IIHF Upset Finish! Chicago and Czechs Rule!

Vol. I, No. 72

Czech MATE!

New hockey world champions have just been crowned in Cologne Germany.

After plowing through favored Team Canada 3-2 before the quarterfinals, the Czech Republic made it to the IIHF World Champioship finals for the 7th time since 1992.  They faced the other world heavy, Team Russia, stocked with many NHL superstars.

The men from Prague came out on top, 2-1. Russia, seeking to win a third straight world championship, came up short and goes home with 2nd place silver medals.

The young Czech team, backstopped by Thomas Vokun in goal, shut down the Russian powerhouse. Facing 36 shots on goal, Vokun stopped every one until a 6 on 3 power play late in the third period.

The only Russian score of the game occurred when captain Ilya Kovalchuk threaded a pass to Pavel Datsyuk.  Detroit's star one-timed a shot past Vokun. It was the only Russian score.  It was not enough.

The Czech victory ended a 27-game string of Russian wins. Following their disappointing performance in Vancouver, the Russian players resolved to get to Germany for the world championships and re-assert their dominance on the world stage. The only allowable excuse was the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.  Only a few Russians are left playing with the 4 remaining teams.

For Jaromir Jagr, it was a fitting end to the year.  The Czechs bowed out in the quarterfinals, shutout by Finland 2-0.  The Finns went on to claim bronze against Slovakia (the smaller half of former Czechoslovakia).

For Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Varlamov, Gonchar, Malkin, Semin, Fedorov, Koslov, Afinogenov and many others, it is a signal that Russian hockey is no longer at the top of the world.  The Canadians (Olympic gold) and Czechs (IIHF gold) now hold those honors.  Team USA shares 2nd place Olympic silver with the Russians' IIHF silver. But as everyone knows, second place is a pittance, compared to being king of the hill.

This is all very confusing. Why two world championships in one year? Should there be IIHF championships in the same year as an Olympic Games event? It is an imposition on players, pro teams on both sides of the Atlantic (NHL, KHL).  The extra long season (regular pro games, Olympic games, pro playoffs, IIHF playoffs) take a toll on physical conditioning and with injuries.

The next winter Olympic games will be held in Russia.  My bet is that Russia and the KHL will convince the IIHF to suspend the 2014 World Championships.  The NHL won't oppose that decision.

Meanwhile, another Russian player was still playing after his country's team left the ice in Cologne. Across the Atlantic, in a game in Chicago. Evegeny Nabokov faced 26 shots on goal.  Three went in.  The Hawks allowed 17 shots on goal, and scored an empty net goal in the final period to win 4-2, and sweep their series.

The Hawks are going to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1992. Stan Mikita, their legendary team leader in the 1950s and 60s, was born in Sokolce, Slovakia.  It appears that the area of the world formerly known as Czech-O-Slovakia has surely given the world some very fine hockey players! It is the Czech's 12th World Championship.

Hats off to the Czechs and to Chicago.  The Hawks need four more victories to dance with Lord Stanley.  The only question now is if the Montreal Canadiens can pull off a miracle against Philadelphia. Many love the Habs, but the Flyers seem to have a convincing upper hand. Tomorrow's game at the Wachovia Center could decide who the Blackhawks face in the SC finals.

Hockey Rules.

P.S. Game three of the day starts at 8pm EDT.  The CHL championship will be decided in Brandon, Manitoba. Either the Windsor Spitfires or Brandon Wheat Kings will earn the Memorial Cup trophy. With two final championship games in one day, summer must be getting close!