The Official GMHockey 2010 Winter Olympics Thread - All Talk Here!

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's definitely far from a failure. We are a virtual lock for Gold or Silver in Womens Hockey, Womens Curling and Mens Curling. Should all those be Gold that's 8 Gold and 13 Medals right there. I'm not sure about our hopes in other events but we can probably expect a few more right? How many golds have we gotten in our most successful games?

7 Gold marks our most successful games at both Turin and Salt Lake City. There is also the 4 men bobsleigh that we could medal in, in addition to the sports you mentioned as well as Men's Aerials we've got 3 guys in the final, with Women's aerials still to come. 15 medals isn't out of the question.

I think 15 medals would be right around where we should finish, although the high watermark would be about 18-19 in my opinion.

stempniaksen wrote:I think 15 medals would be right around where we should finish, although the high watermark would be about 18-19 in my opinion.

18-19 sounds high. What events are you think of to reach that number?

We've accounted for 4 in Hockey/Curling and potential others in aerials and bobsleigh.

Oh Dung! I almost forgot about the long track team pursuits, and the Women's 5000M which Hughes could do really well in. There's also the relay in short track I believe.

hemlock wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's definitely far from a failure. We are a virtual lock for Gold or Silver in Womens Hockey, Womens Curling and Mens Curling. Should all those be Gold that's 8 Gold and 13 Medals right there. I'm not sure about our hopes in other events but we can probably expect a few more right? How many golds have we gotten in our most successful games?

7 Gold marks our most successful games at both Turin and Salt Lake City. There is also the 4 men bobsleigh that we could medal in, in addition to the sports you mentioned as well as Men's Aerials we've got 3 guys in the final, with Women's aerials still to come. 15 medals isn't out of the question.

I sure hope we hit at least 8 gold so we can promote the fact that it's our most successful Olympics from that aspect of the games and continue to develop our athletes and maybe even put more resources into it.

From my perspective I feel that we have failed the athletes. We fail to credit them for the commitment that the undertake knowing that there will be little fan fare, or money in return. Many freely give up to 10 years of their lives to participate in sports that a very very small fraction of even sports watching Canadians pay attention to other than the brief 2 weeks during the Olympics.

In return for this sacrifice, many Canadians criticize their 4th, 5th, 40th placings and heap expectations of gold, silver and bronze on them. Sure when they win we adore them and they get to reap the benefits with endorsements that set them up and finally reward them for all the time they spent near the poverty line just trying to compete in a sport that they love.

Really, be honest here people, how many of you pay attention to biathlon or world cup cross country ski races outside of the Olympics. How many log onto the Canadian Luge Association site during their season to check standings and progress, or watch to see how our short track speed skaters have done during their season?

I am disgusted at myself for I am one of you, I never thought once to spend extra time keeping up with their accomplishments and giving them the due respect that they deserve.

Yes they have not performed as well these last two weeks as we and especially they hoped, but really, we should apologize to them for not treating them and their sport with the respect they deserve. I plan to send a letter to TSN, S-NET and CBC asking that they look at broadcasting (even if it's via another countries feed) more of their competitions so we can start to as a country appreciate what they do for us.

Oh and just so you know, I had a conversation with the mother of an athlete from another country recently and she informed me that according to her daughter, there isn't a sport, that she is aware of where the Canadian athletes are not respected and cherished for their friendship and respect that they show to others.

I would not switch podium places with the U.S. in a hundred years if it meant we would have to give that up. No, we are not as good at winning as maybe the U.S. is, but we will always, be invited to the after party, and once, all the fanfare dies down and everyone has gone home, many south of the border will have nothing left to hold onto, where us up north will have forged relationships that will last a life time.

Devo

Well said. That earned you a +.

hemlock wrote:

stempniaksen wrote:I think 15 medals would be right around where we should finish, although the high watermark would be about 18-19 in my opinion.

18-19 sounds high. What events are you think of to reach that number?

We've accounted for 4 in Hockey/Curling and potential others in aerials and bobsleigh.

Oh Dung! I almost forgot about the long track team pursuits, and the Women's 5000M which Hughes could do really well in. There's also the relay in short track I believe.

2 in hockey, 2 in curling

Other possibilities would be Bobsleigh, Aerials, Speeskating (lots left), Women's figure skating (outside shot at the podium?), Women's ski cross (no idea) and a few snowboard events left.

I honestly think we could get 20 medals, but I'm only expecting about 15.

Well said Devo.

Sidenote: I think the networks should be disgusted, as must of the people watching these games don't actually know which Canadians are actual medal threats and which are basically develpoing at these Olympics.

Everytime a Canadian steps up to compete, the commentators instant start talking about how great they are and how the should be in medal contention, when they just aren't yet.

Honestly watch and listen to how, apparently, every Canadian athlete should be podium bound in these olympics.

It's depressing.

(I will say though, for those that don't watch Luge/skeleton races when they are on TV, your missing out. They're much more entertaining during World cup races and independent events.)

Nice post Devo. Repped.

M_Christopher wrote:Well said Devo.

Sidenote: I think the networks should be disgusted, as must of the people watching these games don't actually know which Canadians are actual medal threats and which are basically develpoing at these Olympics.

Everytime a Canadian steps up to compete, the commentators instant start talking about how great they are and how the should be in medal contention, when they just aren't yet.

Honestly watch and listen to how, apparently, every Canadian athlete should be podium bound in these olympics.

It's depressing.

(I will say though, for those that don't watch Luge/skeleton races when they are on TV, your missing out. They're much more entertaining during World cup races and independent events.)

That's part of the issue. Alort of the time our athletes shouldn't even be considered as medal threats, but get hyped up beyond belief because of 'familiarity with the track/course/rink' that is way overblown.

Devo wrote:From my perspective I feel that we have failed the athletes. We fail to credit them for the commitment that the undertake knowing that there will be little fan fare, or money in return. Many freely give up to 10 years of their lives to participate in sports that a very very small fraction of even sports watching Canadians pay attention to other than the brief 2 weeks during the Olympics.

In return for this sacrifice, many Canadians criticize their 4th, 5th, 40th placings and heap expectations of gold, silver and bronze on them. Sure when they win we adore them and they get to reap the benefits with endorsements that set them up and finally reward them for all the time they spent near the poverty line just trying to compete in a sport that they love.

Really, be honest here people, how many of you pay attention to biathlon or world cup cross country ski races outside of the Olympics. How many log onto the Canadian Luge Association site during their season to check standings and progress, or watch to see how our short track speed skaters have done during their season?

I am disgusted at myself for I am one of you, I never thought once to spend extra time keeping up with their accomplishments and giving them the due respect that they deserve.

Yes they have not performed as well these last two weeks as we and especially they hoped, but really, we should apologize to them for not treating them and their sport with the respect they deserve. I plan to send a letter to TSN, S-NET and CBC asking that they look at broadcasting (even if it's via another countries feed) more of their competitions so we can start to as a country appreciate what they do for us.

Oh and just so you know, I had a conversation with the mother of an athlete from another country recently and she informed me that according to her daughter, there isn't a sport, that she is aware of where the Canadian athletes are not respected and cherished for their friendship and respect that they show to others.

I would not switch podium places with the U.S. in a hundred years if it meant we would have to give that up. No, we are not as good at winning as maybe the U.S. is, but we will always, be invited to the after party, and once, all the fanfare dies down and everyone has gone home, many south of the border will have nothing left to hold onto, where us up north will have forged relationships that will last a life time.

Devo

I don't think you need to be an ardent follower nor a huge fan of all the winter events in order to be a supporter of our Canadian athletes personally. I do see where you are coming from though. I have personally been a big fan of bringing in more support in terms of finance and research. These athletes absolutely sacrifice and they should be supported not just if they win a medal but throughout their lives as athletes.

Again I don't think that you have to follow them closely to be a supporter just don't get up in arms when the suggestion of putting money into Canadian sports is brought up. It benefits our Country as a whole and those with tunnel vision suggesting the money is better spent on our Social safety net are totally missing the big picture here.

1-0 Belarus.

Wow, a minute into the game.

Would love to see 2002 repeat, except Belarus upsets the States instead of Sweden. We're well on our way, lol.

Ashleigh McIvor is 2nd (2/100th behind) after the qualifying run of the women's Ski Cross.

wprager wrote:Ashleigh McIvor is 2nd (2/100th behind) after the qualifying run of the women's Ski Cross.

Qualifying times really dont mean much in ski-cross. Although it looks like no canadians will meet each other in at least the 1st round.

The women beat the Brits in curling. They have one more match in the round-robin portion against the Russians. Looks like they are going to go undefeated.

Edit: Oops, they lost one match, it appears, but they've already qualified for the semis.

wprager wrote:The women beat the Brits in curling. They have one more match in the round-robin portion against the Russians. Looks like they are going to go undefeated.

Edit: Oops, they lost one match, it appears, but they've already qualified for the semis.

Its accutually the Great Brits as there from Scotland, either way ive been very impressed with her seeing as she is only 19 years old, and not to bad looking either.