Day 10: Russia v. Czech Repubic

Started in Row 7...moved to Row 1....Pam got a puck...

Scott's Pics:


Pam's Pics:

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Day 10: Super Sunday!

Woohoo! Super Sunday is here!!

If you need me, I'll be 7 rows behind the benches for the Russia-Czech Republic game...or after that...10 rows behind the net for the Canada-USA game.

Jen and Beth also arrive in town today....they're on the train right now...so all around, its a pretty good day!

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Figure Skating - Men's Long Program

Long Program, here we go, BRING IT ON!!

Chipeur (Canada) - 57.22 - 24th after the short program
-I hope he has a good skate, just for himself
-triple axal, he singled... boo
-triple flip, double toe was great
-triple lutz
-triple loop
-triple axel, he singled again. He's known for his triple axel, but he didn't land ONE at the Olympics
-triple sow was perfect
-double axel
-triple lutz, double toe, doubt toe
-not what he had hoped for at the Olympics, too bad. He's much better than this.
TOTAL SCORE - 170.92

Chipeur

Kozuka (Japan) - 79.59 - 8th after the short program
-quad toe - I think was two footed
-triple axel, triple toe
-triple lutz, double toe
-triple sow, double toe, double loop
-triple axel he fell (and hard! ow!)
-triple flip
-triple loop
-triple lutz
-too bad he didn't land that triple axel, he would have really had a shot at a bronze medal!
TOTAL SCORE - 231.19


Ten (Kazakhstan) - 76.24 - 10th after the short program
-triple axel he stepped out of the landing
-triple axel, triple toe
-triple lutz
-triple flip he lost the edge of his blade on the landing, but held on
-triple loop
-triple lutz, double toe, double loop
-triple sow
-double axel
-double axel
TOTAL SCORE - 211.25


Van Den Perren (Belgium) - 72.90 - 12th after the short program
-triple axel
-triple axel, double toe (I think he touched the ice on the axel landing)
-triple flip, triple toe (he touched the ice on the landing of the flip)
-triple lutz - he doubled
-singled a triple sow
-triple sow, triple toe
-triple sow
-double axel
TOTAL SCORE - 189.84


Amodio (France) - 75.35 - 11th after the short program
-double axel
-triple axel - he stepped out of the landing
-triple loop
-triple axel, double toe
-triple sow, double toe
-triple lutz (it was supposed to be a combo, he missed it)
-triple flip
-doubled a triple lutz
TOTAL SCORE -  210.30


Chan (Canada) - 81.12 - 7th after the short program
-Ok, Patrick, have the skate of your life and prove me wrong! (PLEASE!)
-triple axel, double toe was perfect!
-triple flip, triple toe was great
-triple lutz, he stepped out of the landing
-triple axel he fell
-triple lutz, double toe, double loop
-triple loop
-triple sow
-double axel
-too bad, other than the fall, it was a good skate. He won't get a medal because of that fall. HAHA, Elizabeth Manley just said "my heart is just... empty right now". WOW, that's kind of... pathetic.
TOTAL SCORE - 241.42

 Chan

Brezina (Czech  Republic) - 78.80 - 9th after the short program
-triple axel
-triple flip
-triple sow
-triple axel, double toe
-triple flip, double toe
-double axel
-triple lutz, he fell
-single axel, double toe, double loop
TOTAL SCORE - 216.73


Lysacek (USA) - 90.30 - 2nd after the short program
-triple lutz, triple toe
-triple axel
-triple sow
-triple axel, double toe
-triple loop
-triple flip, double toe, double loop
-triple lutz
-double axel
-WHAT A SKATE!!! Good for him!!! I'd love to see him beat Plushenko!!
TOTAL SCORE - 257.67


Oda (Japan) - 8.85 - 4th after the short program
-triple lutz
-triple axel, triple toe
-triple sow
-triple axel
-triple lutz, double toe, double loop
-triple flip, double toe
-triple loop, he fell, and his skate lace broke. He had 3 minutes to fix it and get back out there. Then he automatically gets a 2 point deduction for needing a pause.
-double axel
TOTAL SCORE - 238.54


Lambiel (Switzerland) - 84.63 - 5th after the short program
-quad toe - he touched down on the landing
-triple lutz, pulled it off
-quad toe, triple toe
-triple flip, triple toe
-double axel
-triple loop, BARELY landed it
-triple flip, double toe, double toe
-triple sow
TOTAL SCORE - 246.72


Takahashi (Japan) - 90.25 - 3rd after the short program
-quad toe and he fell
-triple axel, double toe
-triple loop
-triple flip, triple toe
-triple sow
-triple axel
-triple lutz
-triple lutz, double toe
TOTAL SCORE - 247.23


Weir (USA) - 82.10 - 6th after the short program
-triple toe
-triple axel
-triple sow
-triple axel, double toe
-triple loop
-triple lutz, double (triple?) toe, I missed it a bit
-triple lutz, double toe, double toe
-double axel
-GREAT SKATE! Too bad I detest him and have my fingers crossed that he will end up 3rd or worse! (did I just say that?!)
TOTAL SCORE -238.87


Plushenko (Russia) - 90.85 - 1st after the short program
-quad toe, triple toe
-triple axel
-triple axel, double toe
-triple loop
-triple lutz
-triple lutz, double toe
-triple sow
-double axel
Okay performance, but honestly, I think Lysacek has it, he had a much more difficult and artistic program than Plushenko. We shall see!
TOTAL SCORE - 256.36


LYSACEK WINS! GREAT JOB! GOOD FOR HIM!!

Lysacek

3. Takahashi from Japan

2. Plushenko from Russia

1.  Lysacek from USA

5. Chan

22. Chipeur

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Figure Skating - Men's Short Program

Similar to the pairs, I'm only going to review the last 2 flights, and Vaughn Chipeur as well as Evgeni Plushenko.


Chipeur (Canada)
-GO CANADA!!!
-triple axel, he stepped out of the landing
-triple flip, double toe (supposed to be triple - triple)
-triple lutz was amazing
-stumble in the footwork, too bad... pull it together Vaughn!
SCORE - 57.22

Chipeur

Plushenko (Russia)
-He's back after retirement... let's see how he does
-quad toe, triple toe, perfect!
-triple axel was amazing
-triple lutz was perfect
A-MAZING, like we all knew it would be!
SCORE - 90.85 - New Olympic Record!!!

Plushenko

Joubert (France)
-he stepped out of his quad, he wasn't able to do his combination
-great triple axel
-terrible triple lutz, he slid out of the take off
-you can see how much the pressure has really gotten to him, he's lost the smile, that's for sure
SCORE - 68.00


Kozuka (Japan)
-triple lutz, triple toe was amazing
-triple axel was two footed
-triple toe was great
-good skate for him!
SCORE - 79.59


Contesti (Italy)
-triple lutz, triple toe was great
-triple axel he totally fought the landing, but got it!
-fell on a triple flip
SCORE - 70.60


Chan (Canada)
-YEAY PATRICK! MAKE US PROUD!!
-triple axel was okay, he stepped out a little
-triple flip, triple toe was perfect!
-triple flip was perfect
-great footwork, but he almost tripped!
Well, we will have to wait and see, it wasn't awesome.
SCORE - 81.12

 Chan

Weir (USA)
-oh great, this guy, the flamboyant guy who puts men's skating back 20 years.
-triple lutz triple toe was okay, he was leaning a bit.
-triple axel was great
-triple flip was two footed
-decent skate
SCORE - 82.10


Van Der Perren (Belgium)
-triple axel was great
-triple slip, triple toe was perfect
-great triple loop!
-it looks like he's tired half way through the program
-good performance as far as the jumps go!
SCORE - 72.90


Verner (Czech Republic)
-quad toe which he turned into a double, he's pretty much out of it now
-fell on a triple axel
-triple lutz, triple toe was great
-too bad for him, he's usually much better, not a great time to have a bad skate!
SCORE - 65.32


Lysacek (USA)
-he's so tall!!! 6'2! wow!
-triple axel was perfect!
-triple lutz, triple toe was fantastic
-triple flip was perfect
-what a fantastic skate for him!!! and he's so happy with his skate, I love that!
SCORE - 90.30


Abbott (USA)
-triple flip, triple toe was huge!!
-triple axel, he singled!!!! wow...
-triple lutz, he doubled... that's insane, he's the US champion, this is so not like him! This is so sad. When he was done skating, he mouthed "I'm sorry" to the audience. That's heartbreaking.
SCORE - 69.40


Brezina (Czech Republic)
-triple axel was great
-triple lutz was great
-triple flip, triple toe was fantastic too!
-what a great skate!
SCORE - 78.80


I love David Pelletier as a commentator, he's hilarious :)

1	PLUSHENKO Evgeni
2	LYSACEK Evan
3	TAKAHASHI Daisuke
4	ODA Nobunari
5	LAMBIEL Stephane
6	WEIR Johnny
7	CHAN Patrick
8	KOZUKA Takahiko
9	BREZINA Michal
10	TEN Denis
11	AMODIO Florent
12	VAN DER PERREN Kevin
13	BORODULIN Artem
14	CONTESTI Samuel
15	ABBOTT Jeremy
16	FERNANDEZ Javier
17	LINDEMANN Stefan
18	JOUBERT Brian
19	VERNER Tomáš
20	BACCHINI Paolo
21	KOVALEVSKI Anton
22	SCHULTHEISS Adrian
23	PFEIFER Viktor
24	CHIPEUR Vaughn
25	RI Song Chol
26	RAKIMGALIEV Abzal
27	URBAS Gregor
28	DOMANSKI Przemyslaw
29	KELEMEN Zoltan
30	NURMENKARI Ari-Pekka

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Men's Olympic Hockey Preview - Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Olympic Appearances: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006

Best Finish: 1st (1998)

Total Medals Won: 2

Pool: Russia, Slovakia, Latvia

I don't think there is a Canadian out there who still isn't bitter about the 1998 semi-final. Goddamn you Hasek, and goddamn the shootout!

The Czechs have faired pretty well in their short time at the games, in four appreances they've won gold, and never finished lower than 5th. I wonder though, despite their reputation, if this Czech team might be a little overblown:

Goaltenders

Tomas Vokoun (Florida Panthers/NHL)
Ondrej Pavelec (Atlanta Thrashers/NHL)
Jakub Stepanek (Vitkovice/CZE)

Defence

Miroslav Blatak (Salavat Yulaev Ufa/RUS)
Jan Hejda (Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL)
Tomas Kaberle (Toronto Maple Leafs/NHL)
Filip Kuba (Ottawa Senators/NHL)
Pavel Kubina (Atlanta Thrashers/NHL)
Zbynek Michalek (Phoenix Coyotes/NHL)
Roman Polak (St Louis Blues/NHL)
Marek Zidlicky (Minnesota Wild/NHL).

Forwards

Petr Cajanek (Saint-Pétersbourg/RUS)
Roman Cervenka (Slavia Prague/CZE)
Patrik Elias (New Jersey Devils/NHL)
Martin Erat (Nashville Predators/NHL)
Tomas Fleischmann (Washington Capitals/NHL)
Martin Havlat (Minnesota Wild/NHL)
Jaromir Jagr (Avangard Omsk/NHL)
David Krejci (Boston Bruins/NHL)
Milan Michalek (Ottawa Senators/NHL)
Tomas Plekanec (Canadiens de Montréal/NHL)
Tomas Rolinek (Magnitogorsk/RUS)
Josef Vasicek (Yaroslavl/RUS).

I see the Czechs as a similar team to the Fins, if maybe half a step ahead of them. I like their depth alot, but they're still missing the true superstar. Jaromir Jagr of course used to be that guy, but really, this is 2010, not 1994. I'd still be watching him at all times out of the corner of my eye, but he's not the elite player he was through the 1990s.

Put me down for the Czechs to see the quarter-finals, and they should make the semi's. But I don't put them on the same level as Canada/Russia, and I think I like the Swedes over them too. I'll call a bronze-medal game loss here!

Linkback: Other Rosters

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The Olympic Hockey Jerseys

Care of the IIHF, the Olympic Hockey Jerseys were unveiled today! We already knew what the Canadian Jersey looked like, so no big surprise there, but it’s very cool to see the whole collection. On the whole, I’m fairly impressed…there is only one set of jerseys that I really don’t like. But we’ll get to that:

Belarus

Starting out with one of the underdogs of the tournament here. There really isn’t that much to complain about, it’s a nice traditional hockey jersey, which is all I really ask for. In an independent setting, I don’t think I’d go with the red/green combo here, but of course we're working with National Colours here.

Canada

I’m probably not as big of a fan of these jerseys as I have been of past Team Canada jerseys. I’ll always be partial to the 2002 era jerseys I think. However, considering the controversy that surrounded the Hockey Canada logo earlier in the year, I think that this is a very very good compromise. I like the new logo a lot, and it fits in well with the theme of Vancouver 2010. I’m not terribly stuck on the red shoulders on the home jersey, but its not a make-or-break thing for me.

China

It’s very very strange to see a Chinese hockey jersey as they're not traditionally known to be a hockey powerhouse…..regardless, I like the design, if it is somewhat plain. I think my only criticism is that I’d like to see a horizontal band around the waist, rather than the vertical striping. That’s just the traditionalist in me though…

Czech Republic

Now you can’t see the back here, but judging from the front, it seems like they have finally gotten rid of that pointless ‘C-Z-E-C-H’ that they used to have right across the butt. Any writing that historically drew my attention to Dominik Hasek’s ass can’t be considered ‘good’... anything is an improvement over that.

Finland

I’m normally a pretty big fan of Finnish jerseys. The two-tone blue gives you a lot to work with, and is there anything more iconic about international hockey than the ‘Suomi’ stitched across a jersey? Unfortunately I think this incarnation misses the mark just a bit, for the simple fact that the ‘Suomi’ here is just a hideous colour, and totall clashes with the rest of the jersey. Why on earth have they decided to go with an Orange-Red? I think it looks especially bad on the away blue jersey.

Germany

I think that my favourite jersey of the whole set is the German away jersey, with the Iron Eagle almost ‘watermarked’ across the arms. There are a few instances of this ‘watermarking’ on other Jerseys, and it’s a risk…sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I like it here however….two thumbs up!

Latvia

I’ve always been a big fan of the Latvian jerseys. I think the dark maroon and white colour scheme works well together. This iteration is another really good example of the scheme, with my only criticism being the ‘LATVIJA’ across the waist…..could probably do without that, continuing the band right across.

Norway

I normally want to see tradional designs in hockey jerseys. There is nothing that gets me going more than some abomination of a third jersey that looks like it was drawn by a 2nd Grader. The Norway jerseys here instantly evoke thoughts of the New York Rangers..a classic. Despite that, this jersey still doesn’t quite do it for me. Dare I say that its…too traditional…to the point of maybe being a little boring?

Russia

Oh our arch nemesis. As much as people think Canada is the favourite for gold…the Russians are gonna be very tough. Just so much skill. Anyways, right.....the jerseys…here is the second example of the ‘watermarking’ approach, and I don’t think it works as well here as it did for the Germans. The Russian jersey has a lot more secondary striping than the Germans, so I think the addition of the ‘watermarking’ clutters it up somewhat. The test here will be how much that ‘watermaking’ actually shows up in real life. If its subtle enough, I think it could still work.

Slovakia

This is a fairly basic entry from the Slovaks. Take a boilerplate template, add a logo…and done! It might be simple, but I think it still works. The Slovaks have a solid logo, so you don’t need to mess with it too much…

Sweden

Ahh, the “Tre Kronor”. When you have something that works, why mess with it. I’m a particular fan of the dark blues here…It’s a classic!

Switzerland

Oh for shame Switzerland. Evidently guided by their strict neutrality, it would seem the Swiss have found themselves unable to choose sides on their jersey, and have decided to just leave it blank….for fear finding themselves on the wrong side. What’s worse, the one feature that they do have is poorly executed. Why does the should striping stop at about the collarbone? It makes it look like a bib…….Anyways, maybe once they finish the jersey, I’ll be able to comment further….

United States

The only country to apparently roll out a third jersey, the USA gets it right with a simple yet effective design. Their third jersey is obviously from the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’, and they have used its clean design as inspiration for their main jerseys. The only thing I could do without are the stars on the white home jersey…but otherwise I like ‘em….

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