Cheers, Táta: Czechs beat Russia 2-1 to win gold
by Dominik on May 24, 2010 1:42 AM EDT
Email
Print
Yesterday I met an Algerian-French woman who remarked that my first name is French. I had to explain that actually, it's not like that, as my name ends in a "k" the way it's often spelled by Czechs. Longtime readers know it was my Czech-American father who introduced me to hockey, and who led me to follow Al Arbour's Islanders. Take your typical "...but through sports, father and son found a connection" cliche and apply it there.
So forgive me this moment as I toast an event my dad would have loved: the Czech Republic's stunning World Championships gold-medal victory over a star-packed Russia. The political events that make this kind of upset a big deal are receding into history, but suffice to say those events are what made my father flee to this country, and what forced him to spend the middle 42 years of his life without seeing his homeland. So Czech(oslovakia) vs. Russia was always more than a game in our house.
Thank you, Tomas Vokoun and your many near-anonymous teammates who play in the Czech Extraliga. You ended Russia's 27-game winning streak. You won your sixth gold since the split with Slovakia. You knocked off Russia for gold for the first time in 34 years. You made more people than you know smile.
7 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
and your many near-anonymous teammates
Come on, everyone has heard of Petr Hubacek, Jakob Klepis and Petr Vampola. Seriously though, first to knock off Canuckistan, Finland and the Swedes on the way to the finals was impressive enough with that roster, but beating the Russians is an amazing feat.
Now the real question is what’s next for Czech hockey. Their problems in player development of late has been well documented here. The core of what made the team so good over the past decade in a half is now getting up there. Jagr is now 38(!), Vokun is 33, Hejduk is 34 and hasn’t played for the Czechs since Turin, only God knows what’s going on with Martin Havlat. Does this win help jump start, or at the very least, aide the sagging hockey development program?
Mighty Mighty Metro!
Does this win help jump start, or at the very least, aide the sagging hockey development program?
I can only hope. Not sure if the ’98 Olympic gold had that hoped-for effect.
I guess the other option is to get every Czech player to treat every hockey game like it’s against Russia.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
On the sunny side, even though the roster is fairy anonymous there were only four on the roster over the age of 30 (Jagr, Vokun, Rozsival and Gregorak). Maybe you have this group play together for a couple of years and you get something like Belarus in 2002, a very close knit team that outplays the All Stars at Sochi because they’re actually a team.
Friends don't let friends buy from CA.
by David Hanssen on May 24, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Wonder if they’ll get the old preferential treatment for showing up, too. At the beginning of the tourney, Jagr was miffed that some of the young talent wasn’t participating.
By the way, that Cervenka is a big scorer in the Extraliga, and Jagr naturally says he should be in the NHL. I think he’s about 24, but undersized. And Jagr has curious judgment.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
Well, lets see how he does in the KHL before seeing if he comes state side. He signed a 2 year deal with Avangard Omsk today.
As for undersized, He’s 5’11", 187 or about the same size as Franz. I don’t consider that undersized in Today’s NHL©.
Friends don't let friends buy from CA.
by David Hanssen on May 25, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Oooh, cool!
That’s probably a better fit anyway. He’s likely to get a better chance in the KHL as the guy who helped defeat Russia rather than in the NHL as “some smallish guy Jagr likes who won some tournament we don’t pay attention to.”
Fair enough on his size if he can handle it, though that is still below average for Today’s and Yesterday’s NHL©.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lighthouse Hockey
Related FanShots on Lighthouse Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
Next 5 Games
Florida
|
Sun 02/12 | 3:00 PM EST |
|
@
Winnipeg
|
Tue 02/14 | 8:30 PM EST |
|
@
St. Louis
|
Thu 02/16 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
Carolina
|
Sat 02/18 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Ottawa
|
Mon 02/20 | 1:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
Los Angeles
|
Sat 02/11 | OT - W 2 - 1 |
|
Montreal
|
Thu 02/09 | L 2 - 4 |
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Tue 02/07 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
|
Buffalo
|
Sat 02/04 | SO - L 3 - 4 |
|
@
Ottawa
|
Fri 02/03 | OT - W 2 - 1 |
Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Rangers
|
52 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 73 |
|
Philadelphia
|
54 | 31 | 16 | 7 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
54 | 31 | 19 | 4 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
54 | 30 | 19 | 5 | 65 |
|
New York Islanders
|
53 | 22 | 23 | 8 | 52 |
(updated 2.11.2012 at 8:02 AM EST)
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- The Chicago Blackhawks’ seven-game losing streak is bad for everybody
- According to NHL, here’s why Dominic Moore escaped suspension for Fedotenko hit
- How Mats Sundin’s no-trade clause controversy made fans reconsider loyalty in NHL
- Nordiques Nation invades Hockey Day in Canada
- Youth hockey coach, parents clash over alleged tirade over 9-year old’s 200th goal puck
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
