Category Archives: Hockey

In the premiere of the 2015 Ice Hockey World Championships we got to see Russia, USA and Canada run over their opponents while Sweden beat home team Czech Republic after penalties. Russia got a 4-0 lead in the first period against Norway and the total score was 6-2. Canada won against Latvia with 6-1 (Sidney Crosby scored one goal on a penalty). A bit more unexpected was USA:s 5-1 victory over Finland.

USA 5-1 Finland

Steve Moses gave USA the lead 20 seconds before the first intermission. In the second period Finland tied the game 1-1 but after that it was all about Team USA. Moses and Matt Hendricks, both having played for Jokerit in Finland, scored two games each this game. Finlands star goalkeeper Pekka Rinne got a rough start of the tournament.

Czech Republic 5-6 (ap) Sweden

Sweden got an excellent start with a 2-0 lead after just 8 minutes in the first period. The goals were scored by brothers of well known players in the national hockey league: New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist brother Joel Lundqvist and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwalls brother Staffan Kronwall. Czech Republic’s big star Jaromir Jagr reduced the lead to 1-2 in the 14th minute. In the second period Sweden’s Elias Lindholm and his teammate Victor Rask from Carolina Hurricanes literally spun around the Czech defenses and increased the lead to 3-1. Early in the third period, each teams scored one goal each and Sweden seemed to have established a comfortable 4-2 lead. However, in the 52:nd minute of play, Czech Republic did two quick goals in less than a minute. The home crowd was extatic, and when Martin Zatovic gave them the 5-4 lead the cheering almost went through the roof of O2 Arena in Prague.

However, with one and a half minute left to go, Sweden got a Powerplay and could play 6 man to 4. In the last minute of the game, Mattias Sjögren could equalize the score to 5-5. After a goalless overtime Elias Lindholm and Oliver Ekman-Larsson could score in the shootout, winning the extra point of the game to team Sweden.

Sweden’s next game is against Austria on Sunday.

North America keep their dominance in the women’s major hockey tournaments, with the European teams trailing behind. In the semifinals of the 2015 Women’s World Championship in Malmö, Sweden, USA won against Russia 13-1 and Canada beat Finland 3-0.

USA won the gold, Finland got the bronze

The final game between Candada and USA was dramatic. USA were ahead 5-2 in the second period but before the middle act was over, Canada had tied the game 5-5. However, in the third and last period, team USA were the stronger team and managed to get the tournament win with two goals, winning the final game 7-5. In the bronze game Finland won against Russia with 4-1. These results give a good picture over how the international women’s hockey are positioned right now. Canada and USA are in the top, and they have been there in all world tournaments and olympics except for the 2006 Torino games where Sweden managed to beat USA in the semifinals which led to a silver medal. Of the European teams Finland has a clear advantage right now. Comparing the semifinals, losing 3-0 to Canada is nothing to be ashamed by while Russia let in 13 goals against USA. Behind these four teams come Sweden and Switzerland. Sweden has not been able to build on the success in the 2006 olympics and sadly the team consists of amateur players who only can play hockey part-time.

Until the European teams create some sort of professional incitement for the female players they will continue to battle for the bronze medals. And it is doubtful if they can continue to take pride in calling themself the most equal countries in the world. Not in hockey town anyway..

This year the Women’s World Championship in ice-hockey is played in Malmö, Sweden March 28 – April 4. It will be the 16th World Championships for women. So far, USA and Canada have won all gold medals. Finland has ten bronze medals, Sweden and Russia two and Switzerland one. The Swedes are of course hoping to repeat the “miracle on ice” in Torino from 2006 where they beat USA in the shootouts, making it to the final.

Schedule

The tournament consists of eight teams divided into two groups:

Group A:

USA
Canada
Finland
Russia

Group B:

Sweden
Japan
Switzerland
Germany

The first two teams of group A will make it directly to the semifinals. The 3 and 4 in group A will play quarterfinals against the 1 and 2 in group B. You can find the detailed game-schedule at the tournaments official homepage.

Playoffs

April 1:
Quarterfinal 1 and 2

April 3:
Semifinal 1 and 2

April 4:

Bronze game and Final.

We’re hoping for an exciting tournament in Sweden. The men’s World Championship are played in Czech Republic in May.