Europeans find common ground
(THE WORLD CUP IS) ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST HOCKEY STAGE THAT WE’VE HAD. IN THE OLYMPICS YOU’RE PLAYING FOR YOUR HOME COUNTRY AND MAYBE THE QUALITY ISN’T AS GOOD AS THESE EIGHT TEAMS. NOW YOU’RE HERE TO (SHOWCASE) YOURSELF. — ANZE KOPITAR, TEAM EUROPE CAPTAIN
Anze Kopitar didn’t want to talk much about the abandoned anthem. He wouldn’t say if it sounded good or bad.
And he sure as heck wasn’t going to hum a few bars, so that we could hear it for ourselves.
“Yeah, sorry,” he said. “I’m not that great of a singer.”
All Kopitar would say was that the instrumental song, which was created for Team Europe but which the players decided against even if it meant not having an anthem, wasn’t necessary.
Team Europe might be the only participant in the World Cup of Hockey without an official anthem — North America will play the Canadian and American anthems before their games — but it does not mean the players are any less unified.
As Kopitar, who is Team Europe’s captain, said prior to Thursday’s exhibition game against Team North America: “I don’t think we need an anthem to stand behind … as long as you know in your heart where you’re from that’s all that’s important.”
Where Team Europe is from spans eight different countries: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. But in four short days, the players have found common ground as the dark horse of the tournament.
In that regard, this is nothing new. These players are playing for countries that often get overlooked. As the lone Slovenian in the NHL, Kopitar is never on a team that is expected to win a medal at the Olympics or in the world championships.
When Slovenia defeated Slovakia 3-1 in a round robin game at the 2014 Olympics — the country’s first- ever Olympic win — one player described it as “kind of a miracle.”
So being on a team that might actually have a shot at winning the whole thing is something new. And in some ways, it’s better than the alternative.
If the World Cup had decided against the two socalled gimmick teams and went with the next-best countries, the playing field would not have been as strong. Whether Germany and Slovakia or Denmark and Switzerland got in, they would be fodder for Canada and other powerhouses. This makes it more competitive.
“We don’t have enough players in t he National Hockey League like we used to have, which I think is the biggest thing,” said Slovakia’s Marian Hossa. “In 2004, when we were in the World Cup, we had maybe 25 to 30 players playing in the National Hockey League. Now we have about five or six, so that’s a big difference.”
At the same time, it ensures players like Norway’s Mats Zuccarello, Slovakia’s Zdeno Chara and Switzerland’s Roman Josi are able to participate.
“There’s not room for another three, four teams in the tournament,” said Chara. “It’s only eight teams and that’s the system they’re choosing.”
“The thing is, it’s arguably the biggest hockey stage that we’ve had,” said Kopitar. “In the Olympics you’re playing for your home country and maybe the quality isn’t as good as these eight teams. Now, you’re here to somewhat showcase yourself, as well.”
Of course, it took some convincing for the World Cup to get here. And yet, there are still plenty who believe this format will not only fail but also be a spectacular disaster — an embarrassment, even.
When the NHL and the NHLPA first announced that the World Cup would include a team comprised of under-24 players from North America and another featuring players from countries outside the Big 6, Switzerland’s Josi admitted he “was a little disappointed.”
After all, the beauty of international competition is the idea that anything can happen. A team from Slovenia, with just one NHLer on the roster, can upset Slovakia. With good goaltending and a bit of luck, Switzerland can topple Canada, as it did in the 2006 Olympics.
Those victories can encourage kids in those countries to pick up the sport. At the very least, they can be memorable events.
As much as the players insist that they are still playing for their individual countries, that idea kind of gets lost in this format. Here, they are representing Europe. Or rather, they are representing the Europe that does not include Finland, Sweden, Russia or the Czech Republic.
Or maybe it doesn’t have to be that deep. Maybe they are just trying to win a tournament that includes the best collection of all- star teams that we’ve ever seen. If so, the players are on board with putting on the best show possible.
“There was a bit of mixed feelings, but now it’s one group of guys still representing your own country somehow,” said Hossa. “It’s one of the best tournaments that I’ve been part of in my career. The best players and the small rinks. I think it’s going to be similar to Vancouver in 2010.”
When asked if that meant he liked the new format, Hossa smiled.
“You’ll have to ask me after the tournament.”