So far the preliminary round of Olympic hockey has gone on without many surprises. The pretenders are getting waxed while the three superpowers (Canada, Russia, Sweden) and the four contenders (Finland, United States, Czech Republic, Slovakia) are doing their part. I’ll tell you who isn’t doing their part, however. It’s whoever is in charge of scheduling these games (I’m looking at you TSN, RDS and everyone else responsible). Seriously, why should the United States play all of their games at the incredibly convenient time of 3PM on weekdays, and the Russians and Czechs play nightly at midnight just to accommodate the Canadians’ desire to showcase their all-galaxy team?
Most of the first-round match ups for Canada are going to play out like a fight between a dove and a fighter jet, so why stuff them into prime time? Once the second round begins, I totally understand putting Canada in the top spot because all of the games will be must-see’s. But being force-fed an awful game that is as predictable as Ronnie and Sammi Sweetheart’s relationship trajectory is just plain stupid. Tonight we have to wait until midnight to watch a tasty contest between the Russians and Slovaks in a must win situation for Slovakia. This game should be fast and furious and everything that we expect from Olympic hockey. Unfortunately everyone but college kids, the jobless and the dredges of modern society are going to miss this one because it starts when people should be sleeping on a weeknight. Instead, during prime time, we get to watch what’s going to amount to a Mayan sacrifice on ice as the Canadians, presumably, annihilate the Swiss while the game becomes boring and unwatchable by the end of the first period.
I know about nationalistic pride and showcasing the host country, but for the sake of competition and the sake of the crown-jewel of the Winter Games, get some common sense. True hockey enthusiasts, even Canadians, would argue that the Russia-Slovakia match up should be the showcase game tonight. And don’t even get me started on the Empire State Building sized monkey wrench the women's hockey schedule is throwing in the gears of the men’s TV sked. Not knocking women's hockey at all, just some of these game times, locations and choices are as ridiculous as Devil fans throwing hats on the ice for Ilya Kovalchuk’s one goal performance last week.
Image Courtesy: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
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