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.

 

[MaryClare]

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.

$1400 for the year isn’t terrible, that’s only slightly more expensive than in London. But equipment is expensive in England. Even if you order online, because there are so few suppliers especially for youth sizes. Training costs don’t increase significantly as you progress though, MC1 was doing 4 times weekly and it wasn’t much different in cost.

In Moscow, I couldn’t tell you. Because I’ve worked for the army sports club then the city sports department, we’ve never had to pay and if you ask, there’s no straight answer. It depends on earnings and social security status I think. Then if you’re enrolled at a sports school, they cover the costs for you. They do provide all equipment but everyone wants to buy their own skates.

 

[RedBirdie]

The $1,400 we pay is the cheapest in our area. It only gets more expensive as they get older and add more days/longer practices and games. Club costs in DC area even more expensive (we're hoping to relocate this summer). It's a bit cheaper in some parts of Minnesota (another relocation option) but that because hockey is life there.

 

[MaryClare]

The $1,400 we pay is the cheapest in our area. It only gets more expensive as they get older and add more days/longer practices and games. Club costs in DC area even more expensive (we're hoping to relocate this summer). It's a bit cheaper in some parts of Minnesota (another relocation option) but that because hockey is life there.

Is he hoping to play hockey in college? Is there a geographical advantage/disadvantage?

 

[RedBirdie]

Is he hoping to play hockey in college? Is there a geographical advantage/disadvantage?

College hockey ahs changed dramatically in the last 10 years and now that Canadian CHL players have NCAA eligibility, college hockey is out of reach for all but the absolute best. He's good, but he also just turned 9. I'm certainly not banking on any college scholarships.

There is a geographical advantage to playing in Minnesota/Michigan/Massachusetts/Wisconsin. Very high level of play, lots of college coaches watching in the area. Elite kids from outside those areas often go to boarding school or play for a junior team and board with a local family once they turn 16. And even kids from those hockey hotbeds will leave home at 16 or 17 to go play for an elite junior team somewhere else. Is that what I want for my kid? Probably not.

 

[Big_rock_show]

There is literally a gymnastics meet in the evening

I’m not paying attention to gymnastics right now apparently

 

[Big_rock_show]

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.

I watched from Labahn in Madison and there was definitely a lot of cheering

 

[makam]

The gala was so cool, we are really glad we went. Unfortunately there were many empty seats, and we found out that ticket prices were very expensive for it.

I have a feeling LA 2028 is going to do this too. Try to sell archery tickets for $1000 bucks and then moan when half the stands are empty. And refuse to drop the prices day of to help pack the stands.

 

[MaryClare]

I have a feeling LA 2028 is going to do this too. Try to sell archery tickets for $1000 bucks and then moan when half the stands are empty. And refuse to drop the prices day of to help pack the stands.

The people sat next to us at the gala had paid €250 per ticket. And these were not the most expensive seats. Decided to just nod along and not mention that we were there as guests of the Russian Olympic committee

 

[OnlyBeansOnToast]

I have a feeling LA 2028 is going to do this too. Try to sell archery tickets for $1000 bucks and then moan when half the stands are empty. And refuse to drop the prices day of to help pack the stands.

At every Olympics I’ve been to, the empty seats have been down to corporates and sponsors having piles of tickets that they don’t use.

 

[daniTS]

The people sat next to us at the gala had paid €250 per ticket. And these were not the most expensive seats. Decided to just nod along and not mention that we were there as guests of the Russian Olympic committee

I told my uncle to grab team fs tickets seeing as it was so empty and he said they were hundreds of euros so he was opting out. They did have their opening ceremonies tickets upgraded to the 1000e seats day-of and volunteers were given the chance to rebuy the cheaper seats for 26e day-of.

In Vancouver we went to fs training which was like 30$ and the best deal around for that sport!