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Handshake Mistake

Written by: Jesse Michael on 21st December 2009

PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT

There's a growing animosity between Canada and Sweden. Back-to-back gold medal games will do that to you. | read this item

It may be the Canadian blood in me, and how I still get fired up like a little kid watching Canadian hockey, but was anyone else completely dumbfounded by the actions of the Swedish junior team last night?

A 6-2 thrashing in the first pre-tournament games for either team, Canada took it to the Swedes in every way possible. They were faster, stronger, and slicker than their European counterpart; everything you expect from the Canadian boys at this time of the year.

What I did not expect however, was how classless and unsportsmanlike the Swedes were at the end of the game.

Yes, I understand Canada’s captain Patrice Cormier through a blatant elbow to the head of Swedish forward Anton Rodin 50 feet from the puck. And yes, I am one that believes Cormier should be disciplined. And yes, I understand why the Swedish team would be angry for it. But there is no reason to not shake hands at the end of the game, or participate in the player of the game awards.

Think about it. How many times has there been a chippy, and sometimes fight filled, NHL playoff series, only to have both teams swallow their pride and shake hands.

Last year, Sidney Crosby either forgot to, or just didn’t, shake Niklas Lidstrom’s hand after the Stanley Cup was awarded, and it was not only front page news for weeks, but is still talked about today.

Obviously, the magnitude of the World Junior tournament is not the same as the NHL playoffs. But when a tradition is disrespected, something should be done.

Rumours are suggesting that Cormier will be suspended when the IIHF heads meet on the 24^th to discuss disciplinary action. I have no problem with this. However, I believe that they should be discussing a fine to the Swedish team for not participating in the post-game activities.

Nothing much was made of the handshake ignorance after the game by either team. Some of the Canadian players hinted that it was a combination of losing the last two years, and their frustrations during last night’s game.

“I think there’s a lot of bad blood out there,” assistant captain Jordan Eberle said in the post game scrum. “Obviously with what happened last year and the year before I think they wanted to win, and we do too so it’s obviously going to clash. It was good to see and it’s a great start for us.”

Either way, aside from the antics during and after the game, this rivalry has escalated to one of the best at the tournament. If they meet again this year [it wouldn’t be until the medal round] this game set the expectations even higher than in the past.

And I for one, with that Canadian blood, look forward to another classic game.

Topics: 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships, Anton Rodin, Canada Captain, Hockey Canada, IIHF World Juniors, Niklas Lidstrom, Patrice Cormier, Sidney Crosby, Team Canada, Team Sweden

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December 21, 2009 at 6:44 pm

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