Team Ontario? Might as well do Quebec and British Columbia while we are at it too!

And then, since the US is so big, we can then do Eastern USA, Central USA, and Pacific USA.

Excuse my ignorance with being American, but why is that it seems as though every area in Canada (when it comes to hockey,) is trying to "section" themselves from the other? You're Canada, represent it as a whole. Canadians live for hockey and curling, embrace it, don't sectionalize it.

As for Team North America, I think its a great idea personally. These young kids nowadays are being a huge hype, and rightfully so. The skill level is extremely high for them, and if anything will only help them in development.

Richter? Damn near killed her.
- LandlordTom

Nice.

It's going to suck for Team North America when they are playing Canada or the US, and no one is cheering for them because Canadians and Americans are cheering for their actual national teams. This tournament is the dumbest idea in the history of organized sport.
- Zezel

I understand. You don't like it because you don't know who to cheer for. That's alright. There are hockey fans that only enjoys watching when they have someone to root for and then there are hockey fans that enjoy all hockey. I think this tournament is for this type of fan.

One this is for sure this will the highest quality hockey that has ever been played with the largest group of the best players ever assembled.

Sidenote: I was cheering for SJ and PIT before the playoffs even began so when they met in the finals I wasn't sure who to root for. It did feel less intense than the previous series where I knew exactly who I was cheering for.

Team Ontario? Might as well do Quebec and British Columbia while we are at it too!

And then, since the US is so big, we can then do Eastern USA, Central USA, and Pacific USA.

Excuse my ignorance with being American, but why is that it seems as though every area in Canada (when it comes to hockey,) is trying to "section" themselves from the other? You're Canada, represent it as a whole. Canadians live for hockey and curling, embrace it, don't sectionalize it.

As for Team North America, I think its a great idea personally. These young kids nowadays are being a huge hype, and rightfully so. The skill level is extremely high for them, and if anything will only help them in development.
- purepone

My American friend Ek came up with the idea, and not a single person (Canadian or otherwise) has supported it.

Team Ontario? Might as well do Quebec and British Columbia while we are at it too!

And then, since the US is so big, we can then do Eastern USA, Central USA, and Pacific USA.

Excuse my ignorance with being American, but why is that it seems as though every area in Canada (when it comes to hockey,) is trying to "section" themselves from the other? You're Canada, represent it as a whole. Canadians live for hockey and curling, embrace it, don't sectionalize it.

As for Team North America, I think its a great idea personally. These young kids nowadays are being a huge hype, and rightfully so. The skill level is extremely high for them, and if anything will only help them in development.
- purepone

I think the idea revolves around getting as many elite players into the tournament as possible. That's what team Europe and U23 set out to accomplish, but even still there are elite Canadians that don't get in the tournament.

Canada could easily ice two teams and both of them be favorites.

I understand. You don't like it because you don't know who to cheer for. That's alright. There are hockey fans that only enjoys watching when they have someone to root for and then there are hockey fans that enjoy all hockey. I think this tournament is for this type of fan.

One this is for sure this will the highest quality hockey that has ever been played with the largest group of the best players ever assembled.

Sidenote: I was cheering for SJ and PIT before the playoffs even began so when they met in the finals I wasn't sure who to root for. It did feel less intense than the previous series where I knew exactly who I was cheering for.
- Njuice

1987 Canada Cup.

Team Canada 1st line PP unit:

Messier Gretzky Lemieux
Bourque Coffey

This tourney won't touch that.

I think the idea revolves around getting as many elite players into the tournament as possible. That's what team Europe and U23 set out to accomplish, but even still there are elite Canadians that don't get in the tournament.

Canada could easily ice two teams and both of them be favorites.
- Njuice

That was the backup plan in 1991 - if the Soviet players weren't able to come as their empire was crumbling.

1987 Canada Cup.

Team Canada 1st line PP unit:

Messier Gretzky Lemieux
Bourque Coffey

This tourney won't touch that.
- Atomic Wedgie

I said quality of hockey. That doesn't mean one dominant team. It doesn't simply mean the quality of players team Canada compared to their own peers in the same generation.

Every generation learns the skills and strategies developed from the previous generation. There are tons of 3rd liners in the NHL who have more skills than Gretzky ever had. But if Gretzky never existed the players today could not have learned from him and surpassed him.

I registered for this account just to finally say that you're an idiot. Lay off the peyote my friend, that is a God awful idea lol.

stupid moneygrab by nhl, tourney means nothing. rather watch preseason nhl games

This is almost as stupid as the 23 and under team. The World Cup, like the Olympics, should be nation vs nation, period, end of story.

Personally, I'd rather the NHL didn't play in any of these type of tournaments. The players are extremely well compensated to play for their respective teams and, as fans, we shouldn't have to be penalized by watching our best players risk injury in a meaningless tournament.

Going to the Olympics every 4 years is bad enough, there was no need to bring back the Canada Cup. None. It's an NHL money grab and nothing more.
- BiggE

I have to agree, a country type tournament is the olympics so these seem like a good way to exploit patriotism. Love your country? You only do if you support these tournaments every time....BS. The ticket sales and merchandise, total cash grab.....F 'em

I have to agree, a country type tournament is the olympics so these seem like a good way to exploit patriotism. Love your country? You only do if you support these tournaments every time....BS. The ticket sales and merchandise, total cash grab.....F 'em
- PeterThePuck

Don't watch. The rest of us will enjoy watching the best hockey and most competitive hockey ever.

Eklund: Should the World Cup be Team Ontario vs. Team Canada vs. Team USA?
- Eklund

delete your account.

Team Ontario? Might as well do Quebec and British Columbia while we are at it too!

And then, since the US is so big, we can then do Eastern USA, Central USA, and Pacific USA.

Excuse my ignorance with being American, but why is that it seems as though every area in Canada (when it comes to hockey,) is trying to "section" themselves from the other? You're Canada, represent it as a whole. Canadians live for hockey and curling, embrace it, don't sectionalize it.

As for Team North America, I think its a great idea personally. These young kids nowadays are being a huge hype, and rightfully so. The skill level is extremely high for them, and if anything will only help them in development.
- purepone

You realize the secfioning off of Ontario was Ek'sbrignt idea, right? If it were up to most Canadian we would always play as one Canadian team and keep waxing the opponents, including the Americans.

Don't watch. The rest of us will enjoy watching the best hockey and most competitive hockey ever.
- Njuice

Lol

Lol
- woopstash

I don't see how anybody can dispute that this will be the highest quality hockey ever played.

I said quality of hockey. That doesn't mean one dominant team. It doesn't simply mean the quality of players team Canada compared to their own peers in the same generation.

Every generation learns the skills and strategies developed from the previous generation. There are tons of 3rd liners in the NHL who have more skills than Gretzky ever had. But if Gretzky never existed the players today could not have learned from him and surpassed him.
- Njuice

This is the greatest thing I have ever read on Hockeybuzz.

I don't see how anybody can dispute that this will be the highest quality hockey ever played.
- Njuice

...now I get it, you're trolling. Thought you were serious for a minute. LOL, it should be a fun tournament for sure, but the most competitive hockey ever? Ahaha... Haha... Ahhhhh.... That's rich.

I said quality of hockey. That doesn't mean one dominant team. It doesn't simply mean the quality of players team Canada compared to their own peers in the same generation.

Every generation learns the skills and strategies developed from the previous generation. There are tons of 3rd liners in the NHL who have more skills than Gretzky ever had. But if Gretzky never existed the players today could not have learned from him and surpassed him.
- Njuice

Wow. Is there a prize at the end of the day for comments like this? This is a joke right? Like a couple pages of comments later, you're going to post that you meant Keith Gretzky and we all have a laugh at your sh?! Joke. This way people won't wonder if you wear a helmet 24/7. They'll just think you have a terrible sense of humour.

Wayne Gretzky had something like 97 points at 37 yrs old. I am sure that tons of 3rd liners could have pulled that off

Eklund: Should the World Cup be Team Ontario vs. Team Canada vs. Team USA?
- Eklund

No... and I don't like having team North America/Team Europe there either.

Another stupid (frank)ing article from Eklund..

...now I get it, you're trolling. Thought you were serious for a minute. LOL, it should be a fun tournament for sure, but the most competitive hockey ever? Ahaha... Haha... Ahhhhh.... That's rich.
- woopstash

I'm not trolling at all.

1) The players today have more talent than ever before. Like I said in an above post, 3rd liners today have more talent than Gretzky ever did.

2) The tournament is set up to try and include as many elite players as possible and to provide parity and 'competitive games' by not including weak teams. I don't want to watch Canada whip the poop out of Belarus. Canada vs Grabovski and no name plugs? That doesn't exactly equal high quality hockey.

I don't see how anybody can dispute that this will be the highest quality hockey ever played.
- Njuice

delete your account.
- mhp

Nothing to add here...

I'm not trolling at all.

1) The players today have more talent than ever before. Like I said in an above post, 3rd liners today have more talent than Gretzky ever did.

2) The tournament is set up to try and include as many elite players as possible and to provide parity and 'competitive games' by not including weak teams. I don't want to watch Canada whip the poop out of Belarus. Canada vs Grabovski and no name plugs? That doesn't exactly equal high quality hockey.
- Njuice

Wow. Is there a prize at the end of the day for comments like this? This is a joke right? Like a couple pages of comments later, you're going to post that you meant Keith Gretzky and we all have a laugh at your sh?! Joke. This way people won't wonder if you wear a helmet 24/7. They'll just think you have a terrible sense of humour.

Wayne Gretzky had something like 97 points at 37 yrs old. I am sure that tons of 3rd liners could have pulled that off
- grubshph

You're not understanding the idea of 'talent'. Time travel a 37 year old Wayne Gretzky into the league TODAY and he probably won't even make the team.

Another tiny example of what I mean by talent:

Back in the 80's if you get could give and receive a saucer pass in the NHL you were a rare elite breed. Nowadays if you can't do this by the time you are 12 years forget about it. The players today skate faster, shoot harder, defend better, hit harder, shoot more accurately and handle the puck way better than they did in the past.

edit: just because Gretzky was so much better than his peers at the time, that doesn't mean he holds a candle to the skills of Crosby, Ovy, Kane, etc.