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OT: 2014 Sochi Olympics: Pre-Tournament Talk


IKnowPhysics

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Posted

The NHL recently announced that the league will break for, and allow players to play in, the 2014 Olympic Winter games in Sochi, Russia. The opening ceremonies will commence on February 7th, 2014. The hockey competitions will be played at two venues. The first is Bolshoy Ice Dome, which seats 12,000 and was completed in 2012 at a cost of $180M and designed to look like aFabergé egg. The second is Shayba Arena (Shayba is Russian for "puck"), a new structure that seats 7,000, and will be located 1000ft from the Ice Dome; this structure will be movable and will move to another Russian city after the games. The ice surfaces will be olympic/international size (15 wider than NHL), contrasting to the NHL-sized sheet used in Vancouver in 2010.

 

Sochi:

sochi.gif

 

Bolshoy Ice Dome:

8258583045_5a6ca29e83_b.jpg

 

 

In 2010, Canada won Gold, US won Silver, and Finland won Bronze; this was the medal result for both men's and women's tournaments.

 

Men's highlights from 2010.

Women's highlights from 2010.

 

Like 2010, twelve men''s teams and eight women's teams will compete in the tournament. Each will start on February 8th. The women will conclude with medal games on the 20th; the men on the 23rd.

Men's Preliminary Schedule: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678201

 

The men's pools have been determined, based on outcomes from the 2012 Men's World Ice Hockey Champinships:

Group A: Russia, Slovakia, United States, Slovenia

Group B: Finland, Canada, Norway, Austria

Group C: Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Latvia

(Belarus and Germany competed in 2010, replaced by Austria and Slovenia in 2010)

 

The men's tournament will play games in-group to determine seeding. The leaders of each group and the best 2nd place team will receive byes heading into a four rounds of elimination games, culminating in the medal games.

 

 

The women's pools have been determined, based on the results of the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championships:

Group A: Canada, Finland, Switzerland, United States

Group B: Russia, Sweden, Germany, Japan

(Slovakia and China competed in 2010, replaced by Germany and Japan in 2014)

 

The women's tournament will play games in-group to determine seeding for the four rounds of elimination games, culminating in the medal games.

 

Team USA Men's preview:

Coach: Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh)

Assistant Coaches: (unknown)

GM: David Poile (Nashville)

Roster Projections (7/19/13): http://www.cbssports...jection-revised

Possible roster:

LW: Zach Parise, Max Pacioretty, James van Riemsdyk, Ryan Callahan

C: Ryan Kesler, Joe Pavelski, David Backes, Paul Statsny, Derek Stepan

RW: Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Bobby Ryan, Dustin Brown, Jason Pominville*

D: Ryan Suter, Jack Johnson, Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, Brooks Orpik, Paul martin, Keith Yandle, Dustin Byfuglien

G: Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, Cory Schneider (also Ryan Miller, Craig Anderson, Tim Thomas)

 

Team Canada Men's preview:

Coach: Mike Babcock (Detroit)

Assistant Coaches: Lindy Ruff (Dallas), Claude Julien (Boston), Ken Hitchcock (St Louis)

Roster Projections (7/19/13): http://www.sportsnet...lympic-rosters/

Doug MacLean's roster projection:

LW: Rick Nash, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Jamie Benn

C: Sidney Crosby, Eric Staal, Claude Giroux, Jonathan Tavares

RW: Steven Stamkos, Corey Perry, Logan Couture, Patrice Bergeron, Taylor Hall

D: Drew Doughty, Shea Weber, Marc Staal, Alex Pietrangelo, Duncan Kieth, Brent Seabrook

G: Carey Price, Corey Crawford, Mike Smith

 

Team USA Women's preview:

Coach: Katie Stone (Harvard)

Assistant Coaches: (unknown)

GM: Reagan Carey (USA Hockey)

Roster (not a projection, announced 6/24/13): http://www.teamusa.o...s-National-Team

Forwards: Kate Buesser, Alex Carpenter, Julie Chu, Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Lyndsey Fry, Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight, Jocelyn Lamoureux, Monique Lamoureux, Anne Pankowski, Kelli Stack

Defensemen: Kacey Bellamy, Megan Bozek, Lisa Chesson, Jincy Dunne, Gigi Marvin, Michelle Picard, Josephine Pucci, Anne Schleper, Lee Stecklein

Goaltenders: Brianne McLaughlin, Molly Schaus, Jessie Vetter

 

Buffalo Sabres in the Olympics:

Projections have been made for Sabres in the Olympics: http://www.diebytheb...aying-in-russia

Likely Sabre olympic contenders: Vanek (AUS), Miller? (USA), Enroth (SWE)

Possibles: Ristolainen (FIN), Girgensens (LAT), Leino? (FIN), Armia? (FIN), Grigorenko? (RUS)

 

 

 

It's the dog days of Summer, and even if all of us aren't excited for the upcoming Sabres season, you can be sure that Sochi will exhibit outstanding hockey and likely be a true Clash of the Titans worth looking forward to.

Posted

Derp, fixed. He's technically eligible for competition for Team USA, despite being Canadian born; he has dual citizenship and chose his IIHF path when he chose to play for Team USA at the 2008 World Championships.

Posted

I have to say that I am excited for young Enroth. He idolizes Lundqvist and with his performance in the IIHF World Championships you have to assume that Enroth with be Lundqvist's backup. Should be a really great opportunity for him and I think Sweden has some momentum going into this.

Posted

I have to say that I am excited for young Enroth. He idolizes Lundqvist and with his performance in the IIHF World Championships you have to assume that Enroth with be Lundqvist's backup. Should be a really great opportunity for him and I think Sweden has some momentum going into this.

 

Lundqvist is average and it's time that Sweden gives Enroth the starts.

Posted

I'd say Z is a lock for Latvia. He's the best Latvian Player since Helmuts Balderis.

 

Will they still be coached by Ted Nolan?

 

Lundqvist is average and it's time that Sweden gives Enroth the starts.

 

You are my hero.

Posted

Lundqvist is average and it's time that Sweden gives Enroth the starts.

That would be freaking awesome!

 

I find this even more amusing considering I am arguing you currently can't prove Enroth is better than Miller lol.

Posted

I'd say Z is a lock for Latvia. He's the best Latvian Player since Helmuts Balderis.

 

Will they still be coached by Ted Nolan?

 

Yes, and then we can start the Nolan to Buffalo in some capacity rumors.

Posted

I was hoping we could get into this as winter approaches. Anyone got the line combos?

 

Some of the links, esp Team Canada projections on TSN, include possible lines. Rosters of course aren't finalized yet.

Posted

Lots of upstate NYers on that camp roster.

 

Also, USA is poised to have the best goaltending trio in the tournament. Right now, I'd go with Quick-Miller-Schneider.

Posted

Crosby, Toews lead Canada's Olympic camp roster: http://www.nhl.com/i...s.htm?id=678667

 

US Camp Roster Set: http://olympics.usah...cle/show/272491

 

The set of defensemen that the Canadians have to choose from is ridiculous. I like the USA goaltenders more than the Canadian group.

 

How do you pick 4 centers from Bergeron, Crosby, Towes, Staal, Tavares, Thornton, Stamkos, etc.?

 

(BTW - no Pommer)

Posted

The set of defensemen that the Canadians have to choose from is ridiculous. I like the USA goaltenders more than the Canadian group.

 

How do you pick 4 centers from Bergeron, Crosby, Towes, Staal, Tavares, Thornton, Stamkos, etc.?

 

(BTW - no Pommer)

 

They could very well have some of the Centers play wing and Pommer could still make the US team if he's playing well this upcoming season.

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