For the record, even though my stance is it isn't possible to ever see amateur players only in the Olympics, I see nothing wrong with the idea of trying to reinstate it with much stricter guidelines now that the world is much more connected.

If the IOC could set a minimum and maximum age, or possibly create a unified measurement of all leagues worldwide to measure levels of professional play, then I'd be for it for sure. ETC, I too love the sheer joy of junior hockey, I just don't think it's limited to only juniors. I just don't think that just because Canada is pressuring their team so much, it ruins the tournament for everyone else's squads. Look at Russia - those dudes are bursting with jubilance at all times.

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mechaphil

I see your point there. I don't have many memories of those days, but the ones I do have were the European teams curb stomping the US teams that couldn't re-create 1980.

I'm ok with whomever is there as long as they play with the fire and passion that they did last night.

Fuck the IOC. The IOC is like talking to guys from the Government, you never can get a clear answer from them

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Wouldn't be the IOC's direct call really. They'd defer to the governing body of the IIHF.

They're almost as dysfunctional.

True, I forget the IIHF governs even the Olympic tournament. Fucking Rene Fasel.

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mechaphil

Hard to imagine, isn't it, that the US team of kids in 1980 beat a Soviet team that's better than the Russian, Canadian and US teams of this year's Olympics. I think what the difference back then was how the Olympic team, once selected, played together for a few months before the games to really form a unit. When they played in the Olympics they were not a hastily assembled group of talented individuals, they were a true unit.

They actually prepared by taking on pro-teams in televised games leading up to the Olympics, and giving the pros everything they could handle. They played international competition together, televised, and took on the Soviets once before meeting them in the games themselves - getting punked something like 10-3, but realizing they weren't Gods, either.

The kids who made that team were also given the best possible preparation for pro-hockey imaginable. I remember Mike Ramsey jumping right off that Olympic team as an 18 year old and being totally NHL ready the day he came to Buffalo.

Great era.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Agreed screw the IIHF, they change the rules like crazy from tournament to tournament.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Yeah, basically all the IOC does is look pretty for the camera, protect the 'rights' of the official sponsors that paid too much, randomly complain, and collect checks.

The governing bodies in all the sports handle all the rules and stuff.

Love the avatar Squanto.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Thanks.

I'm unoriginal, I just happen to run across some stupid shit from time to time.

I was going to use this one, to illustrate my hatred for Twitter:

Twiter is dumb anyways

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

I enjoy the games with the pros, so please don't take my preference for the youngsters to mean I'm not into this at all. I think there is a total effort and commitment on the part of most of the players, and it shows. I happened to find the junior world championships even more exciting, though. The kids were just on another level to me...I found it incredibly inspirational and endearing.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

i don't disagree with you about hockey too often, but i would bet my life that canada and sweden (and probably russia) would beat the crap out of the 80's russian teams.

athletes are bigger, stronger, and more well trained for their sports now. shots are harder, goalies are better. the only difference is that because of all this advancement, you won't see freaks of nature like gretzky anymore.

I agree with a helluva lot in this post, and that's why you can bet I'll be attending some WJC games at HSBC this December, come hell or high water.

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mechaphil

Era-to-era, of course. Would the Canadien's dynasty of the 70's beat this year's Blue Jackets? Probably not, so when I make the analogy from 1980 it's relative to the times. The Soviets of that era unbelievably dominant.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

then i agree. i misinterpreted your point.

Yeah, and funny enough, I really didn't know just how exciting the junior world's were until this year. For some reason, I never paid close attention before...it really made an impression. If I lived in Buffalo still, I'd donate a lung if necessary to see those games.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

I started paying attention during '08 when Myers was in the middle of his gloriously beastly last junior season. Then I watched the entire tournament this year, culminating with John Carlson ripping it home on NHLN

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mechaphil

I got to see him every game for the London Knights last year and when Buffalo drafted Ennis over Carlson I thought nothing of it as I have never seen him play a game, now I wish Buffalo would have taken him.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

You'd have to.

For a ticket to every game up in Lewiston and HSBC, $1240. That's not terrible, 31 games @ $40 per. Still a ton. I am friends with plenty of NU grads though, so I'm hoping to work them for those games.

For the 21 games at HSBC, $833 for lower bowl, $493 upstairs.

I'm debating lower bowl seats myself, figure I can sell a couple of the Canadian games on Stubhub and make some profit.