Are We Looking To Russia, Of All Places, For Our Shining Displays Of Sportsmanship?

PHT- On Monday, IIHF president Rene Fasel had some choice — and ominous — remarks for Team Russia, which left the ice before Canada’s anthem was played following Sunday’s 6-1 loss in the World Hockey Championship final.

“The IIHF has its own protocol and some sort of punishment will be handed down,” Fasel told TASS, per Reuters. “When I saw what had happened, I was very upset. In the 29 world championships that I have had the honor of attending, this is the first time I have seen something like this.

“What the Russian team did was completely out of order.”

Canada routed the Russians on the strength of four goals in 10 minutes spanning the first and second periods. The Canadians eventually pushed the lead to 6-0, before Evgeni Malkin scored a consolation marker for the Russians with under 10 minutes to play.

Following the game, the Russian team stayed out for the medal ceremony and individual award announcements, but left the surface prior to ‘O Canada’ being played.

Russia acted in a a way that was disrespectful to the sport? You don't say. Is this supposed to surprising or appalling? I can't say I'm feeling too outraged. We are talking about a country that is famous for being sore losers. Why do you think the majority of NHL players that don't find success in North America head back over to the KHL? It's a country that's built on the foundation of butt hurt. Take a poll of that communist scrap heap. I bet an overwhelming amount of people still think they won the Cold War. That's what Russia does. They stay losing, and they stay being bad at doing so. You think it is a coincidence that the players that stayed on the ice were NHL mainstays? Players like Ovechkin and Malkin that have had to swallow their pride for years as they have failed to accomplish their ultimate goal. Those players have been indoctrinated into what it is like to lose with class. Of course Kovalchuk was by the door escorting them off. That, along with a gazillion dollar contract and a sense of loyalty as minuscule as his playoff resume, is the reason he went back to Russia in the first place. He can't deal with not being the best. Expecting sportsmanship from Russia is like expecting to understand the Chinese lady when you order delivery. It's like asking a homeless person for a restaurant review, or expecting Chris Brown to open the door for his date (while the car's not moving). It's not part of who they are or who they are expected to be. Where is the world headed if we can start penalizing international sports teams for their societal customs? We should just be happy that they took time away from publicly executing homosexuals to play in the tournament. 

I am not going to lie. I do feel a little bit of sympathy for Russia here. Staying on the ice after you lost a championship is awful. It's awful when you are a pee wee youth player and it only gets worse as the stakes get bigger and play gets more competitive. No player would want to stay on the rink after getting lambasted 6-1. Maybe we could rearrange this whole IIHF ceremony so it isn't 6 hours long? First the medals, then the trophy, then confetti, then a fucking sports car complete with eye candy, and THEN they did the Canadian national anthem? Could you try to rub it in a little more? I would probably be screaming 'Oh FUCK Canada' by the time they started playing the song too. We going to make Russia go out with them after and sit in the corner and watch as they slug thousand dollar bottles of champagne and enough beer per person to make Wade Boggs question his drinking habits? How much respect is enough respect? You want people to stay for the national anthem then play it before the 30 minute song and dance. Especially when you could have started the award ceremony after the second period.