POLL - Next Elite Nation

[Jazz]

I thought I'd bump this poll up for our new members

[Paulinho33]

Saluti a tutti!!
As a Canadian who has played 16 seasons in Switzerland, I had to place my vote for the Swiss. In the last 18 years living here i´ve seen how much Swiss hockey has progressed.
My first couple of seasons it was mostly the forieners as the driving force of the highest league ( National liga A )
Many ex-NHL érs ending their careers with big bucks, myself i had the oppertunity to play with guys like Dale McCourt, Mike Rogers, Bill Derlago and Mike Bullard just to name a few.. And the Swiss Nati team was bouncing around in the B-group. The money was spent only on the first team and the junior programm got the left overs.
Now adays such guys ending their career haven´t got a chance.. the Swiss game has become very competative, much quicker and technical and with the help of "younger" forieners the Swiss have learned alot, and World stars such as Peltonen, Nummelin, Hoglund, Hlinka add that extra flair.
The only major problem with the Swiss is that their not tough enough yet, they can skate with the best of them, but if you start using the body they can´t react, and then there is the problem of complexes, they can´t beat teams like Canada or the Czechs because you get the feeling their "scared" to beat such "big" teams,when they get over that watch out. They´ve already got 2 goalies in the NHL, with Gerber and Aebischer, it will just be a matter of time before the first forward or defenceman will break new ground.
I also think the Germans have a good thing going with Hans Zach, also the Danes and Austrians impressed me...
Lets just see what new "surprises" lay ahead next year at the WM in Austria, I think a couple of the hockey powers will be shocked

[TampaLightning]

I hope so. I have always liked Switzerland.

[Thor]

Gurj, great idea! Although, "it is hard to foretell, especially about the future," as the Danish multi-artist and humorist Storm P (1882–1949) used to say.

With those words in mind, the answer is SWITZERLAND – definitely!

The Swiss team is fairly close to the Big 7 and has a steady flow of quality talent. Hockey is solidly rooted in the country and has a respectable infrastructure and money enough. The foundation is certainly in place – as matter a fact, perhaps things come too easy for the Swiss players? I agree with Paulinho33 in that they seem to lack that little extra that makes them train harder and fight harder to become one of the Big. Perhaps they need more hardship in their hockey career in order to obtain the toughness and commitment needed to cut that final edge? Perhaps more Swiss players should go to North America earlier? Switzerland could be part of the Big 8 in 4-6 years.

The runner-up is Germany. The German team is on level with Switzerland, but the flow of quality talent is not as steady and hockey is not as solidly rooted in Germany. Perhaps that is why the Germans on an individual basis seem to have that little extra in commitment and toughness that the Swiss generally lack? It will take 6-8 years for German hockey to further stabilize and really catch on in Germany before it is able to enter the Big… X.

Then we have Austria. The league is finally prospering. In some ways the state of Austrian hockey resembles Swiss hockey of appr. 20 years ago – I guess that was when things started to take shape there. With the speed of things in modern age the Austrians might make it to the Big X in "only" 8-10 years.

We might see Denmark in the quarterfinals within 4-6 years. Regretfully it will not be on a steady basis, because the talent pool is much too small. Actually, the interest to play hockey is quite big but the infrastructure cannot carry more players. It will take ten years before Danish hockey, with an improved infrastructure, can stabilize on a higher level.

What about Latvia? The average age of the Latvian team must be above 32. For the past at least five years the U20 and U18 teams have been ranked around 15th. Within a couple of years Latvia might drop out of top 12. But they will be back because the Latvian infrastructure is improving a lot – and the Latvians just love hockey. Thus, after a setback Latvia might be competitive on the highest level in ten years.

Belarus is trying to build on the momentum from Salt Lake City, but can it make up for the lack of money?

The Ukrainian team probably has an average age higher than the Latvian team, and the U18 team played in Division II this year. It is not likely that Ukraine will be among the Big X for some years to come.

Hungary belongs to the future, or is it the future that belongs to Hungary? Who knows what can happen when hockey catches on in a country as it might be doing in Hungary these years?

[Jazz]

Hey Paulinho.

Thanks for the overview on the Swiss program.

Let me ask you, with players such as Luca Cereda (TOR), Goran Bezina (PHO), Julien Vauclair (OTT), Michel Riesen (EDM), Reto von Arx (CHI) etc all in the past few years being on the cusp of making their respective NHL teams, and now have bolted back to Switzerland after toiling around in the NHL.......

How has that news been received back home?

For example, in Vauclair's case, he got caught up in a number's game in Ottawa, plus the fact that Jacques Martin was more defensive minded in his overall approach. Ottawa GM John Muckler is more offensive minded, and I think he will hire a coach who is like-minded. Vauclair might flourish under these upcoming circumstances, but I understand now he is going to play in Lugano next year.....

Gurj in Vancouver.

[EveB]

My vote for Denmark. I'm really impressed by their style - not giving up even when it's 4-0 (against Fin & Svk this year for instance). They've got the attitude - now they need the skill, and with all these young guys coming Danish hockey future looks bright.

Heja Danmark!

[MarmotMike]

Austria caught my attention. They tied Canada & Switzerland and had a narrow 2:0 loss to the Czech Republic....

[canucksoilersdk]

This is very difficult because there is several teams that have the potential BUT!

I have put my vote on Denmark and that is because of the way that Danish hockey has progressed over the last 15 years.

In placing my vote on Denmark does not mean that i believe that Denmark will be in the BIG group within the next few years but with Denmark in the A group I do not believe that any other team will be able to gain the title as nr 8!

By that I mean that Denmark has proved that they on a good day can beat all of the contending teams and that Denmark has a lot of young talent that in the future will raise the Danish team to better results.

With the progress of Int. hockey today I really do not think that there ever will be a big nr 8 as the rest of the world is slowly geting closer to the big 7!

[TampaLightning]

Austria caught my attention. They tied Canada & Switzerland and had a narrow 2:0 loss to the Czech Republic....





They also I think set a record by opening the tourney's first game in dramatic fashion--with a goal 9 seconds in against France. Even though France was lowly, their 6:0 win over them impressed me. Their draw with Canada impressed me too. They had Switzerland down 4:1, and possibly let up early and got themselves in trouble. Austria was impressive, and was a break or two from being shocking the world this past IHWC.

[Paulinho33]

Howdy Gurj! Hows everything out in old Vancouver town?
A quick answer to your question... First sorry that i´m answering so late,but only have a computer at work at the moment..should be changing soon.. i hope!
Well back to the topic... The Swiss press started asking if the NHL was being predjudice towards the Swiss, but I mean the Swiss players are just too pampered over here and are not used to having to fight for a position in the team, they sign a contract and thy´re there, no real fears of being sent to a minor league team, only maybe having to sit on the bench, but hey when your making about 300 000, who cares!!! They play well in Switzerland,get drafted and think " hey i´m great, i´m in the NHL" but then get fustrated when they get sent to the minors, and head home.. sooner get the big bucks, a team car, appartment and be the "town king" instead of endless bus rides for a thousand bucks a week. I just think it´s a mentallity thing, that hopefully after Gerber and Aebischer made it, will change.
I think it would be wiser for the players to first go to Sweden or Finland such as Marcel Jenni did, he plays in Faerjestad and was noticelly the best Swiss player at the WM, his game is much broader as before.. this was the same route that Gerber took, and next season Martin Plüss will also be playing in Sweden.
To the other guys you mentioned.. Rieson came back and played a horrible season in Davos..Von Arx is probablly the best player on Swiss ice,but doesn´t get along with Krüger, so no nomination in the Nati, and personally Vauclair and Bezina had a terrible Wm.. Bezina looked slow and couldn´t use his size to an advantage.. Vauclair tried to do too much instead of just doing his job, made too many bad passes and dumb penaltys at stupid times...
I just hope the younger generation of plays stick it out and show the world that the Swiss can be reckond with in the NHL.
Have yourself a good one..
Greetings from Switzerland..

[pyr]

I know I´m a rookie here but don´t you think this is a stupid question???
Noone in the next 10 years. Sorry, but forget about it Swiss.

[Paulinho33]

Hi Pyr!
Why a stupid question? I think an 8th team will establish
themselves... looking back at the "old" Canada Cup years of around 76´ the Finns and Americans were getting their doors
blown off... and now their both Hockey powers. And looking back at the last WM, and the teams that were mentioned, the Swiss have a good chance, of course they have still have to learn to be tougher, but hey the Slovaks didn´t win hands down did they now?... Have a great day ;D And a warm welcome
to this homepage Have fun!

[pyr]

Hi Paulinho33

Why is it stupid question? Because I am not Merlin and I´m sure noone of you is Nostradamus. We just can´t say what will happen in the far (remote?) future, something about 10 years. In next ten years noone will join Big7.
Have you mentioned Canada Cup ´76??? It was 28 years ago...

If I may tell you a secret: To be the eighth Hockeygiant, the first requirement is to be able play hockey on both sides of the rink. Simple isn´t it?
But analyse:
They can play hockey... (already now are Germany, Austria and Denmark disqualified) on both sides, not only on their own half. And now is SUI out as well...

P.S. Sorry for that smiley, I have just type three "?"

[pyr]

Oh no, the three "?" again!!
Sorry

[body-czech]

I voted for Switzerland. This country has a good hockey future. And also long hockey tradition.

There are still big differences among nations in hockey though. The biggest obstacle in popularization of ice hockey are climate conditions, but mainly money! Hockey is not from the cheapest sports. Football can play anybody, everywhere. Hockey not. You need ice rinks, and the equipment. THere is one paradox. That Czech Republic and Slovakia are so successful in this sport, despite the climate, which is not too ,,hockey,, and in the world(especially Europe) there are more rich countries, with better conditions and infrastructure. What is the key of the success? Good work with kids and youth. It is according to me the most important thing in all sports. It is like with a child. The early years of his life form his character, and what in this period his parents teach him,on that he will build all his life. Like a good coach. He must lick the players into shape. To recognize a talent, weaknesses and strengths of the player. I am not talking about coach of the professionals, just about coaches of kids, youngsters and juniors........ But anyway, you can bring a horse to the river, but if he will drink from it depends just on him.