World Juniors Hockey 2024

[Grant Lamontagne]

Not the most impressive match up in hockey history, that's for sure!

Looks like a repeat of last year- probably the US and Sweden in the Final and maybe Canada and the Czechs battling for third.

Naturally I am a bit disappointed in Team Canada again, but it's nice that they are letting some other countries get in there! 

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Wow, it's becoming a bit dramatic!  I may have to rethink my earlier prediction.   

The US beat Latvia, who had beaten Canada, but then the US lost to Finland, who Canada had already beaten.

Sweden beat Switzerland, but only 5-7, and one would expect one of the (traditionally) strongest teams (Sweden) to have absolutely dominated Switzerland, which is generally not considered to be a powerhouse in hockey.

Team Canada also shut out Team Germany, who often has a hit or miss team- when they are on they are on, but this doesn't appear to be one of those years for them.

Meanwhile Czechia and Slovakia went at it and the Czechs pulled ahead, and are currently tied at 9 points overall with Sweden, with Canada and the US tied at 7.

The could be the year for the Czechs, but it's still early yet.  Tomorrow will be an exciting day as Czechia and Sweden face off, and Canada and the US play each other.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Well, I am just going to come right out and say it- I am very disappointed in Team Canada.

I don't care that they lost, that happens.

I am very disappointed (as are many Canadians) in our poor sportsmanship.  If they had put half as much energy into playing the game properly as they did getting unnecessary penalties they may have actually had something.  But, when you rack up enough penalty minutes in one game to almost equal an entire period of being shorthanded... well they deserved to lose.

Def

[Whoey]

I'm not terribly surprised, Canada men's teams haven't been doing great for a while now.

Women's teams are usually doing great