A Look at Men’s Olympic Hockey Tournament – Part I

While I claim to have a vast knowledge of all things sports (and I do, don’t you ever forget that either), it sometimes is helpful for me to bring in an expert in a certain field.  You have seen the expertise of Jim Cook for all things Bulls and now I could like to present to you Mr. Drew Doyle our resident hockey expert.

Please treat Drew with the same respect that you treat myself and Jim with (so yes that means making fun of him to his face or behind his back and basically having no respect for him whatsoever).

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For those who haven’t been following the Olympic Men’s Hockey Tournament, you really, really don’t like to be entertained, do you?  Thank you Maximus.  First off, because of the location of the Winter Games this year, the hockey tournament was planned as the centerpiece of these Olympics – so you don’t spend 8 years on something you don’t think people will like.  Second, it features the best athletes in sport, going all out for their respective countries.  It’s called honor and pride, and you can see it in their eyes.  It’s not about the name on the back; it’s about the name on the front.  Get in here Rizzo:

Mike Eruzione: Mike Eruzione! Winthrop, Massachusetts!
Herb Brooks: Who do you play for?
Mike Eruzione: I play for the United States of America!  

Third, the games have been simply amazing, shootouts, border wars (You think the Czech’s forgot about that little invasion of yours Soviet Union?  Russian Alexander Ovechkin put down that little uprising and the hopes of “that puny bloc country and Pittsburgh Penguin” with the open ice destruction of the teams assistant captain and former NHL star Jaromir Jagr), and the hearts of an entire country getting ripped out of their chest, shot off the boards, and slapped one handed into an empty net by the United States. (No joke – the entire country of Canada took the next day off after the Americans unleashed a vortex of flashing leather named Ryan Miller and beat their team in a Non Elimination Game!  They might meet for the Gold so we’ll keep you posted).  Some experts are calling this the greatest tournament in the history of hockey, I’m calling it Miracle 2.  So get with it!  On to the elimination games:

Game 1 – Switzerland vs. Belarus

 The only reason I watched this game, well, two reasons, one, the winner plays the United States on Wednesday in an elimination game.  Two, goalies can win this tournament for any team.  Now you’re probably thinking, who cares, no one from Switzerland or Belarus can be that good.  You’d be wrong to most, I’d say you’re right, but Jonas Hiller, the Swiss goalie, is a nondenominational, non extradition, banking center of how did he stop that, and still hides your money in the safe deposit box for your next transaction.  Wait what?  Yeah, he leaves you speechless.  The guy can play; in fact, he’s been one of the main reasons the Anaheim Ducks went from cellar dweller to potential playoff power in a matter of weeks.  He’s also the reason for the Swiss’ near upset of home team Canada, forcing the host nation’s best to a 4 round shootout; he stopped all but one shot. 

This game also went to a shootout due to the Swiss playing to the level of their competition.  But, they relied on solid goal tending and ended up winning the shootout because of it.  Not much of a crowd for this one, in fact it reminded me of my alma maters basketball games vs. Arkansas State!  Gotta love the Sun Belt Conference.  Swiss win 5-4.  Sorry, 3-2 and move on to face the other underdogs of the tourney, #1 seed THE United States of America on Wednesday.  USA beat the Swiss in the first matchup of the tournament.

Game 2 – Canada vs. Germany

The talk all over Tim Horton Nation was the switching of goalies from Martin Brodeur to Roberto Luongo.  Some background on this, the last time a Canadian goalie was pulled from the #1 spot Curtis Joseph was the best goalie in the NHL.  CuJo pulled a stinker in Salt Lake City and was replaced by, you guessed it, Frank Stallone, kidding, Marty Brodeur.  Interesting to note that the man doing the pulling was Toronto Maple Leaf head coach Pat Quinn, aka CuJo’s coach, things were never the same for either, and now the Leafs are paying the price.  Now here we are, eight years later, and Marty Brodeur, probably the best goalie of all time, is getting pulled in the Olympics, in his home country, for the next evolution of Canadian goalie, Roberto Luongo.  Affectionately called Lu, he has been born of superior Canadian hockey breeding.  Winning under 17 World Championships, Junior Championships, and World Championships.   He’s the next episode so to speak.  Just don’t tell that to Patrick Kane who earned the nickname Hat Trick Kane when he rolled up 3 goals in the second round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against said “Next Episode”.    

Next up, a shake up of the lines, Sidney Crosby’s going here, Rick Nash is going here, Jerome Iginla is going here, Canada needs to find some scoring and fast, otherwise Oh Canada will mean something entirely different. 

For all you Hawks fans, some news and notes on your favorite Canadian Superstars: Johnny Toews – 2 assists vs. the US, having a heck of a tournament according to Hawks teammate and new party pal of Shaun White, the Canadian Women Ice Dancers, and the entire Olympic Village, Patrick Kane, “I saw him this morning at breakfast in the cafeteria and wished him luck today,” Kane said. “I think he’s playing real good for them. He’s probably one of their best players, so it’s good to see the Hawks well represented”, See? Brothers don’t shake hands, brothers gotta hug!  Duncan Keith – moved up to #1 Defensive Line w LA King Drew Doughty, lookin good, and Brent Seabrook – Seab’s not doing so well, fell out of favor with the coaching staff, still enjoying the Olympics though, he nabbed an assist against the US, he is from Vancouver so he’s got some family in the area, they went out for a nice meal of food at the Olive Garden the other night.

Germany – coached by former NHL’r Uwe Kruppe.  Should get smoked