LIVE THREAD: 2006 Torino Olympics - Wednesday - DAY 12 - (Spoiler/Photo Thread)

Free Republic ^ | February 22, 2006

[Alberta's Child]

Yes, but the style of play in the junior leagues generally doesn't work well in the Olympics.

What's going to change in the near future is that the NCAA is going to consider players in the major Canadian junior leagues (OHL, WHL, and QMJHL) "amateurs" for eligibility purposes -- so I think you're going to have a lot of Canadians playing collegiate hockey in the U.S. instead of staying in the Canadian juniors after they finish high school. This means they're going to be playing a more wide-open style of play just as they're eligible to be drafted in the NHL, and when they're likely to be playing in the Olympics if no NHL players are permitted anymore.

[MikefromOhio]

we will see I guess.....

[Alberta's Child]

I know the junior leagues are very concerned about that change, since they will likely lose a lot of players to U.S. colleges.

But at the same time, it may end up making them more of a true "junior" hockey operation.

[Accygirl]

Someone should take away the Olympics rights from NBC since they're so clearly incapable of actually broadcasting compelling games anymore. Sasha's performance (clearly the highlight of the day for Team USA) should have been at 10:55 PM EST right before the broadcast ended. The nine to ten o'clock hour should have been devoted to bobsled and the Shani Davis/ Chad Hedrick catfight. And the earliest hour should have been devoted to the earlier groups of women skaters.

As for the competition itself, it's important that all U.S. skating friends send evil auras Slutskaya's way and happy auras Sasha's way for tomorrow's program.

[MplsSteve]

A medal is a medal is a medal.

Just because they weren't Olympic-sanctioned events 15 years ago, doesn't make them any less important.

Maybe it's time the rest of the world catches up to the United States!

[mountn man]

I am sooooo ticked at NBC I can't see straight today. We rushed home from dance to see Sasha skate last night and my eight year old and I fell asleep before she was on past 11:00. What is wrong with these people???!!!!

I'd say that they know Sasha is a huge draw, and figure that if they'd put her on earlier, that people would skate after she was on. So they put her on later to hold on to more people.

One more thing NBC SUCKS!!!!!