Competition on the Ice

It’s once again time to lace up your skates and get out on the ice. The 2016 World Cup of Hockey officially began September 17, and is coming to an end soon. With eight teams competing this year, fans all over are excited to see their country’s team out on the ice.

The World Cup of Hockey first began 1996 with USA winning, then continuing again 12 years later in 2004, this time with Canada winning. As the third annual World Cup of Hockey has officially begun this year and is being held in Toronto Canada, team Canada is looking to score yet another trophy and title. This year, the teams competing in the World Cup are USA, Europe, Canada, Czech Republic, Sweden, North America, Russia, and Finland. During the Round Robin part of the tournament, team USA had a devastating loss again team Europe 0-3. Also, team North America and team Sweden had an intense game on the 21^st, which eventually ended with North America pulling ahead 4-3 in overtime. The Round Robin portion of the World Cup ended with team Canada dominating and winning all three games by a huge lead.

From the Round Robin, four teams advanced to the semifinals. Those teams were team Europe, team Sweden, team Canada, and team Russia. On the 24^th, Russia played Canada with team Canada winning the game 3-5, and Europe playing Sweden, with Europe barely pulling out a win 3-2 in overtime. With those results, team Europe and team Canada advanced on to the finals. The first of three games of the final was played on September 27^th with Canada beating Europe 3-1. Despite Canada’s win, coaches from both teams said that “team Europe played its worst game yet and team Europe played its best” (wch2016).

This Thursday, the second finals game will be played where team Canada has the potential to win the World Cup. If Europe wants to stay alive, they will have to win that game to play a third and final game on Saturday, October 1^st. As the end of the tournament nears, Makenna Collins (9) says, “[she] hopes that team Canada can pull out a win and claim the title of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey champions.” Fans all over are eager to watch the next final game to see whether team Canada will win it all or if team Europe will make an incredible comeback so that they still have a chance.