2010 Pool Groupings

I seen a quick graphic on TSN prior to the end of the Sweden/Canada game regarding next year's pool groupings. Now that the games have been completed I'm wondering what teams fall under what pool for next year.

Is it safe to assume these are the pools for 2010?

Pool A
1. Canada
4. Slovakia
5. USA
8. Latvia
9. Germany

Pool B
2. Sweden
3. Russia
6. Czech Republic
7. Finland
10. Kazakhstan

Germany and Kazahkstan won't be in the tournament next year, they were relegated. Everything else is correct.

I seen a quick graphic on TSN prior to the end of the Sweden/Canada game regarding next year's pool groupings. Now that the games have been completed I'm wondering what teams fall under what pool for next year.

Is it safe to assume these are the pools for 2010?

Pool A
1. Canada
4. Slovakia
5. USA
8. Latvia
9. Germany

Pool B
2. Sweden
3. Russia
6. Czech Republic
7. Finland
10. Kazakhstan

Replace germany and kazakhstan with austria and switzerland

Wow the pool B is just stacked. Imagine if USA lost, it'd be Canada against Finland, Slovakia, Latvia, and Switzerland/Austria. Nasty.

Wow the pool B is just stacked. Imagine if USA lost, it'd be Canada against Finland, Slovakia, Latvia, and Switzerland/Austria. Nasty.

I was hoping for a Slovakia win in the bronze medal game. Canada, USA, and Russia in one pool would be awesome.

Since Canada is often a favourite and always the returning champions they will always get a weaker pool. To Canadians it looks like a weaker pool. But look at it from the Slovakian point of view. They have to play Canada and U.S. It looks easier because we don't have to play ourselves if that makes any sense.

Either way I see it this way the schedule will likely look like this: Canada plays Slovakia, Latvia, Switzerland before facing the USA on New Year's Eve. Canada will be 3-0 going into that game.

The way they organize the schedule usually involves the "best teams" from the year before playing in the last RR game. Next year, we should play USA first (if memory serves) followed by one of the promoted teams, then Latvia, then Slovakia. Will be a different experience from the past few years.

I am getting tired of the US being in our group. What kind of team should the Czech Republic have next year?

I think whoever said we will play the US first is right. That sucks for both teams.

This is a disgrace, they totally rigged the groups to favor Canada.

The group of Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic, Finland and Switzerland will be quite tough.

I was hoping to play Latvia first. Get the easy game out of the way.

This is a disgrace, they totally rigged the groups to favor Canada.

I don't know if my sarcasm meter is broken, but it's always 1, 4, 5, 8, 10 in pool A and 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 in pool B from the previous year's results.

This is a disgrace, they totally rigged the groups to favor Canada.

It is grouped by how they finished this year has nothing to do with rigging them. I have tickets to next years tournament and I'm pretty disappointed that Canada's schedule appears to be so weak.

:laugh: What a dream pool for Canada, especialy with the U.S history of underperforming in this tournament.

Just give us the gold now, subbans! ;)

:sarcasm:

It is grouped by how they finished this year has nothing to do with rigging them. I have tickets to next years tournament and I'm pretty disappointed that Canada's schedule appears to be so weak.

My mouse is hovering over a ticket purchase right now. That $1200 price tag is all that's stopping me.

In essence, the pools are exactly the way they were this year, with Slovakia and the Czechs switching spots. Once again Pool A will be the slightly weaker pool due to getting the last place team from this year, but something tells me there will be no "Kazakhstans" in Saskatchewan.

Switzerland had better record of the teams promoted so they should go to A and Austria to B.

if that is true and Austria goes to group B, is it safe to say they have absolutely NO chance WHATSOEVER of winning a single game? Finland has a decent youth program and are likely to produce a capable team again next year... Austria might have like a 5% chance to win but that is it.

Group A team (Switzerland, apparently?) will at least have a good shot against Latvia and a prayer against Slovakia...

This tournament is pretty ridiculous though... They should just hold a relegation tournament every single year pre-WJC for all teams that have been relegated in the past decade and other competitive Div 1's and let the winners come to the tournament prepared and proven with their current roster.

[QUOTE=alphahelix;.. They should just hold a relegation tournament every single year pre-WJC for all teams that have been relegated in the past decade and other competitive Div 1's and let the winners come to the tournament prepared and proven with their current roster.[/QUOTE]

I agree with what you say here. To bad Germany wont be around for next year.

We be f'd. Rajala-Granlund-Pulkkinen will have to win games by themselves next year. :(

Still waiting for a Swede to say the officials are already helping us, even though everyone knows they use the same format for determining pools year in, year out.

We've won 29 of the last 30 games we've played. I don't think who or who is not in our pool is too important. :nod:

29 of 30 - damn! :handclap:

Either way I see it this way the schedule will likely look like this: Canada plays Slovakia, Latvia, Switzerland before facing the USA on New Year's Eve.

I think Canada would play Slovakia on their final prelim game as Slovakia finished ahead of the United States (USA lost to Slovakia 5-3 in Ottawa). That sounds so nice saying, USA lost to Slovakia.

I'm slightly disappointed things worked out as they did. Being here in Saskatoon, I don't get to see the majority of the hockey powers here. That said I hope lots of Latvians come here to cheer on their team. I think it would be fun to watch say Latvia/USA and join in with them.

Does anyone know if the relegation round is planned for Saskatoon or Regina?

I'm slightly disappointed things worked out as they did. Being here in Saskatoon, I don't get to see the majority of the hockey powers here. That said I hope lots of Latvians come here to cheer on their team. I think it would be fun to watch say Latvia/USA and join in with them.

Does anyone know if the relegation round is planned for Saskatoon or Regina?

Both the relegation and medal round will be in Saskatoon.

And unfortunately I wouldn't count on many Latvians in Saskatoon. Ottawa got a bunch because Toronto has the biggest Latvian community outside of Latvia, not too many at all in the west. Euro Latvians can only afford one trip a year, and they usually make it the Worlds in May.

Both the relegation and medal round will be in Saskatoon.

And unfortunately I wouldn't count on many Latvians in Saskatoon. Ottawa got a bunch because Toronto has the biggest Latvian community outside of Latvia, not too many at all in the west. Euro Latvians can only afford one trip a year, and they usually make it the Worlds in May.

I've said it before and I will say it again Latvia has some crazy fans but not in a bad way

I've said it before and I will say it again Latvia has some crazy fans but not in a bad way

Haha true that. Latvia rules!

It is grouped by how they finished this year has nothing to do with rigging them. I have tickets to next years tournament and I'm pretty disappointed that Canada's schedule appears to be so weak.

Same here, but the round robin games won't be very good no matter who they face and it's all about the medal games. At least it sets them up for a very good chance to make the gold medal once again because I know I for one will be EXTREMELY disappointed if they don't make the gold medal game when I finally have a chance to watch them live.

I'm excited for the 2010 WJC's already...damn! By far the best international hockey tournament. WHC's are just too watered down.

This tournament is pretty ridiculous though... They should just hold a relegation tournament every single year pre-WJC for all teams that have been relegated in the past decade and other competitive Div 1's and let the winners come to the tournament prepared and proven with their current roster.

It just isn't as easy as you imagine. We are talking about players who are engaged in professional leagues. They are already missing a lot of games during the championship. Adding another tournament is not acceptable for their clubs.

Canada and Russia have avoided each other again.

They haven't been in the same pool since 2002.

Pool B looks to be really stacked while Canada looks like it's going to have an easy time of it in Pool A.

USA/Canada on New Year's Eve again next year.

We've won 29 of the last 30 games we've played. I don't think who or who is not in our pool is too important. :nod:

29 of 30 - damn! :handclap:

Last time you had sweden in your group, you lost. So I think it matters who you will face in the group stage.