Hockey Isn’t Over, Folks – The 2010 IIHF World Championships in Germany

By Kate Crowder

For many NHLer’s, the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championships represent a bittersweet continuation to their hockey seasons. The Worlds is often held in May, and is therefore an opportunity for players ousted from the Stanley Cup playoffs to compete for their country on a stage that holds little sway with North American (particularly American) hockey fans. Not to say there’s no interest: this year, four Caps, as well as a handful of former Caps, will compete for their countries on the ice in Germany, the site of the 2010 tournament. Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Semyon Varlamov for Russia (joined by former Caps Sergei Fedorov, Viktor Kozlov and Sergei Gonchar), and Brooks Laich for Canada. Never heard of the IIHF World Championships? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. But, outside of North America, the World Championships have a tremendous following, gathering fans from all over Europe and Russia together to celebrate hockey’s international talents. Remember, European and Russian clubs have a history of competing internationally, much more so than the North American based teams who have, of course, been focused on competing for the NHL’s ultimate trophy, the Stanley Cup.

Think back, for instance, during the days of Soviet Union, when Viktor Tikhonov’s famed and feared Red Army team used to terrorize international squads with its 5 man units. The Soviets were a force that set the tone for international competition throughout the entirety of the 1970s’s and 1980’s until the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. The ‘Red Army machine’ was a symbol of the USSR’s athletic prowess during the Cold War years, using sport to send a political message.

Enough history, but you catch my drift. What may seem simply like an opportunity to play a few more rounds of relegation hockey for North American players may have more significance to those from abroad. But no matter how we – the fans – may see it, there is no arguing that players proudly answer the call for their country when asked, and they play to win for the crest or emblem on the front of their national jerseys. "Everyone knows why I come to the Russian national team," Ovechkin told Sovetsky Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov before the start of the tournament. "I want to play for my country."

But Caps fans may be familiar with the World Championships because of Russia’s historic victory in 2008 – in which Ovechkin, Semin and Fedorov were significant contributors – when Russian defeated Mike Green’s Canadian squad in Quebec for a long sought after gold medal. Yep, we’ve all seen the video of that crazy locker room celebration, with the blasting Russian techno (don’t hate) and Ovechkin calling everyone in his cellphone to spread the news of Russia’s victory. The Russians of course returned to the IIHF World Championships in May of 2009 (while the Capitals were busy battling the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round Two), and won yet another gold medal. Good mojo leading up to the Olympics, right? Wrong.

After a collapse of historic proportions against the eventual-gold-medal-winning Canadians, the Russians were left with a bad taste in their mouths, as their high powered team was forced to swallow an early exit from the Vancouver Games. However, with their strong play at this year’s Worlds, the Russians are not looking to make amends for their poor showing in Vancouver. The Olympic stage and the one of the World Champs are hardly the same. As Ovechkin told Lysenkov, "The World Championship is the tournament of another level. We're going to Germany to retain our title [i.e. reigning gold medalists]. I hope that we will end a string of bad luck in

Cologne and start from a new page."

Cologne, Ovi? JA!! This year’s World Championships is in Germany, and after kicking off on May 7th, it has now progressed to the elimination rounds. So how have our Capitals fared?

First, Team Russia. Head Coach Slava Bykov’s Russian team looks somewhat similar to the team he brought to Vancouver, with the exception of his goaltenders (one who is out with an injury, and the other who is actually still playing in the NHL playoffs). But Russia’s heavy hitters up front are the same: Ovechkin, Semin, Malkin, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, Fedorov…and the list goes on. Russia, through two rounds, is undefeated, having buried the Slovaks, the Belarusians, the hosting Germans, the Kazakhstani team, the Danes (6-1) and the Finns (5-0). At the end of two rounds, Ovechkin is 2nd overall in goals scored with 5, only one behind Canada’s/the New York Islanders’ highly touted rookie, John Tavares. However, 4 of his 5 goals have been Game Winning Goals, which is just a little bit ironic if you’re looking at it from the perspective of a Caps fan. His 5 goals also make him Team Russia’s highest goal scorer, although Ilya Kovalchuk has 7 points to Ovechkin’s 6. Kovalchuk and Ovechkin are 4th and 7th, respectively, in overall scoring. And remember how Alex Semin just couldn’t score against Jaroslav Halak? And against even what little we saw of Carey Price? Well, and again this is painfully ironic if you’re a Caps fan, Semin has one goal in 6 games played, and with his 4 assists, his 5 points make him (on paper) one of the more productive members of Team Russia. Varlamov is also having an excellent tournament, continuing his strong work between the pipes that we saw during the Caps’ first round series. He leads all goaltenders in save percentage (96.67%) and goals against average (1.00), and he finished off the first two rounds with a shut-out. Not bad. Not bad at all.

With their strong play in the preliminary and qualifying rounds, the Russians have earned themselves a spot in the Playoff Round, where they will face, starting on Thursday May 20th, Team Canada. Which brings us to the Canadians, and Brooks Laich.

Canada’s team is a shadow of the all-star roster that was assembled for the Vancouver Games – a group that was eventually left victorious as Caps fans know all too well – however, along with Brooks Laich, the Canadians have brought an impressive group of youngsters to Germany. Names such as Steve Downie, Corey Perry, John Tavares, Tyler Myers, Steve Stamkos and Matt Duchene should all ring a bell with NHL fans. Despite the young talent and their secured spot in the Playoff Round, the Canadians have not fared as well as the Russians. In 6 games played, the squad bearing the red maple leaf is 3-3, losing to the Swiss, the (Nicklas Backstrom-less) Swedes and the Czechs. However, they did have a blow-out victory over Norway by the final score of 12-1…I mean, when was the last time you saw that in the NHL? Iron-man Brooks Laich has – of course – played in all 6 games, and has one goal, and is a plus-1.

Some other interesting notes from the tourney:

The United States has struggled, but much like the Canadians, the roster they brought to Germany was a near shadow of the silver medal winning group that was assembled for the Olympics in February. Team USA finds themselves now in the relegation round – embarrassing after such a great showing in Vancouver – having fallen to Germany, Denmark, Finland, and France. Team USA’s only victories to date are over the Kazakhstanis (10-1) and over the Italians (3-2). Ryan Miller, Team USA needs you.

The United States lost to the French team. Yes, the United States. Lost. To the French Team. There are so many things wrong here I don’t know where to start.

Wait, the French have an ice hockey team? As they say in France, quoi?

After Pittsburgh’s elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Team Canada hero Sidney Crosby decided against joining the Canadian team in Germany, although not without some controversy. But come on people, he’s played a lot of hockey in the past 3 years. Isn’t it OK to just want a break? By the same token of course, you have to celebrate those players who continually suit up for their countries.

But if you’re anything like me, you’re still thinking, "There’s still hockey going on? No, no no…that can’t be."

Thanks everyone, and follow me on Twitter, @katec0223