It's all a gimmick, they said. Nothing but a cash grab - and phrases alike - poured from cynics mouths as an under-23 team, from both Canada and the USA, was announced as participants in the modernized World Cup of Hockey.
Boy is that a distant memory.
After three round-robin games, North America might not advance. But whether they live to fight another day or not, the young guns' impact has already turned the much-criticized tournament into a smashing success.
It's a no-brainer that best-on-best hockey in the middle of September blows split-squad preseason games out of the water, but with the pace and artistry these kids play with, it's become must-watch television whenever they take the ice.
That's not an exaggeration:
@NHL what a ending...it can't get better than this..wow👏
— Teemu Selanne (@TeemuSel8nne) September 21, 2016
If there is a hockey God Team North America will play another game.
— David Amber (@DavidAmber) September 21, 2016
I want to watch @TeamNA_WCH every night.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) September 21, 2016
The kids are showing the future of the NHL is in a great spot, whether it be by Nathan MacKinnon's electric hands, Connor McDavid's blazing speed, or Auston Matthews inspiring the Air Canada Centre crowd to chant his name before he's even suited up for his actual home fans.
Not only is North America bringing fans to the edge of their seats, the on-ice result is working. Every game they've been neck and neck - or better than - the international giants of the sport. If not for one disastrous period versus Russia - which they came within inches of erasing - this team would have locked up first place in Group B with Wednesday's win.
Instead, with their own fate out of their hands, North America, along with the rest of the hockey world, anxiously await the result of a game that could strip us, or provide us, with at least one more taste of some of the most entertaining hockey we've ever seen.
