Vol. I, No. 55
While the games rage in North America, with minor league cups, Olympic contests just past and the "Inter"National Hockey League Stanley Cup playoffs going on right now, there is a hockey world beyond the Western hemisphere.
Ice hockey is played in Europe, Asia and just about on every continent on earth. Along with soccer, it is truly an international sport. Since the soccer pro leagues in North America are still a weak shadow of all other sports played here, it can be argued that hockey is the most popular game on earth.
Rumor has it that a game broke out in Antarctica not too long ago, where the mean temperatures in summertime (when there is light present to work or play outside) vary from -15 to -35C. Being outside at -31F, with a wind, is not conducive to hockey or any other form of human activity. In the land of real Penguins, hockey is an oddity practiced by scientists who have too much time on their hands.
There is an international hockey consortium which links all individual country leagues. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is hosting the 74th annual 2010 World Championships right now, with 16 teams from Europe, North America and Asia (yes, Kazakhstan). The games are taking place right now in Germany.
Today, the home nation won its first game against the US squad, in front of a crowd of 77,803 (take that, Fenway). Germany beat the USA. with an overtime goal 2-1. Germany's coach is Uwe Krupp.
The tournament attracts players from US colleges, NHL, and leagues in each country. A host of Russians who play in the NHL (but are no longer in the Stanley Cup running) have travelled to the Worlds, with the intention of avenging their poor showing in the Olympics. Ovechkin, Semin, Kovalchuk and Varlamov all made plans right after the Olympics - if they were not in the hunt for Lord Stanley, their next games would be at the Worlds.
You have to wonder about the distraction. Would keeping revenge in the back of your mind, for your mother country, might that affect play during the "paying" league? With free agency and trades occurring every 3 - 5 years, how deep do loyalties run towards Atlanta, New Jersey or Washington? But when it comes to your mother country, who would refuse a chance to shine again?
Canada is again aiming for gold, and has a power ranking of #2 in the tournament. On top is Russia. The expectations for Team Germany, ranked #11, are enormous. The Germans have not fared well in IIHF competitions and for Coach Krupp, it could be a swan song. He has been at the helm as national coach for five years.
For results, the IIHF website is updated regularly. iihf.com
P. S. Philadelphia escaped extinction tonight. Down 0-3 in the series, the Flyers jumped out to an early lead in tonight's semi-final game at the Wachovia Center. Boston tied the game late in the third period. The game went to overtime. The Flyers took a penalty in the OT for an illegal boarding hit. At 10:05pm, the Boston power play went to work with the game tied, 4-4.
No luck for the Bruins this time around. The boys in orange killed the power play to keep their season going. Not many teams have come back from 0-3. I think the stats are 5 out of 160 times, or something like that. At 14:40 of the OT, Simon Gagne, back from an injurty for his first game, scored the tam winner to prolong Philly's season.
Game 5 returns to TD Gardens on Monday night. The Flyers only have to win three straight to advance. Anything is possible on the ice. But the odds are still heavily in favor of Boston.
No luck for the Bruins this time around. The boys in orange killed the power play to keep their season going. Not many teams have come back from 0-3. I think the stats are 5 out of 160 times, or something like that. At 14:40 of the OT, Simon Gagne, back from an injurty for his first game, scored the tam winner to prolong Philly's season.
Game 5 returns to TD Gardens on Monday night. The Flyers only have to win three straight to advance. Anything is possible on the ice. But the odds are still heavily in favor of Boston.
Three series now stand at 3-1. San Jose, Chicago and Boston all have good chances of advancing to their Conference finals. The Penguins-Canadiens series is tied up 2-2, behind incredible goaltending on both sides of the ice. Tomorrow night, one team will emerge with an edge. 7pm at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Will Sid the Kid break out? San Jose will also have a chance to put away the Detroit Red Wings at 10pm. It will be a good night for hockey (thanks, Badger Bob).
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