Torino 2006

[slapshot™]

A thread to discuss miscellaneous items pertaining to the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Hockey items, that is.

Men's World Ranking

Group A: CAN (1), CZE (4), FIN (5), GER ( 8 ) , SUI (9), ITA (12)

Group B: SWE (2), SVK (3), USA (6), RUS (7), LAT (10), KAZ (11)

Women's World Ranking

Group A: CAN (1), SWE (4), RUS (5), ITA ( 8 )

Group B: USA (2), FIN (3), GER (6), SUI (7)


(Seeding numbers in brackets)

Here -> Men's Ice Hockey Schedule (http://www.iihf.com/hockey/olympic/schedule_m06.htm)

Here -> Women's Ice Hockey Schedule (http://www.iihf.com/hockey/olympic/schedule_w06.htm)

Here -> Torino 2006 Website (http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/OlympicGames/home/index.html)


http://www.torino2006.org/bin/OlympicGames/photogallery/C_3_photogallery_31_photos_foto_4_imagebig.jpg

[KB in Kelowna]

Nice idea Slap, I could make this a sticky if nobody objects. Post all related items pertaining to the Olympic Hockey tournament here and have threads regarding indvidual games.

Go Canada Go :thumb:

[wildboy26]

It looks like Canada has the tougher pool. The Czechs and Finns typicaly bring it at international events; the Russians and Swedes tend to dissapoint in international tournaments, the U.S wont have a great team this year, they seem to building for the future by dumping aging veterans and bringing on alot of younger players.

[TimmyTabasco]

It looks like Canada has the tougher pool. The Czechs and Finns typicaly bring it at international events; the Russians and Swedes tend to dissapoint in international tournaments, the U.S wont have a great team this year, they seem to building for the future by dumping aging veterans and bringing on alot of younger players.

I won't count Russia out this year

They can, and will..bite you in the behind

Never underestimate an opponent

[Newfie John]

With respect to the rankings I think that the divisions are equal.

[wildboy26]

I agree that rankings-wise the pools are even. How on earth Slovakia gets a #3 ranking is beyond me however. :eyebug: They do well at the World Championships since many of their top players are available often, but never do that well with a full stocked field at the international events like World Cup or Olympics. However their World Championships results probably boost their ranking up, to a deceptively inflated point. They have some good players but havent proven themselves in a fully-attened international event yet IMHO(which Worlds almost never is, last year was the closest and still not totally).

[slapshot™]

How on earth Slovakia gets a #3 ranking is beyond me however...>snip<... They have some good players but havent proven themselves in a fully-attened international event yet IMHO(which Worlds almost never is, last year was the closest and still not totally).

PDF file -> 2005 Men's World Ranking (http://www.iihf.com/news/Ranking2005.pdf)

The IIHF World Ranking is a tool to reflect the long-term quality of the countries' national team program. The IIHF World Ranking is based on awarding points for the final positions in the last four IIHF World Championships and in the last Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament. The 2004 IIHF World Ranking is thus based on the performance at the 2004, 2003, 2002 and the 2001 World Championship and at the 2002 Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.

The team that wins the IIHF World Championship gold medal or the Olympic gold medal receives 1200 points. In general, there is a 20-point interval between two ranked positions (for example, 13th place receives 880 points and 14th place receives 860 points). As an exception to this principle there is a 40-point interval between gold and silver, silver and bronze, 4th and 5th position and between 8th and 9th position in the top division. The reason for the larger intervals for these positions is to give teams a bonus for reaching the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the final and for winning the gold medal.


The bonus formula can be changed with any alterations to the playing format.

To enable the ranking to accurately reflect current form, the greatest importance is given to results of the last years' competition. To a lesser degree, attention is also paid to results from previous years. The system uses a four-year cycle as the points earned in one year decline linearly within the next 3 years and in the 5th year results are dropped from the calculation altogether.

Example: Value of the gold medal
Year 1: 100% value -- 1200 points
Year 2: 75% value -- 900 points
Year 3: 50% value -- 600 points
Year 4: 25% value -- 300 points
Year 5: 0% value -- 0 points


The IIHF World Ranking will be released following each IIHF World Championship and the Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.

Before each World Championship, a pre-championship report will be released in which the values of the previous seasons are already reduced according to the above-described procedure and where only the points of the upcoming competition need to be added to get the IIHF World Ranking for the year.

Link -> IIHF.com (http://www.iihf.com/hockey/worldranking/worldranking.htm)

[charlio lemieux]

I agree that rankings-wise the pools are even. How on earth Slovakia gets a #3 ranking is beyond me however. :eyebug: They do well at the World Championships since many of their top players are available often, but never do that well with a full stocked field at the international events like World Cup or Olympics. However their World Championships results probably boost their ranking up, to a deceptively inflated point. They have some good players but havent proven themselves in a fully-attened international event yet IMHO(which Worlds almost never is, last year was the closest and still not totally).

Slovakia getes it's #3 because it's team is highly skilled and almost as deep up front as the Canadians. I would give them the edge in pure offensive tallent actually. Their weakness is Goal. Their Defense is adequate. But if you want to see for yourself, go to the Canada's toughest competition thread. The team, is all there, with the exception of Bondra.

[wildboy26]

PDF file -> 2005 Men's World Ranking (http://www.iihf.com/news/Ranking2005.pdf)

The IIHF World Ranking is a tool to reflect the long-term quality of the countries' national team program. The IIHF World Ranking is based on awarding points for the final positions in the last four IIHF World Championships and in the last Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament. The 2004 IIHF World Ranking is thus based on the performance at the 2004, 2003, 2002 and the 2001 World Championship and at the 2002 Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.

The team that wins the IIHF World Championship gold medal or the Olympic gold medal receives 1200 points. In general, there is a 20-point interval between two ranked positions (for example, 13th place receives 880 points and 14th place receives 860 points). As an exception to this principle there is a 40-point interval between gold and silver, silver and bronze, 4th and 5th position and between 8th and 9th position in the top division. The reason for the larger intervals for these positions is to give teams a bonus for reaching the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the final and for winning the gold medal.


The bonus formula can be changed with any alterations to the playing format.

To enable the ranking to accurately reflect current form, the greatest importance is given to results of the last years' competition. To a lesser degree, attention is also paid to results from previous years. The system uses a four-year cycle as the points earned in one year decline linearly within the next 3 years and in the 5th year results are dropped from the calculation altogether.

Example: Value of the gold medal
Year 1: 100% value -- 1200 points
Year 2: 75% value -- 900 points
Year 3: 50% value -- 600 points
Year 4: 25% value -- 300 points
Year 5: 0% value -- 0 points


The IIHF World Ranking will be released following each IIHF World Championship and the Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.

Before each World Championship, a pre-championship report will be released in which the values of the previous seasons are already reduced according to the above-described procedure and where only the points of the upcoming competition need to be added to get the IIHF World Ranking for the year.

Link -> IIHF.com (http://www.iihf.com/hockey/worldranking/worldranking.htm)




Thank you, that was very helpful.

I suspected Slovakia was #3 because of their World Championships performance which has been obviously very good of late, but I would like to see them do something bigger at a World Cup or Olympics at some point. They have alot of talent, and I love the creativity and skill of their forwards especialy, but they dont seem to come together as a team at the biggest "fully represented" events.

[TimmyTabasco]

Slovakia getes it's #3 because it's team is highly skilled and almost as deep up front as the Canadians.Their weakness is Goal.

Very true.

Its too bad Slovakia doesn't really have goaltending prospects. Hell, even Switzerland has better goaltenders :D

[wildboy26]

I think Switzerland has pretty good goaltenders with Gerber and Aebischer. I am amazed watching Gerber this year, that he wasnt a #1 goalie either, but of course he was playing behind a worthy #1 goalie in Anaheim, in Giguere. They probably are superior to Sweden, Slovakia, and the U.S in goaltending now, although I suppose some would argue the U.S.

[charlio lemieux]

Very true.

Its too bad Slovakia doesn't really have goaltending prospects. Hell, even Switzerland has better goaltenders :D

It is a good thing for the rest of the hockey world Slovakia and the Czech Rep. are still not together.

[Amoroq]

If it comes down to a shootout, does Gretzky suit up??

Yes I'm still pissed at Crawford!

[charlio lemieux]

If it comes down to a shootout, does Gretzky suit up??

Yes I'm still pissed at Crawford!

Crawford :curse: I could have reached through the TV and strangled him.
I like Gretz's response when finally asked if he thought he could have scored given his lackluster penaltytshot record.
"When I had to score, I did."

[wildboy26]

I dont think Grezxty would have scored on Hasek personaly, Hasek was unbeatable in that shootout, in that game, in those Olympics. Still would have been nice to see him try, shocked he wasnt picked, wouldnt have made the difference though IMO.

[slapshot™]

Yes I'm still pissed at Crawford!

No kidding!

The best player in the world (at that time) and he doesn't select him for the shootout?

hehehe....now he's coaching the 'nucks.

[slapshot™]

The National Hockey League has today announced its eight on-ice officials who have been selected for the men's ice hockey tournament at the XX Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy. As the International Ice Hockey Federation named the IIHF on-ice officials in October, the list of both the men's and women's referees and linesmen going to the Olympics is now complete.

The men's tournament will be officiated by 10 referees and 14 linesmen while the women's tournament will have seven referees and 12 linesmen. The total of 43 on-ice officials represents 14 nations.

Complete list of on-ice officials -> Olympic Zebras (http://www.iihf.com/news/iihfpr9105.htm)

[TimmyTabasco]

No kidding!

The best player in the world (at that time) and he doesn't select him for the shootout?

hehehe....now he's coaching the 'nucks.

Bastid :D

Yeah, yet another mistake by "The Crow"

Hopefully he makes his way behind the Oilers bench :D

[slapshot™]

Here's a good link on the difference between Olympic and NHL rules. It's a PDF file.

Major Rule Differences (http://www.iihf.com/education/pdf/IIHFvsNHL.pdf)

http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/OlympicGames/bin/news/C_3_news_eng_150140_paragraphs_paragrafo_0_image.j pg

[charlio lemieux]

Do you think any of the Goalie's will go back to the larger equipment for the tournament?

[slapshot™]

Gretzky blasts NHL, union for Olympic roster deadline

Link -> CBC.ca (http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/sports/icehockey/stories/index.shtml?/story/olympics/national/2005/12/14/Sports/gretzkyrant051214.html)

This time, Wayne Gretzky didn't wait to arrive in Turin, Italy, to deliver his Olympic rant.
Team Canada's executive director pointed a finger Tuesday at the NHL and Players' Association for insisting on a Dec. 22 deadline to set the 23-man roster for the Torino Winter Games in February.

"There's no reason to name this team [on Dec. 22)," Gretzky said. "I think they're wrong. I voiced my displeasure a month ago and was told this was the way it's going to be and said 'Okay we'll accept it.' I just hope the players understand the consequences.
"People are being assessed on 25 hockey games and I just don't think that's enough time."

For the record, International Olympic Committee deadlines are weeks away.

Gretzky, in his February 2002 diatribe at the Salt Lake City Games, accused other Olympic teams of delighting in Canadian hockey failures.
Back in September, Gretzky pushed for a January deadline for Torino because he wanted a longer look to see which players get on a hot streak as the Olympics approach.

On Tuesday, he preferred an early-February cut-off date.
The union argued that players needed to know as soon as possible if they're going to the Olympics in order to make travel arrangements for family members.

Four years ago, forwards Joe Thornton and Todd Bertuzzi stepped up their play after the deadline and were left at home.
This year, Columbus Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash ? a popular Olympic selection among pundits? will have little time to impress Gretzky and the rest of Canada's management and coaching staffs.

He's expected to return to the Columbus lineup later this week after missing virtually the entire season with two separate injuries.
Nash, 21, was considered Canada's best player at the 2005 world championships and tied for the NHL goal-scoring lead in the 2003-04 season.

"We're caught in a real precarious position in that most of the teams in the Olympic tournament would be thrilled to name their team in November because let's be honest, we have more players and tougher decisions than any other country," Gretzky said in September.

It is a real crapshoot as to who will be hot, but you have to go with your best players and hope they gel at the same time as it is a relatively short tournament.

[KB in Kelowna]

I think it was Pierre LeBrun on the Satelite Hot Stove who mentioned that the Women's team does not have to be named until January 23 2006, if I recall correctly.

[slapshot™]

...the Women's team does not have to be nemaed until January 23 2006, if I recall correctly.

You are correct.

Canada must name a roster of 20 players (18 skaters, 2 goalies) in January, 2006, just prior to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Source -> Hockey Canada (http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/11153/la_id/1.htm)



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[KB in Kelowna]

You are correct.



Source -> Hockey Canada (http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/11153/la_id/1.htm)



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Ha ha, :o I know always proof read before submitting your post.