4 мин.

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

1

Hello, everyone! I guess the time has come for me to try and put some of my thoughts about ice hockey issues out there - hope you will enjoy it:) So, let the mind race begin!

As I'm writing this, the 2013 IIHF WM is steadily moving towards the play-off round, so it's hightime we looked back on where the 16 proud nations brought us after these exciting/boring/agreeable 12 days.

1. Switzerland

Frankly, I have no idea what kind of "First Aid" these Alpine guys made use of, but obviously it wasn't the fresh mountain air only. They haven't shown anything special, but speed, strength and precision - apparently, that's what it takes to be on the preliminary top. Well, good luck, fellas - way to go versus the Czechs (just make sure you got all the necessary tips from the Norwegians:)

2. Canada

No, I haven't forgotten who invented ice hockey in the first place:) But something tells me you have to be more persuasive than an OT winner against Slovenia to make it at least to the semis - especially, when some 13 000 people around you are of the quite opposite opinion...

3. Finland

They are prepared enough to lift the "home ice" curse: let alone the Finns won't be entirely at home if they reach the final game - Jukka Jalonen needs good practice to help his money/powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg "shine bright like Gagarin" in the next year's KHL season. Well, we'll see...

4-6. Russia, USA and Sweden

Dear Ivan, Jonny and Jon! With this let me express my heartfelt gratitude for allowing all IIHF WM fans the lovely opportunity to remember May 16, 2013 as the day when Top-4 crossed sticks against each other only a bit less than "too early":) It's gonna be legen...wait for it...(c) Yeah, really - it's a mere day away!!!

7. Czech Republic

Ups and downs, for better or worse, blessing in disguise - there's still a lot more to the fact they finally did it, but I'm not going to take much of your time describing what a set of highly skillful players led by an experienced and incredibly lucky head coach is capable of. As the mountain hasn't come to Alois, the Czechs will come to the Alps.

8. Slovakia

Vladimir Vujtek knew exactly what he was saying about 50/50 chance of going either to the play-offs or to the lower division: no consistency, not a slight hint at stability - pure hardcore be it! Any other ideas why the guy surnamed Satan became captain of this team?? Same here: no other chance to beat the Finns, except for using some supernatural powers:)

9. Norway

Almost made it, nearly climbed their way to a next straight Top-8 round - nice try, guys, but you forgot one important thing - to actually play against last year's bronze medalists in the decisive game! I'm sorry, no offence, but... no defence or anything of the kind either. Hope to see Thoresen & Co in full swing at the Olympics!

10. Germany

Forget about rush, haste or any such thing: Germans know both their way and their place. And there's little chance they will surrender to the grief of "no Sochi" next February. On the contrary, they will use the upcoming 12 months to learn their lesson and be as much prepared to Minsk in 2014 as any Germans have ever been.

11-12. Latvia and France

These two teams must have met before the WM to draft a masterplan or something: beating reigning runner-up and champion respectively without qualifying to the play-offs - it's a conspiracy plan worth trying to emulate. Especially, if Top-8 hasn't been your case now for 4 years/ever - glad for both the Latvians and French and best of luck!

13. Denmark

Don't have much to say about Princes Charming this year - at least, nothing is rotten in the state of Mermaid:) Game results - one of each kind accompanied by 4 losses - will hardly make you think of something positive, but the fact there's always some room for improvement. Or, rather a bicycle lane, for that matter...

14. Austria

"We're going to Sochi, nah-nah nah nah-nah! We shot out ranking's #6, nah-nah nah nah-nah! In any case, we will be back (c), nah-nah nah nah-nah!" - that's exactly how I would cheer myself up, if I were in Austrian shoes (which I don't even have, though). Came to Helsinki, had some fun, will most likely visit the neighbouring Czechs in two years' time - C U, guys!

15. Belarus

See: title of the article or this.

16. Slovenia

Copy+Paste a part of the Latvian-and-French masterplan (switch 'reigning finalists' to 'founding fathers' and 'final result' to 'close enough') and the cheer song of the Austrians. One, two, three - and here you are: hopefully, Slovenians will "make some noise!" (c) at the ice hockey resort next winter:)

P.S. Big thank you to traktor_bang, Soulguy, Begbie and Jari Litmanen - you made many of my days and so inspired me to do it myself! Please, don't be too harsh on me if you ever happen to read this - or do... I cannot even tell which is better:)

P.P.S. I love you very much, my bunny!!!