Watch Ireland live in Ice Hockey

**Poor Student** · 26/04/2006, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

No, but sinbinned is.

Some swing from 23-1 to 0-6!

I was reading on a forum that there is suspicion that the team is now made up of North Americans of Armenian descent or even players who don't qualify properly.

AS, I think you forgot to mention that former Soviet State, Russia.

As far as I know, the Russian league is considered the best foreign league outside of North America?

**Aberdonian Stu** · 26/04/2006, 3:48 PM

I most certainly did not forget to mention them, I deliberately excluded them as I assumed pineapple knew they were good.

They are traditionally THE powerhouse of ice hockey internationally although haven't been the same since the late nineties (when they messed up in the Olympic final against the Czechs) and the bulk of the former Soviet Union teams came from there.

**Poor Student** · 26/04/2006, 7:48 PM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

I most certainly did not forget to mention them, I deliberately excluded them as I assumed pineapple knew they were good.

I wasn't being serious AS.

Here's the link for Ireland v Iceland. It'll be on in a few mins. It should be a heavy defeat for us.

http://www.iiha.org/live_feed.html

**Poor Student** · 26/04/2006, 8:40 PM

It's 0-0 after the first period. We've conceded a raft of penalties and been down to three men on two occasions but we've clung on. The defending and penalty killing have been good and the keeper's been in fine form but we've barely strung an offence together. It's good though as we were expecting to be hammered.

**Poor Student** · 26/04/2006, 9:29 PM

3-0 down after the 2nd period. I missed the first goal but the second one was underhand and the third a powerplay goal. With all the offensive play it was only a matter of time before Iceland would score. Still, having lost 6-0 to Armenia, we're holding up pretty well.

**Poor Student** · 26/04/2006, 10:22 PM

Lost 8-0. Conceded 5 in the third period. We lost 7-1 to them the last time we played them in 2004.

**geysir** · 27/04/2006, 11:00 AM

We hammered the Irish yesterday 8-0. The place was pretty full with about 800 there. Turkey are the top team in this group and should win promotion before they get relegated next year, again.
Gluttons for punishment can watch even Luxemburg beat the Irish.
Couldn't appraise the skill on offer, just to stay on 2 feet on skates is an achievement for me.

**Poor Student** · 29/04/2006, 9:49 AM

We drew 2-2 with Turkey and were leading until the final 2 minutes. Not bad considering they were playing a higher level last year.

**Poor Student** · 29/04/2006, 5:09 PM

We're 2-0 up on Luxembourg after the 1st period.

**Poor Student** · 29/04/2006, 6:47 PM

We've won 3-1. It's turned out to be our best ever campaign as we've claimed a record 3 points. Had Armenia not changed from whipping boys to decent team over one campaign then we'd have done quite well.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 29/04/2006, 7:01 PM

So I'm guessing that means we've gone from effectively being worst in the world (having lost to the only team ranked below us) to somewhere slightly above that.

**geysir** · 29/04/2006, 7:42 PM

I wouldn't get too excited by the point against Turkey as in reflecting a rise of standards.
Iceland will play full strength Turkey tonight for the gold medal. It should be an even enough game.
Armenia have 3 from the US with dual citizenship

**Poor Student** · 29/04/2006, 8:36 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I wouldn't get too excited by the point against Turkey as in reflecting a rise of standards.

Why not? They got promoted in 2004 where they beat us 7-4. Either they have gotten worse or we've gotten better. Either way I'm happy we've lost one less game than previous campaigns.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 29/04/2006, 8:40 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

The majority (i.e. over 50%) of players in the NHL are Canadian despite the fact that only 6 of the 30 NHL franchises are Canadian.

Two times we got a man sinbined (is that a word?) for having too many men on the ice. I haven't seen that happen in any NHL game I've watched and it didn't happen to Armenia. Seems like a real amateur mistake.

One of our coaches worked with the Philadelphia Flyers and is of Irish background from Boston.

For such a minority sport with little or no interest you really have to commend and admire the fact they the IIHF have got a live feed of decent quality with two commentators up online.

Too many men on the ice does happen at a higher level of international than we are on occasion and the odd time in the NHL.
Ice Hockey is Canada's national sport. It should be no surprised that the greatest hurlers in the world are Irish now shouldn't it?
There used to be 8 franchises that were Canadian. Winnipeg Jets moved I think to Florida, and then before that Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver Colorado and became the Avalanche. The Avalanche is still a club with a French Canadian aura despite being in Colorado and they still have a few players who were with them in Quebec. The original NHL had 6 clubs right into the 1960's and two of the strongest ones were Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, which are still going strong.

Given that one of our coaches used to work with the Philadelphia Flyers, I am not surprised we have so many in the sin bin.
The Philadelphia Flyers won two Stanley Cup in the mid 1970's and were the dirtiest teams to win the Cup ever.

**geysir** · 30/04/2006, 10:13 AM

Iceland trashed Turkey 9-0 to maintain 100% record.
This ice hockey league defies previous form logic.
It had been even enough between these sides up until last night.

**Dassa** · 01/05/2006, 7:33 PM

I heard talk afew years ago about Dublin getting an arena and entering team in the League that Belfast. Any truth in this or just rumours.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 01/05/2006, 8:26 PM

Dassa

There's an Irish-American consortium led by former NHL player Patrick Flatley willing to bankroll a Dublin Ice Hockey team if a suitable venue is provided in the city.

**Dassa** · 01/05/2006, 9:05 PM

realistic chances? who are they looking to provide this venue, will it have to be the size of the Odysey?

**Na Chlairsigh** · 01/05/2006, 9:36 PM

If it is anything like the NHL, then I would imagine that they are looking for the city to provide the facility, and then just rent it for the duration of the season.

The only way I could see it happening is if the city council are playing to build a new multi-purpose arena, just like the Odessey. One that will be used for concerts, conventions and other events.

It would make sense for Dublin Corportation to build one, the Point is crumbling down, and the RDS is too small. I think it would be great to have a multi-purpose venue in the city, not just for hockey purposes, but it would also be a great economic boast to the area...........but Dublin being Dublin, I just can't see it happening.