NEW WORLD ORDER?

I thought about this while showering this morning – to get the stench of last night’s loss off my Canadian body – the hockey power countries have exchanged characteristics from years gone by.

Russia is now the swaggering American. They play a risky, skilled game. Their athletes are part rock star, part showboat, yet TEAM is not their strongest suit – they are individual in mind and in approach.

Canada is now Russia, or the Soviet Union (CCCP baby). They are unrealistically expected to throttle all comers and they have looked joyless in trying to deliver, like it’s a job – not a passion.

And the good old USA has become Canada. They have premier, game-stealing goaltending. They play a bend-don’t-break team game. They have an unbridled pursuit game with a physical edge (always a Canadian strength). And they appear humbly confident.

The Swedes and Finns are…well, they don’t matter. They’re Scandinavian.

The Czechs and Slovaks only matter if they re-unite and become Czechoslovakia again. If that happens, lookout.

The Swiss make a nice bar of chocolate.

Norway is known for fjords, their hockey team is known for padding other country’s win columns.

Germany thinks you can win without ever invading the opponent’s end of the rink. (If the Swiss are neutral the Germans are reverse)

Latvia. Sorry, got nothing for ya.