If there’s no NHL season, World Championships might be really awesome
Dec 27, 2012, 9:19 PM EDT
One tournament that could get a huge lift from the lockout is the 2013 IIHF World Championships.
Worlds always occurs during the Stanley Cup playoffs, but if there’s no season and no Stanley Cup to be awarded thanks to the lockout, the tournament that’s usually second banana turns into hockey’s featured event of the season.
As Pierre LeBrun from ESPN.com found out, Hockey Canada is already preparing to load up for this year’s event in Sweden and Finland.
“Hockey Canada wants NHL hockey to start ASAP, but if there is no season, Canada will start preparation early to send the best players to Sweden for the men’s world championships,” Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson told ESPN.com via email Thursday.
This same situation happened back in 2005 and saw Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek’s Czech Republic take out Martin Brodeur and Canada for gold.
Think about it though: Instead of players whose teams either missed the playoffs or got bounced in the first round, you get a load of well-rested and eager to compete superstars. Sign us up right now if we’re going to be boned out of an NHL season.
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Been dealing with plenty of traffic in front of him all throughout playoffs.
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Video: Kings’ Brown shaken up after collision with Sharks’ Marleau
May 21, 2013, 11:14 PM EDT
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Does the league take a look at this?
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Where did this scoring come from?
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The comments are now open.
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Both make their series debuts tonight.
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That’s a long way up to do that.
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This might be getting old to him by now.
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He was banged up roughly in Game 3.
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A 13-percent rise from last year.
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Off to a surprising 2-1 series lead over Chicago.
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He’ll replace Peter Horachek, who was fired yesterday.
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Now Stephane Roy says he doesn’t know if the Avs will hire his brother
May 21, 2013, 4:49 PM EDT
(His brother is Patrick Roy.)
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Dallas to unveil new uniforms, make ‘significant announcement’ on June 4
May 21, 2013, 4:20 PM EDT
Ooooh, intrigue.
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Meanwhile, Logan Couture says he’s “all good.”
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Jackets GM Kekalainen: ‘I really don’t care’ if Johansen was unhappy in AHL
May 21, 2013, 4:01 PM EDT
Jarmo, talking tough.
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Montreal’s 27-year-old defenseman was hurt in April while trying to hit Milan Lucic.
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Must win? Sharks’ Boyle says series ‘has to be 2-2′ after tonight
May 21, 2013, 3:02 PM EDT
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San Jose hasn’t lost at HP Pavilion this postseason.
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Edmonton’s new rink is set to open in 2016.
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Devs’ Brodeur ‘thrilled’ to join CBC as guest analyst, will debut Wednesday
May 21, 2013, 2:20 PM EDT
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The panel gets another goalie.
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It’s his old team, Dynamo Moscow.
