Anything can happen in Cup final
When examining the David-versus-Goliath World Cup matchup that pits the heavy underdogs of Team Europe versus the overwhelming favourites that make up Team Canada, let’s remember that there already has been a miracle in the world of team sports earlier this year.
Did you forget tiny Iceland beat mighty England in soccer at Euro 2016? Iceland has a population of 320,000. England’s is 53 million.
If that real-life fairy-tale ending could play out like that, who’s to say a roster melding players from eight European nations — who beat Sweden 3-2 on Sunday to advance to the World Cup of Hockey finals — can’t unite to beat Canada?
Doug Armstrong knows anything can happen in the Canada-Europe best-of-three final, which begins Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre. He also understands that a loss to a team that was specifically plopped together just for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey would be a wart on his legacy, and that of his players. As such, the Team Canada GM is taking nothing for granted. He can’t afford to.
“They’re a great story, and shame on us if we don’t take them serious for what they’ve done to this point,” Armstrong said. Shame, indeed. Behind closed doors, this matchup could not be what NHL and NHLPA officials wanted for its alleged marquee final to this tournament. Sweden was the much sexier option, the one that would have provided far more sizzle. Having played Canada in the Olympic gold medal game in Sochi, the runner-up Swedes have some of the splashiest names in the sport in Erik Karlsson, Henrik Lundqvist, the Sedin twins — the list goes on.
Team Europe? It’s a mixture of competitors with obvious proven skills and some deep heart. Players with well-known track records such as Anze Kopitar, Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara. And coach Ralph Krueger, who has given them a legitimate sense of belief.
“I’ve known Ralph since the ’04 world championships,” says Canadian coach Mike Babcock.
“He has these guys believing and prepared and in the finals. From where they were at one point when they got lit up a couple of times early, to where they are now, he’s done a heck of a job.”
But Babcock doesn’t just hope Team Canada will avoid an upset. He’s doing everything in his power to ensure it doesn’t happen.
“I think we’ve got better every game,” Babcock said. “I expect the same to continue.”