Kukla's Korner Hockey
GM Messier Wants More Passion From Team Canada
by Paul on 05/18/10 at 09:12 AM ET
Comments (2)
from the CP at the Hamilton Spectator,
Mark Messier says it’s time for Team Canada to show some heart at the world championship.
The team’s GM brought a group of young players here, hoping they’d be hungry for success. Instead, they have showed little emotion in lacklustre losses to Switzerland and Sweden.
The latest defeat prompted a number of blunt assessments from the Canadian camp ahead of tonight’s round-robin finale against the Czech Republic (TSN, 10:15 a.m. ET).
“I think that through this tournament we’re getting a good reality check,” Messier said yesterday. “The same things win hockey games at any level and at any tournament. You have to play with heart and passion and you have to execute. If you don’t do those things, there’s a good chance you’re going to get beaten no matter who you’re playing.”
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: team+canada
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Canadian passion fail, they lost 3-2 to the Czech Republic. Unless Finland defeats Russia in regulation later today, Russia gets a chance to put a revenge beating on Canada.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 05/18/10 at 02:32 PM ET
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When the top nations (minus Russia) select a World Championship roster of secondary or tertiary quality there is room for surprises whenever a lacklustre effort is offered on the ice. Simply put, the difference between top nations and the levels is not insurmountable under the right conditions. Underdogs like Switzerland, Norway and Denmark have exploited that fact for surprise wins this tournament, and the reason why Team USA plays in the relegation round (they avoided demotion without problems, but hardly the ambition of the tournament).
Even without the very best players, Canada should be the second best team behind Russia on paper. The beating of Norway isn’t sufficient to erase a mostly negative impression. But you should never underestimate a Canadian team when the elimination rounds begin.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 05/18/10 at 11:24 AM ET