canadians. Both countries develop good hockey players. That’s a fact.

Cam Cole, National Post --- So Canada’s under-20 national team won’t be playing for the gold medal, after getting clocked 5-1 by the United States Thursday at the world junior championship in Ufa, Russia.

So this means … what? A colossal failure? Cause for a royal commission? A closing of the borders so that those dastardly foreigners — all two of them, per team — can’t play in our major junior leagues, take spots away from our own kids, and then turn around and use what they’ve learned here to beat us over there?

Or is it simply one more chapter in the ongoing story of a sport that now belongs to the elite players of a half-dozen or more nations, not just one or two. To Americans and Swedes, to Russians and Canadians, to Finns and Swiss and Czechs.

This is also a fact that makes me very happy.

Nearly one in four NHLers is an American. And the NHL footprint has greatly increased the number of states that now produce elite junior players.

I have been reading some of the pundits break down the Canadians 4th place finish and you would think that with their line-up that the Canadians had, this would have been their year. But as we know, talent doesn’t always equal victory.

While it’s easy to bag on the Canadians for them not winning the gold. I believe that the Canadians play the game the right way. You don’t see the Canadians flailing all-over ice diving like a bunch of ballerinas. I am pointing my finger at a few of the European teams.

Lastly, going forward in the future, if the USA can’t win the gold, I would much rather see the team wearing Maple Leaf standing at their blue ling singing their national anthem than the Russians or the Swedes any day.