With the World Championship starting May 4th, now is a good time to look at the teams participating in this years tournament. Here are the rosters (as of May 3rd) for the teams in Group H. Note: all roster information from the IIHF website.
Belarus
Goalies: Vitali Koval (Torpedo Nizhni Novogorod, KHL), Andrei Mezin (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Dmitri Milchakov (Metallurg Zhlobin, Belarus)
Defense: Pavel Chernaok (Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Belarus), Vladimir Denisov (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Oleg Goroshko (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Roman Graborenko (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL), Dmitri Korobov (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Viktor Kostyuchyonok (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, KHL), Nikolai Stasenko (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL)
Forwards: Sergei Drozd (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Mikhail Grabovski (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL), Alexei Kalyuzhni (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Alexander Kitarov (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Andrei Kolosov (HK Gomel, Belarus), Konstantin Koltsov (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Yevgeni Kovyrshin (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL), Alexander Kulakov (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Dmitri Meleshko (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Andrei Stas (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Andrei Stepanov (Amur Khabarovsk, KHL), Alexei Ugarov (Torpedo Nizhni Novogorod, KHL)
World Ranking: 11th
Last Years Result: 14th
Top Threat: Usually a decent team that can stay in the middle of the standings.
Weakness: Will need a strong tournament after avoiding relegation last year.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Canada
Goalies: Devan Dubnyk (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
Defense: Jay Bouwmeester (Calgary Flames, NHL), Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Dion Phaneuf (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL), Luke Schenn (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San Jose Sharks, NHL)
Forwards: Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars, NHL), Alexandre Burrows (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Jordan Eberle (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks), Evander Kane (Winnipeg Jets, NHL), Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg Jet, NHL), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Teddy Purcell (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Patrick Sharp (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), John Tavares (New York Islanders, NHL)
World Ranking: 5th
Last Years Result: 5th
Top Threat: Actually have names this year, no need for a few guys who are over in Europe.
Weakness: A couple Leafs? Bouwmeester? These guys aren't getting past the Preliminary Round.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
Finland
Goalies: Kari Lehtonen (Dallas Stars, NHL), Karri Ramo (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Petri Vehanen (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL)
Defense: Juuso Hietanen (Torpedo Nizhni Novogorod, KHL), Topi Jaakola (Lulea HF, SEL), Joonas Jarvinen (Pelicans Lahti, SM-liiga), Lasse Kukkonen (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Mikko Maenpaa (Amur Khabarovsk, KHL), Janne Niskala (Atlant Mytishi, KHL), Anssi Salmela (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Ossi Vaananen (Jokerit Helsinki, SM-liiga)
Forwards: Valtteri Filppula (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Mikael Granlund (HIFK Helsinki, SM-liiga), Jarrko Immonen (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Jesse Joensuu (HV71 Jonkoping, SEL), Jussi Jokinen (Carolina Hurricane, NHL), Niko Kapanen (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Mikko Koivu (Minnesota Wild, NHL), Leo Komarov (Dynamo Moscow, KHL), Petri Kontiola (Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL), Janne Pesonen (HIFK Helsinki, SM-liiga), Antti Pihlstrom (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Mika Pyorala (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL)
World Ranking: 1st
Last Years Result: 1st
Top Threat: Kari Lehtonen helped Dallas get close to a playoff birth and will try to bring that momentum over for the co-host country.
Weakness: No Teemu? No Saku? These ain't your dad's Finnish team. Going to be facing extra pressure this year as defending champs and co-host.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
France
Goalies: Florian Hardy (Chamonix Chamois, France), Cristobal Huet (Fribourg-Gotteron, NLA), Fabrice Lhenry (Rouen Dragons, France)
Defense: Baptiste Amur (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups, France), Yohann Auvitu (JYP Jyvaskyla, SM-liiga), Vincent Bachet (Amiens Gothiques, France), Nicolas Besch (Cracovia Krakow, Poland), Kevin Hecquefeuille (Geneve-Servette, NLA), Antonin Manavian (Rouen Dragons, France), Alexandre Rouleau (Grenoble Bruleures de Loups, France)
Forwards: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Skelleftea AIK, SEL), Charles Bertrand (Lukko Rauma, SM-liiga), Stephane Da Costa (Ottawa Senators, NHL), Teddy Da Costa (GKS Tychy, Poland), Julien Desroisirs (Rouen Dragon, France), Damien Fleury (Timra IK, SEL), Anthony Guttig (Dijon Ducs, France), Brian Henderson (Angers Ducs, France), Laurent Meunier (Straubing Tigers, DEL), Damien Raux (Angers Ducs, France), Antoine Roussel (Chicago Wolves, AHL), Sacha Treille (Sparta Phague, ELH), Yorick Treille (Sparta Prague, ELH)
World Ranking: 14th
Last Years Result: 12th
Top Threat: Again, Huet is there backstopper. This year they seem to added more to their offense.
Weakness: Usually a weak team all around. Will be fighting to stay alive.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Kazahkstan
Goalies: Alexei Ivanov (Barys Astana, KHL), Vitali Kolesnik (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Vitali Yeremeyev (Barys Astana, KHL)
Defense: Yevgeni Fadeyev (Barys Astana, KHL), Vladislav Kolesnikov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazahkstan), Andrei Korabeinikov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazahkstan), Alexei Litvineko (Barys Astana, KHL), Vitali Novopashin (Barys Astana, KHL), Roman Savchenko (Barys Astana, KHL), Denis Shemelin (Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazahkstan), Alexei Troshinski (Vityaz Chekhov, KHL), Sergei Yakovenko (Sary-Arka Karaganda, Kazahkstan)
Forwards: Yevgeni Bumagin (Barys Astana, Kazahkstan), Dmitri Dudarev (Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazahkstan), Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev (Barys Astana, KHL), Fyodor Polishuk (Barys Astana, KHL), Konstantin Pushkaryov (Barys Astana, KHL), Konstantin Romanov (Barys Astana, KHL), Yevgeni Rymarev (Barys Astana, KHL), Konstantin Savenkov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazahkstan), Andrei Spiridonov (HK Astana, Kazahkstan), Roman Starchenko (Barys Astana, KHL), Dmitri Upper (Atlant Mytishi, KHL), Alexei Vorontsov (HK Astana, Kazahkstan), Talgat Zhailauov (Barys Astana, KHL)
World Ranking: 16th
Last Years Result: N/A (Newly Promoted)
Top Threat: Team chemistry, a lot of guys play with the Kazahk KHL team.
Weakness: Just got promoted so have to quickly adapt to this level of competition. Will be fighting for survival.
Projected Finish: Relegation
Slovakia
Goalies: Peter Hamerlik (Ocelari Trinec, ELH), Jan Laco (Lev Poprad, KHL)
Defense: Ivan Baranka (Spartak Moscow, KHL), Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins, NHL), Dominik Granak (Dynamo Moscow, KHL), Kristian Kudroc (Assat Pori, SM-liiga), Andrej Sekera (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Tomas Starosta (Yugra Khanty-Mansisk, KHL), Rene Vydareny (HC Ceske Budejovice, ELH)
Forwards: Milan Bartovic (Bili Tygri Liberec, ELH), Mario Bliznak (Sparta Prague, ELH), Marcel Hascak (Slovan Bratislava, Extraliga), Marcel Hossa (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Libor Hudacek (Slovan Bratislava, Extraliga), Tomas Kopecky (Florida Panthers, NHL), Michel Miklik (HC Kosice, Extraliga), Juraj Mikus (TPS Turku, SM-liiga), Branko Radivojevic (Atlant Mytishi, KHL), Miroslav Satan (Slovan Bratislava, Extraliga), Tomas Surovy (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Tomas Tatar (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)
World Ranking: 10th
Last Years Result: 10th
Top Threat: They got Chara. Game Over.
Weakness: Just like St. Louis: No Halak = No Finals. That, and some concern with age.
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
Switzerland
Goalies: Reto Barra (EHC Biel, NLA), Tobias Stephan (Geneve-Servette, NLA)
Defense: Goran Bezina (Geneve-Servette, NLA), Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Felicien Du Bois (Kloten Flyers, NLA), Philippe Furrer (SC Bern, NLA), Luca Sbisa (Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Mark Streit (New York Islanders, NHL)
Forwards: Andres Ambuhl (ZSC Lions Zurich), Damien Brunner (EV Zug, NLA), Simon Moser (SCL Tigers Langnau, NLA), Nino Niederreiter (New York Islanders, NHL), Benjamin Pluss (Fribourg-Gotteron, NLA), Kevin Romy (HC Lugano, NLA), Ivo Ruthemann (SC Bern, NLA), Morris Trachsler (Geneve-Servette, NLA), Roman Wick (Kloten Flyers, NLA)
World Ranking: 7th
Last Years Result: 9th
Top Threat: A lot of regulars on this team. The defense and goaltending look decent.
Weakness: Surprising lack of players registered for this team, may get tired early.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
United States of America
Goalies: Richard Bachman (Dallas Starts, NHL), John Curry (Hamburg Freezers, DEL), Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings, NHL)
Defense: Justin Braun (San Jose Sharks, NHL), Chris Butler (Calgary Flames, NHL), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Alex Goligoski (Dallas Stars, NHL), Jack Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers, NHL)
Forwards: Justin Abdelkader (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Cam Atkinson (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Joey Crabb (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL), Patrick Dwyer (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Ryan Lasch (Pelicans Lahti, SM-liiga), Kyle Oposo (New York Islanders, NHL), Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens, NHL), Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Jim Slater (Winnipeg Jets, NHL), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Nate Thompson (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL)
World Ranking: 6th
Last Years Result: 8th
Top Threat: Scoring should be no issue, should be interesting to see how Howard performs with a team not named the Red Wings in front of him.
Weakness: Coached by a guy employed by the Leafs. 'Nuff said.
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
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