Showing Some International Love: Division I Group A Review

The final review of the World Championship's lower divisions. Here is Division I Group A (Preview here). And yes, the new system is still screwing with me, didn't realize that the top two teams get the promotion.

Division I - Group A (Host: Slovenia)

Standing
1 (Promoted) - Slovenia     5W - 0L - 15PTS - +8GD
2 (Promoted) - Austria       3W - 1OTL - 1L - 13PTS - +8GD
3 - Hungary                      2W - 3L - 6PTS - -3GD
4 - Japan                         1W - 1OTW - 1OTL - 2L - 6PTS - -1GD
5 - Great Britain               1W - 1OTW - 3L - 5PTS - -8GD
6 (Relegated) - Ukraine      0W - 1OTW - 1OTL - 3L - 3PTS - -4GD

Slovenia was definitely a blue collar team in this tournament, fighting  for every victory. There biggest win was 4-1 against Hungary. I'm still convinced that Kopitar took that 4-day break in the Canucks-Kings series to fly to Slovenia and help them beat Austria 3-2. They usually have the skill to survive the Top Division for a year or two, so next year will be an interesting one for them.

So if Slovenia had close games, Austria is bipolar. Either they lost by one or blew out their opponent. The only exception was a 5-4 win against Ukraine. Now for them to try to stay in the Top Division for more than a year.

Hungary, Hungary, Hungary...what do I need to say? The tournament seemed to be more about grooming their young goalie than actually competing for a promotion. They had three serviceable goalies in Szuper, Hetenyi, Budai, and they go to the guy who's last international experience was in 2010 at the U20 level. If you want to season him, play him against the weaker teams, not for the whole tournament. The only lost I question was the 5-4 one against Great Britain, but by that time both Austria and Slovenia clinched a promotion spot. Better luck next year Hungary.

Japan = Team of the Tournament. After a year off due to the tsunami/nuclear mess last year, they proved me wrong and not only stay afloat, but beat Austria in a shootout. They started the tournament shaky but that win against Austria gave them a boost as they ended the tournament with a win against Great Britain and a shootout loss against Ukraine.

Great Britain should be thankful they are still alive in Group A. They couldn't decide if they wanted to lose a close game, or lose in a blowout. The two victories they had were an overtime win and a regulation one were they relied on a penalty shot in the third to put them ahead. In hindsight, having your head coach miss half of the tournament to club obligations might have changed a few things, but they need to pick it up for next year.

I've felt sorry for a few teams during my reviews of the lower divisions. Ukraine tops that list. Every game minus the one against Hungary was decided by one goal. ONE GOAL! This is indicative of how close this tournament was from top to bottom. Now granted, the promotion spots were sealed before the last day of games, but with the way the 4 other teams were playing, spots 3-6 were wide open. It's a shame Ukraine had to take the fall. Just 5 years after last playing in the Top Division, they sink down 2 levels.