Greatest upset in history of World Championship hockey?

Winston · April 26, 2003, 18:27

Just got home and saw that Denmark, in its first appearance in the World Championship ever, beat the US 5-2 in the opening match of their group.

Denmark now leads the group tied with Russia, after their win 5-2 over Switzerland.

Thoughts, reactions, displays of submission from our American friends...?

OneFootInTheGrave · April 26, 2003, 18:30

well done Denmark... however is US playing with their 2nd team or is the best team on the ice?

Kropotkin · April 26, 2003, 18:30

The wc in hockey is a mickey mouse competition. Nothing's upsetting about besides the tournament in itself.

Winston · April 26, 2003, 18:32

OFitG,

I think it's their 2nd team, the NHL finals are on also I think.

Link for those interested to CNN/SI.com's story Denmark stuns US in world Ch'ship

OneFootInTheGrave · April 26, 2003, 18:42

Still

good luck with the Swiss

Pekka · April 26, 2003, 18:49

That was against the odds yeah.. I don't think the US has the team for gold medal, but I think they'll definitely bounce back and get their game together.

This WC games are now more interesting. Some big stars there. Slovakians have Satan.. and other big names. Swedish have Zetterberg, Forsberg, Sundin.. etc.
We have Selänne, Koivu etc..Mickey Mouse tournament? I don't think so! Everyone wants to win, and I see some of the best players here.
Hejduk is coming for Czheks..I see only top scoreres in NHL here.

.. but eventually we will win.

Pekka · April 26, 2003, 18:54

But greatest upset in the history? Not really.. I'd go with Russias team in their home games.. they had like the dream team of history... the best Russian players.. and they screwed it up, losing to Norway etc.. They just didn't get the game going. It was pretty upsetting. They didn't even advance from starting rounds.

I was calculating and I see we will face Sweden in semifinals or finals.. it will be very interesting, since the Swedes have a very good team right now, top notch players from NHL, they really want to win. It will be a classic battle.

Winston · April 26, 2003, 18:55

Thanks OFitG!

It seems the US are pretty calm apparently. Three of the four teams in the group advance to the next stage.

Gangerolf · April 26, 2003, 18:59

way to go DK! I see things have improved since last time

Quote:

In the 1949 tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, Denmark lost one game to Canada 47-0, still a record in championship history.

Pekka · April 26, 2003, 19:01

Yeah, it seems like Denmark has a good chance to advance here.. If they beat or tie with the Swiss they'll prolly advance and get to play more.. and I think their team is pretty much in the zone right now, and their goalie is on

too, big time! It will be interesting to see what's going to happen..

But that aside...

GO FINLAND GO GO GO !!!!

Winston · April 26, 2003, 19:03

Judging from that score, I think in 1949 Danes didn't even know the rules of the game.

Winston · April 26, 2003, 19:07

Yes Pekka, if Denmark should somehow inexplicably stumble along the way, let's at least keep it Nordic.

DRoseDARs · April 26, 2003, 19:09

Looking at Pekka's picture, I have to wonder if they could have left the child doing the "saftey dance" out of their routine. If s/he is forced to wear a helmut for the performance, perhaps s/he is too young to be among the adults on the ice...

Pekka · April 26, 2003, 19:16

We keep those little performers in cages, so they don't mind wearing the helmet to get little fresh air.

optimus2861 · April 26, 2003, 19:35

World Championships ...

Just a consolation prize for the Stanley Cup losers (like the Leafs

)

cinch · April 26, 2003, 21:51

Quiet, Optimus! The WCs are all I have, now that my blessed Oilers are down and out.

****************************************
Canada blanks Belarus, Denmark shocks U.S.
WebPosted Sat Apr 26 20:25:29 2003

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Team Canada beat Belarus 3-0 in its first game at the 2003 world hockey championship in Turku, Finland.

Dany Heatley (Atlanta Thrashers), Mike Comrie and Ryan Smyth (Edmonton Oilers) were the goal scorers.

Goalie Sean Burke (Phoenix Coyotes) got the shutout.

In nine meetings, Canada has never lost to Belarus.

Canada's next game is against Latvia on Sunday in Turku.

In other action, Demark pulled off a stunning 5-2 victory over Team USA on Saturday in Tampere, Finland.

A small Scandinavian country with only 4,000 hockey players, Demark is making its return to hockey's elite after a 54-year absence.

In the 1949 tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, Denmark lost one game to Canada 47-0, which is still a record in championship history.

The U.S., which has 12 NHL players but no big names on its roster, outshot Denmark 50-20 but goalie Peter Hirsch made several sparkling saves throughout the game.

On Friday, Team Canada General Manager Steve Tambellini rounded out the roster by naming three more players to the team:

Cory Cross, defence Edmonton Oilers
Steve Staios, defence Edmonton Oilers
Steve Reinprecht, forward, Colorado Avalanche
With the additions of Cross and Staios, the number of Edmonton Oilers players on Canada's roster is six.

Canada's roster now stands at 22 players -- three goaltenders, six defencemen and 13 forwards.

Chris Gratton of the Phoenix Coyotes, who was announced with Canada's first group of players, will be unable to play in the tournament because of a nagging shoulder injury.

Canada won two gold medals in the 1990's at the world hockey championship -- 1994 and again in 1997. Last year, Canada finished sixth in Sweden.

At this year's tournament, Canada is in a preliminary round group with Belarus, Latvia and Sweden.
****************************************

6 Oilers! Hot damn!

And ya gotta love that preliminary grouping: Belarus (ha!), Latvia (ha ha!), & the Swedes (hm.). Easy sailing!

RedFred · April 26, 2003, 22:21

Quote:

Originally posted by cinch
A small Scandinavian country with only 4,000 hockey players, Demark is making its return to hockey's elite after a 54-year absence.

In the 1949 tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, Denmark lost one game to Canada 47-0, which is still a record in championship history.

So they were so humiliated that they decided not to play for 54 years after their record-setting loss?

Ben Kenobi · April 26, 2003, 22:56

47-0

Who were the players on the Canadian roster?

Winston · April 27, 2003, 08:24

Will you stop talking about that 47-0 defeat!

Pekka · April 27, 2003, 11:02

Canda is beating Latvia right now.. So no surprises there. Latvia will still advance I think.. I like their style, even though they haven't had lots of success. They're always better and better. Some day they will become a serious threat..

.. looks like Canada is ripping them apart though, 6-1 already. That's positive though, that Canada is coming hard. Makes the games more interesting when we know they are playing good and are hungry to win, because they don't have super team, but are not giving anything free and are trying to win.. plus they have few good players in the team too, so it will be interesting to see how far they will go. I won't count them out, I think they have a good chance going to top 4, since they always get their act together for important games.

The US is setting up surprise of the games, just losing to the Swiss too.. 0-1. They have only one game to improve the situation and win Russia, and even then Russia must lose to Denmark.. So it's really looking bad to the US right now.

Winston · April 27, 2003, 15:01

Russia just beat Denmark 6-1.

Pekka, are you saying the US are out then?

I think they could still advance if they beat Russia and Denmark beats Switzerland.

I'll have to check on this with the news...

Winston · April 27, 2003, 15:06

You're right Pekka, the USA are out of the World Cup after two defeats, no matter how their game against Russia goes. Holy Moly! USA will have to play three qualifiers to even stay in the A-zone.

Denmark is through to the next round though and have secured their place in the zone already.

Pekka · April 27, 2003, 15:13

Yeah, and since Russia defeated Denmark today, the US will drop... But as for Denmark, the game against Swiss is important. They will advance to the next round, and be with 7 other teams.. from 8 teams, 4 will advance. So you want to not be in the other 4 teams. Every point counts..

Pekka · April 27, 2003, 15:14

Though they're not out of the World Cup.. that's a different tournament

.

Winston · April 27, 2003, 15:20

World Championships. He-he.

Yes, but I believe we have defeated the Swiss before in recent years, so we may have a chance against them - but it will be a thriller no doubt.

Oh, and good luck to Finland against the Slovenians tomorrow!

Winston · April 27, 2003, 15:29

Just saw that there are actually 6 teams in each group for the next stage - from which 4 teams each (8 out of 12) will advance to the Quarters.

But you're right, every point counts as they are carried over from the preliminary matches.

Pekka · April 27, 2003, 15:33

Thanks..

Yeah, looking at teams and Denmarks situation.. it's very interesting. Game against Swiss will be very important for both of you, and I think it will be a tough game too.
If you manage to win it, then you're 2nd in your own Group B. Then you play against Group C, countries like Canada, Sweden and Latvia or Belarus. Belarus vs Latvia will decide which one of them will advance, since Sweden just beat Belarus and Canada has defeated them both.

So, the games for you will be against Sweden, Canada and Latvia or Belarus. 4 will advance, so I figure the first 3 will be Sweden, Canada and Russia in no particular order. The 4th place is however very open. Now the importance of the game against the Swiss shows. If you beat them, you have more points than them. Then you play against Latvia or Belarus (I think it'll be Latvia). Latvia has lost both of their games, so they'll have maximum of 2 points in the next round, and you could have 4 points, and then going against them, tie would be enough. Win would take you to Quarter Finals.. That would be pretty awesome for Denmark. That's top 8, and from there on it's one game at a time, loser drops.

Though I think Latvia is a bit stronger, but if you win Swiss.. it will play a big role and you have a chance to go even further.

Pekka · April 27, 2003, 15:35

Of course it's possible to win Sweden and Canada etc.. but it could be enough to beat the Swiss and then tie with Latvia or Belarus.. Oh wait you have to beat Latvia, I assume that Latvia will win the Swiss too. Well anyway, it will get interesting, and most importantly, you'll be in next year too.

Hot Mustard · April 27, 2003, 15:39

Quote:

Originally posted by cinch
Quiet, Optimus! The WCs are all I have, now that my blessed Oilers are down and out.

You can't find it in you to cheer for your western neighbour?

I always cheered for Edmonton, Calgary, or any other Canadian team (Leafs last

) still left in the playoffs after Vancouver was eliminated (or didn't make the playoffs).

Winston · April 27, 2003, 15:43

It could indeed be a crucial game against the Swiss, your explanation really highlights that. We shall see, the prospect in itself of playing against teams like Canada and Sweden in the 2nd stage, and perhaps even have a slim chance of advancing further is more than anyone here would have hoped for.

And I agree that Denmark's staying in the zone next year is what really counts. That was the succes criteria beforehand, and the players have already each earned themselves a bonus of € 2,000 (

!) for achieving that goal.