With the World Championship starting May 4th, now is a good time to look at the teams participating in this years tournament. While the finals cuts are just being made, here are the rosters (as of May 3rd) for the teams in Group S. Note: all roster information from the IIHF website.
Czech Republic
Goalies: Jakub Kovar (HC Ceske Budejovice, ELH), Jakub Stepanek (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL)
Defense: Miroslav Blatak (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Petr Caslava (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Lukas Krajicek (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Zdenek Kutlak (HC Ambri-Piotta, NLA), Jakub Nakladal (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Ondrej Namac (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL)
Forwards: Michael Frolik (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Ales Hemsky (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Lukas Kaspar (Barys Astana, KHL), Jan Kovar (HC Plzen, ELH), David Krejci (Boston Bruins, NHL), Milan Michalek (Ottawa Senators, NHL), Petr Nedved (Bili Tygri Liberec, ELH), Jiri Novotny (Barys Astana, KHL), Jakub Petruzalek (Amur Khabarovsk, KHL), Tomas Plekanec (Montreal Canadiens), Petr Prucha (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Petr Tenkrat (Sparta Prague, ELH), Michal Vondrka (Slavia Prague, ELH)
World Ranking: 4th
Last Years Result: 3rd
Top Threat: Bring the firepower with some impressive names on offense. They should do well.
Weakness: Defense does not look as good as last year, taking a step back in goal by playing last year's backup as starter.
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
Denmark
Goalies: Fredrik Andersen (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Patrick Galbraith (Espoo Blues, SM-liiga), Simon Nielsen (Lukko Rauma, SM-liiga)
Defense: Mads Bodker (Leksands IK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Philip Hersby (Odense Bulldogs, Denmark), Jesper Jensen (Rogle BK, SEL), Kasper Jensen (BIK Karlskoga, HockeyAllsvenskan), Philip Larsen (Dallas Stars, NHL), Stefan Lassen (Malmo Redhawks, HockeyAllsvenskan), Daniel Nielsen (Hamburg Freezers, DEL)
Forwards: Lars Eller (Montreal Canadiens, NHL), Morten Green (Malmo Redhawks, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jannik Hansen (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Nichlas Hardt (Jokerit Helsinki, SM-liiga), Julian Jakobsen (Sodertalje SK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jesper Jensen (Hanburg Freezers, DEL), Kim Lykkeskov (SonderjyskE Vojens, Denmark), Morten Madsen (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Bjarke Moller (AaB Aalborg, Denmark), Frans Nielsen (New York Islanders, NHL), Morten Poulsen (IK Oskarshamn, HockeyAllsvenskan), Kirill Starkov (SonderjyskE Vojens, Denmark), Frederik Storm (Herlev Eagles, Denmark)
World Ranking: 12th
Last Years Result: 11th
Top Threat: This is probably the best offense they have had in years (maybe ever).
Weakness: Always does just enough to avoid the Relegation Round. Needs to do more than squeak by weaker teams.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Germany
Goalies: Dennis Endras (HIFK Helsinki, SM-liiga), Dimitrij Kotschnew (Atlant Mytishi, KHL)
Defense: Sinan Akdag (Krefeld Pinguine, DEL), Christopher Fischer (Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg, DEL), Nicolai Goc (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Justin Krueger (Charlotte Checkers, AHL), Kevin Lavallee (Kolner Haie, DEL), Florian Ondruschka (Straubing Tigers, DEL), Christoph Schubert (Hamburg Freezers, DEL)
Forwards: Alexander Barta (Malmo Redhawks, HockeyAllsvenskan), Sebastian Furchner (Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg, DEL), Marcel Goc (Florida Panthers, NHL), Philip Gogulla (Kolner Haie, DEL), Thomas Greilinger (ERC Ingolstadt, DEL), Kai Hospelt (Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg, DEL), Evan Kaufmann (DEG Dusseldorf, DEL), Marcus Kink (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Andre Rankel (Eisbaren Berlin, DEL), Patrick Reimer (DEG Dusseldorf, DEL), Felix Schutz (Kolner Haie, DEL), John Tripp (Kolner Haie, DEL), Christoph Ullmann (Alder Mannheim, DEL)
World Ranking: 8th
Last Years Result: 7th
Top Threat: Has put on 2 strong performances since being near-relegated in 2009. Will try to keep building on that momentum.
Weakness: Has not been able to break through against the top teams.
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
Italy
Goalies: Daniel Bellissimo (BIK Karlskoga, HockeyAllsvenskan), Andreas Bernard (SaiPa Lappeenranta, SM-liiga), Thomas Tragust (Sterzing Broncos, Italy)
Defense: Christian Borgatello (Bolzano Foxes, Italy), Matthew de Marchi (VIK Vasteras, HockeyAllsvenskan), Armin Helfer (Pustertal Bruneck, Italy), Trevor Johnson (HC Valpellice, Italy), Thomas Larkin (Colgate University, NCAA), Stefano Marchetti (HC Asiago, Italy), Nicholas Plastino (BIK Karlskoga, HockeyAllsvenskan)
Forwards: Luca Ansoldi (Milano Rossoblu, Italy), Anton Bernard (Borzano Foxes, Italy), Manuel de Toni (Alleghe Hockey, Italy), Derek Edwardson (Bolzano Foxes, Italy), Alexander Egger (Bolzano Foxes, Italy), Luca Felicetti (HC Valpellice, Italy), Nicola Fontanive (Alleghe Hockey, Italy), Patrick Iannone (SG Pontebba, Italy), Marco Insam (Bolzano Foxes, Italy), Diego Iori (SHC Frassa, Italy), Vincent Rocco (Alleghe Hockey, Italy), Giulio Scandella (Pustertal Bruneck, Italy), Robert Sirianni (HC Valpellice, Italy)
World Ranking:
Last Years Result: N/A (Newly Promoted)
Top Threat: It looks like goaltending is their “strongest” point, with two of them playing in Sweden and Finland.
Weakness: Developing Austria syndrome (too good for Division I, too bad for the main tournament)
Projected Finish: Relegation
Latvia
Goalies: Maris Jucer (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Edgars Masalskis (Yugra Khanty-Mansisk, KHL), Ervins Mustukovs (Odense Bulldogs, Denmark)
Defense: Janis Andersons (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Oskars Bartulis (Adirondack Phantoms, AHL), Oskars Cibulskis (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Guntis Galvins (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Rodrigo Lavins (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Georgijs Pujacs (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Krisjanis Redlihs (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Kristaps Sotnieks (Dinamo Riga, KHL)
Forwards: Armands Berzins (HPK Hameenlinna, SM-liiga), Roberts Bukarts (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Martins Cipulis (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Kaspars Daugavins (Ottawa Senators, NHL), Andris Dzerins (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Miks Indrasis (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Koba Jass (Liepajas Metalurgs, Latvia), Rolands Kenins (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Gints Meija (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Mikelis Redlihs (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Kaspars Saulietis (HPK Hameenlinna, SM-liiga), Aleksejs Sirokovs (Kometa Brno, ELH), Janis Sprukts (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Juris Stals (Dinamo Riga, KHL)
World Ranking: 13th
Last Years Result: 13th
Top Threat: Team chemistry. A lot of players played with Dinamo Riga in the KHL.
Weakness: They haven't produced a good goalie since the days of Irbe and Skudra.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Norway
Goalies: Pal Grotnes (Stjernen Frederikstad, GET-ligaen), Lars Haugen (Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Belarus), Lars Volden (Espoo Blues, SM-liiga)
Defense: Alexander Bonsaksen (Rogle Angelholm, SEL), Jonas Holos (Vaxjo Lakers (SEL), Juha Kaunismaki (Stavanger Oilers, GET-ligaen), Lars Lokken Ostli (Stohamar Drangons, GET-ligaen), Henrik Solberg (Stavanger Oilers, GET-ligaen), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Mats Trygg (HV71 Jonkoping, SEL)
Forwards: Morten Ask (HV71, SEL), Anders Bastiansen (Farjestad Karlstad, SEL), Kristian Forsberg (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Mads Hansen (Brynas Gavle, SEL), Marius Holtet (Farjestad Karlstad, SEL), Tommy Kristiansen (HV71 Jonkoping, SEL), Andreas Martinsen (Lillehammer IK, GET-ligaen), Ken Andre Olimb (Leksands IK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Mathis Olimb (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Mats Rosseli Olsen (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Martin Roymark (Timra IK, SEL), Per-Age Skroder (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Lars Erik Spets (Lorenskog IK, GET-ligaen), Patrick Thoresen (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL)
World Ranking: 9th
Last Years Result: 6th
Top Threat: Put on a strong performance last year and will try to repeat it with a lot of returning players form last year.
Weakness: Hard not to believe that it was a one-off year for them. Will need the offense and goaltending to be firing on all cylinders again.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Russia
Goalies: Konstantin Burulin (Atlant Mytishi, KHL), Semyon Varlamov (Colorado Avalanche, KHL)
Defense: Denis Denisov (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Dmitri Kalinin (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Yevgeni Medvedev (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Nikita Nikitin (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Alexei Yemelin (Montreal Canadiens, NHL)
Forwards: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Nikolai Kulyomin (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL), Yevgeni Kuznetsov (Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL), Yevgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL), Alexander Perezhogin (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Alexander Popov (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Alexander Svitov (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Alexei Tereshenko (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Nikolai Zherdev (Atlant Mytishi, KHL)
World Ranking: 3rd
Last Years Result: 4th
Top Threat: Always loaded on offense, this team will score with the best of them.
Weakness: Probably just me, but the goaltending seems underwhelming. While Burulin was top 5 in SV% in the KHL and Varlamov was just ok this season, it just doesn't stand out to me.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
Sweden
Goalies: Jhonas Enroth (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Viktor Fasth (AIK Stockholm, SEL)
Defense: Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Staffan Kronwall (Severstal Cherevpovets, KHL)
Forwards: Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars, NHL), Jonathan Ericsson (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Johan Franzen (Detroit Red Wings, NHL), Calle Jarnkrok (Brynas Gavle, SEL), Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Joel Lundqvist (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Niklas Persson (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Fredrik Pettersson (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Jakob Silfverberg (Ottawa Senator, NHL), Viktor Stalberg (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings)
World Ranking: 2nd
Last Years Result: 2nd
Top Threat: That is one hell of a team they put together. They will try (and not doubt will) get back to the gold medal game.
Weakness: Age? Too many Red Wings? I really do not know a weakness for this team.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
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