Alter: Regional teams could impact World Cup's present, future
When the World Cup of Hockey arrives once every 12 years, or three times every 20 years, spectators aren't really sure what to expect.
There are six countries represented in Canada, United States, Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Czech Republic. Then there are the other two teams … Team North America and Team Europe.
The format is new and the feelings about it are mixed. But many are just looking at it for what it is … a best-on-best tournament.
"It's still kind of hard to wrap your head around your playing against a couple of makeshift teams, certainly I think it's feeding a lot of buzz and excitement,” said Canada forward John Tavares. "I think it's great to have the best players and some guys that may never have this opportunity. But, for me I think, it is great to have a maybe a one off (of this format) and then maybe you go back to the original. Maybe (the) eight best countries in the world have a true sort of traditional international tournament."
Tavares remembers watching the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. The tournament format was exactly how it was described, with the same teams involved, but sub out Slovakia and Germany for Team North America and Team Europe.
But the 2016 World Cup is off to a rolling start. With the pre-tournament schedule opening with games between top rivals, there's added motivation to be at your best. The end result is a high-paced, non-tentative style of play you wouldn’t normally expect in early September.
"(The pre-tournament games) have felt like real games too. There is actual tension between us and Sweden," said Finnish defenceman Olli Maatta. “You didn't see guys kind of laid back at all and everyone was going 100 percent. So I'm pretty sure it's going to get better when tournament starts.”
No time to settle in
In early September, players are usually just getting ready to report to NHL camps. There is a gradual build up to the beginning of the season.
"Here, it's such a short time frame to really try to get yourself prepared, especially coming off of the summer," said Tavares. "And I think you know how crucial each game is once the tournament starts."
Canada took on the United States in their opening games and the intensity was felt by both nations.
“Your first pre-season games were against Team Canada so they haven’t been much of an exhibition game. You’re really jumping into the fire and it hasn’t been that gradual,” said Team USA goaltender Ben Bishop.
From an execution standpoint, having the rivals open the tournament has created the necessary hype the competition needs.
It’ll be a little weird
We won’t see any Team North America/Team Canada or Team North America/Team USA matches until after the round-robin stage because Team North America (consisting of Canadian and American players 23 years old and under) is in a different group. But if/when it happens, there's no telling what it will feel like.
"Well, it's hard to say because it’s never happened before," said Tavares. "But if it does, we have this approach where we just look at the opponent and approach it like they are an opponent like in any other game."
Team North America's identity
The young guns have built up some momentum after wins in the pre-tournament stages. Their speed has been an asset, but how they measure up to Team Canada and Team USA will be the toughest tests.
"I think that we’ve kind of found ourselves pretty quickly and tried to build a team identity for the most part,” said North American forward Jack Eichel. "I think that whole feeling out process has kind of passed us. We all know what type of players we are. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be in the situation that we are. I think for us, more than anything, it’s just sticking to our identity."
One thing appears to be clear: Team North America and Team Europe could perhaps have the biggest influence in the entire tournament. If either side does well and wins the competition, it justifies the overall setup. If they fail, the World Cup of Hockey could look different the next time it happens, whenever that is.