dom

Fixed. Lets be realistic and fair shall we...

dom

Bobby Ryan the big name left off. I suspect Brian Burke had something to do with that. He was quoted as saying Ryan isn't Intense and doesn't have the word intense in his vocabulary. I suspect Burke is butt hurt over something.

black label

That's a pink hat, not a fan.

dom

So have to give the NHL credit when credit is do. That was one hell of a show they put on yesterday. Over 105K. Even with 2 lousy teams who appeared even worse because of the ice conditions that was a hell of a good show.

Unfortunately, that's as good as it gets. How can they possibly top that?

black label

Have 2 good teams play?

dom

In what stadium? Gary was on TO radio this morning explaining what a perfect storm it was. Teams and Location. 60K of the people there were Leaf fans apparently. Would 50 or 60K Hawk or Bruin fans shown up in the Big House against Detroit? It will be hard to find more rabid fans and be able to fit them in to a stadium that big.

black label

Maybe I heard incorrectly but I thought they said it was the largest stadium in the US so finding a bigger location might require building it.

Habs vs Bruins at Gillette, those stinking frenchies would infest the Foxboro like termites at yummy's family reunion.

Yumcha

Looking forward to the Pens/Hawks outdoor tilt later.

Moog-Type-S

Better winter classic than last year...but last year's was so bad, 2 bad teams in the Big House was a huge improvement.

I was gonna throw my beer at the TV (or myself off the roof) if I had to hear Mike Emrick say "a shot that misses THE CAGE"

...just stop with THE CAGE schtick.....it's not witty, it's not current, it's a piss poor "trade mark" for your game calling.

dom

To be honest I wasn't sure if there was a bigger stadium in the US. thought maybe the Rose Bowl. Point being, even if they used the Big House again, would they get 105K? Doubt it. Unless it was a playoff game between Toronto and Detroit.

dom

The CBC feed went down for about 10 minutes so they had to go to the international broadcast. Lets just say I'm thankful I could watch it on NBC.

Yumcha

When are they announcing the rosters for the other countries (i.e. Canada, Russia, Sweden)...?

black label

I think the key to success is 2 rabid fan bases separated by a drivable distance. The longer the distance the less travel you'll get.

If the B's played the habs in either Montreal or Boston you'd get a near 50/50 mix of fans. If it was B's vs Vancouver the stadium would be dominated by the home teams fans.

Moog-Type-S

^^ Not really a sound theory....just watch how bad the stadium series games are going to be.

dom

Can is Jan 7. Not sure on the others.

dom

Yep, This was the perfect storm of rabid fan bases and location. IMO, a Canadian team/local fan base is what's needed to get over 100K.

And to Moog's point, lets see what these other game look like. Apparently the game at Dodger Stadium isn't even close to selling out.

Not sure what the NHL was thinking with all these outdoor games in one year. Stroke of brilliance on one hand and stupidity on the other.

black label

I know that for the Fenway park winter classic, demand for tickets far outweighed the supply. Fenway is bigger than a hockey stadium but still small for a baseball field, I think it's about 45000 capacity. At some point you could run out of fans to fill a stadium but I think Boston fans could easily fill 60-80k seats by themselves.

dom

Are these the same Boston fans that are Happy Sidney Crosby isn't on the US team? Wait until they see Bergeron suiting up for Canada. Their heads may explode.

black label

I've already been over that. We have fans and we have pink hats. Pink hats show up because "it's cool to be a fan" but they don't have the slightest clue what they are talking about.

The real Boston/USA fans are only slightly bummed out that Krug didn't make the roster but being real fans we knew it was a long shot.

dom

Wait, only one potential Olympic Yank on the B's roster?

Oh right they're mostly made up of Canadians which is why they're so good.

black label

We're an international bunch, bruins will represent Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, and the people's republik of kanuckistan. We would have had Germany too but Seidenberg is broken.

Moog-Type-S

Yankee stadium games are not selling very well either (depending on game)
NHL is giving away $50 in merch with ticket orders, and tickets have been discounted too.

LA game will be "sold out", but they just screwed the pooch with poor marketing, and insane ticket pricing. If they had better marketing, and ticket pricing, this event would have sold out months ago, rather than barely getting sold out by game day.

Moog-Type-S

....and the NHL wins the award for beating the NFL for the absolute worst selection in music artist to perform at the Winter Classic.

Who were those clowns that were performing?!?!?!?


FWIW, it only gets worse with KISS performing at the LA Stadium game.

dom

I was wondering that myself.

Moog-Type-S

^^ I heard Fibi has all their records. :wink:

Rounder

They left off some people that really should have made it over others. Bobby Ryan and Okposo come to mind as well as Yandle.

Maybe they will prove me wrong but I am a doubter right now. Canada is too strong as is Russia.

Yumcha

I would've taken Ryan over Wheeler. But, hey...there are some pretty competent men on the USA selection committee. And ultimately, they chose many good 2-way players overall.

And Russia looks good but, that D doesn't seem to scare anyone IMO. With that lack of blueline depth combined with a no-name goalie squad...they may have issues keeping the puck out of the net.



For me, the top teams are: Canada, USA, and Sweden...

Rounder

i would take canadas top 5 (crosby stamkos tavares toews giroux) before i take an american forward if i had an olympic fantasy team.

edit: ok pat kane ahead of giroux and maybe tavares...but that's it.

Yumcha

Sure...but, it's more than just the Top 5 players. Hockey is a team sport and it will take 4 good lines to win Gold.

Moog-Type-S

Not thinking about defense or two-way players.......ah they Pengoon fan.

dom

So ummmm is what Brian Burke was quoted as saying about Bobby Ryan in that Burnside article all over the news up there? It is here. Ryan called him gutless today.

I have to imagine the US brain trust didn't realize Burnside was going to be quoting them.

Bobby Ryan should have written out "Intense" on a piece of paper and mailed it to Burke.

dom

Not won on paper. Don't you yanks remember how close that Gold medal game was?

And Stamkos practiced in full gear today Thinking of Crosby and Stamkos on the same line gives me a chubby.

Moog-Type-S

meh...Burke just didn't want to taint Team USA with too much of the Sucks.

black label

I wouldn't count Finland out yet.

dom

Maybe..... only Ryan was traded to Ottawa last summer.

dom

What's with you and your love of Finland?

Yumcha

Rask tuuka his heart.

Yumcha

black label

They have a very competitive international hockey program and have for some time.

dom

The Finns have always had a respectable program and I'm sure they're a lovely people. But they've always been that 5th or 6th best team internationally. Behind Canada, Russia, USA, Sweden and the Czechs.

Been like that in the Juniors as well.