People Everywhere Are Talking Hockey

I find myself in Florida, where my company runs the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge, which takes place this weekend in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL, during the biggest hockey event of the past four years. While it's hardly hockey country, people here are jacked up and talking about today's U.S.-Switzerland and Canada-Russia games. My challenge: to find a place during my site visits to watch the games. Wish me luck.

In the meantime, spread the word about our event! Thirty NCAA Division I baseball games in three days at current and former major league spring training facilities. Entire weekend pass only $25. Maybe I'll see someone here!

By the way, if you told me in 1980 that I would grow up to be rooting for Russia in a hockey game vs. Canada, I'd have asked you where you got whatever you were smoking.

Should be another epic day of hockey. May not have time to post more, but I'll try.

Olympic Hockey Playoff Picture

Here it is, just the facts, courtesy of James Mirtle's blog. A breakdown to come later, but wanted to get this out there! See below for the playoff round seedings and upcoming schedule.

Great game last night, regardless of who you root for. I'm not sure the U.S. could do that again against Canada, but I thought the same thing in '96. Yesterday produced some of the best hockey you'll ever see. And I would be remiss to not mention the Ovechkin game-changing hit on Jagr. He provides that intangible physicality and all-out effort that often has been missing from Russian squads in past years. If you get a chance, go back and watch the hit on video and look at the priceless reaction of the players on the Russian bench. When can you remember a Russian team ever showing that much emotion or excitement on the ice? This team has as good a chance as anyone heading into the playoff round. The rest of this tournament should be amazing. Enjoy!

Thanks to James Mirtle for posting this information:

1. United States
2. Sweden
3. Russia
4. Finland
5. Czech Republic
6. Canada
7. Slovakia
8. Switzerland
9. Belarus
10. Norway
11. Germany
12. Latvia

Qualifying Round (Tuesday):
G1: Czech Rep. vs. Latvia
G2: Canada vs. Germany
G3: Slovakia vs. Norway
G4: Switzerland vs. Belarus

Quarterfinals (Wednesday):
Q1. United States vs. Switzerland/Belarus
Q2. Sweden vs. Slovakia/Norway
Q3. Russia vs. Canada/Germany
Q4. Finland vs. Czech Rep./Latvia

Semi-finals (Friday)
Q1 vs. Q4
Q2 vs. Q3

Bronze-medal game (Saturday)
Semi-final losers

Gold-medal game (Sunday)
Semi-final winners