2026 Winter Olympics

[OnlyBeansOnToast]

Is Team USA the most hateable country this year?

Because normally the whole world loves to see them do well?

 

[Lisaelaine80]

Because normally the whole world loves to see them do well?

They don’t have the most medals. Jesus, I don’t hate any country for winning bc I’m not petty. The Soviet Union won almost every competition and I adored them. It’s wild how ppl love hating gold medalists. The men’s hockey team hasn’t won in 46 years, and Sarah Hughes won 24 years ago.

 

[Amber]

There are much better reasons to not be very fond of the US right now

 

[MaryClare]

Sigh. And once again, some people just can’t resist making political remarks

The hockey was kind of meh. I’ve seen better games. Sorry if that makes me sound like a spoilt brat but it was

 

[RedBirdie]

Canada fucked themselves by starting Binnington. Just an utterly indefensible decision. Could have had Logan Thompson as their #1!goalie, but noooooooo.

And then the American score first and promptly turtle, they tried to lose. Thank God for Hellebyuck.

Anyways, the way I yelled "THEY DID IT!" probably scared my neighbors. Amazing. Unbelievable. After carrying the punching nightmare that was the 2010 loss after all these years, today was glorious.

 

[MaryClare]

Canada fucked themselves by starting Binnington. Just an utterly indefensible decision. Could have had Logan Thompson as their #1!goalie, but noooooooo.

And then the American score first and promptly turtle, they tried to lose. Thank God for Hellebyuck.

Anyways, the way I yelled "THEY DID IT!" probably scared my neighbors. Amazing. Unbelievable. After carrying the punching nightmare that was the 2010 loss after all these years, today was glorious.

That’s so funny, because you mentioned you live in the south and I’m guessing hockey isn’t so big there. It’s sort of the same in Russia, outside of KHL towns, no one cares that much!

I’m pretty sure they said Thompson was injured though?

 

[RedBirdie]

Thompson isn't injured. He was mildly hurt leading up to the Olympics, but he played an NHL game before leaving for Italy, played at least one round robin game, and was dressed as the back up today. Hockey Canada leadership just has a hard on for Binnington. They barely got past the Czechs with Binnington in net. Such a stupid decision. Binnington is literally the worst goalie in the NHL this season. Thompson is......not.

No, hockey isn't especially big here, although plenty of places willing to take your money for travel hockey because your kid is certainly on the path to NHL stardom! It's ridiculous. We're getting comments about having Little Birdie try out for travel next season. "We go to Lake Placid! Fargo! Twin Cities!" Yeah, no, we'll continue to do local selects and have a normal life and not spend $10,000 on travel on top of $5,000 in league fees. Plus equipment costs, of course. Stupid expensive sport.

 

[MaryClare]

No, hockey isn't especially big here, although plenty of places willing to take your money for travel hockey because your kid is certainly in the path to NHL stardom! It's ridiculous. We're getting comments about having Little Birdie try out for travel next season. "We go to Lake Placid! Fargo! Twin Cities!" Yeah, no, we'll continue to do local selects and have a normal life and not spend $10,000 on travel on top of $5,000 in league fees. Plus equipment costs, of course. Stupid expensive sport

That’s an insane amount of money! When we lived in England, it was certainly more expensive having them in hockey than something like soccer but nothing like that sort of money. When they travelled for competitions it was staying in a youth hostel and travelling by bus, so not particularly expensive. It’s a shame that GB has so few ice rinks because it’s relatively affordable sport compared with other countries, there just isn’t the provision for a decent number of kids to get into it

 

[RedBirdie]

I've seen league fees even higher than that. Throw in private lessons, and some teams only play in elite tournaments that costs event more.......the costs are insane. And its not any better in Canada. If anything, it's even more expensive.

For comparison, Little Birdie plays local only. League fee for the full year (September-April) is $1,400. That includes one practice and one game a week, minus a few breaks for holidays. We're lucky that all his equipment from last year still fits, so the only new stuff we bought this year was a new set of under layers (~$25 at Target) and socks ($7). Have had to get his skates sharpened a few times. We'll be on the hook for about $100 to play in one tournament a couple hours away, but hopefully that's a day trip and not overnight.

 

[irichluck21]

I am curious about Crosby's injury. He must be in bad shape not to get on the ice for the gold medal game.