Showing Some International Love: Olympic Pre-Qualification - Group G

So a bit of a change in plans around here. Since the CHLPA is done it would be pointless to add to the "Who's Ruining Hockey Now?" series. Also, quiet a few tournaments going on during the international break. In the case of the Olympic qualifying, I'm dropping the notable section, other than that the preview is just like last time. Group G takes place in Hungary, were the host looks to be the favourite in this event.

Note: Most data from the IIHF website.

World Rankings

18 - Hungary
24 - Netherlands
25 - Lithuania
30 - Croatia

Rosters

Rosters as of November 5th

Hungary

Goalies: Bence Balizs (Sapa Fehervar), Krisztian Budai (Miskolci JJSE), Zoltan Hetenyi (Cincinnati Cyclones), Jozsef Pleszkan (Ujpesti TE), Miklos Rajna (Sapa Fehervar)
Defense: Balazs Goz (Ujpesti TE), Adam Hegyi (Miskolci JJSE), Peter Hetenyi (Sapa Fehervar), Andras Horvath (Sapa Fehervar), Daniel Kiss (DAB Dunaujvaros), Balazs Lada (Miskolci JJSE), Attila Orban (Sapa Fehervar), Tamas Pozsgai (Sapa Fehervar), Tamas Sille (Sapa Fehervar), Viktor Szelig (Briancon Diables Rouges), Bence Sziranyi (Miskolic JJSE), Viktor Tokaji (Sapa Fehevar)
Forwards: Istvan Bartalis (IF Troja Ljungby), Andras Benk (Sapa Fehervar), Nikandrosz Galanisz (DAB Dunaujvaros), Roland Hajos (Sapa Fehervar), Janos Hari (MODO Ornskoldsvik), Daniel Koger (South Carolina Stingrays), Csaba Kovacs (Sapa Fehervar), Balaz Ladanyi (Sapa Fehervar), Balint Magosi (Sapa Fehervar), Arpad Mihaly (Sapa Fehervar), Gergo Nagy (Miskolci JJSE), Attila Nemeth (Sapa Fehervar), Attila Pavuk (DAB Dunaujvaros), Ladislav Sikorcin (Sapa Fehervar), Istvan Sofron (Sapa Fehervar), Balazs Somogyi (DAB Dunaujvaros), Adrian Toth (Sapa Fehervar), Janos Vas (Dijon Ducs), Marton Vas (Sapa Fehervar)

Netherlands

Goalies: Ian Meierdres (Tillburg Trappers), Deniz Mollen (Eindhoven Kemphanen), Martijn Oosterwijk (Friesland Flyers), Fabian Schotel (HYS The Hague)
Defense: Michael Brandasu (Stavanger Oilers), Nick de Jong (HYS The Hague), Wesley Hendriks (Eindhaven Kemphanen), Mike Overweg (Eindhaven Kemphanen), Jurryt Smid (Friesland Flyers), Reinier Staats (Eindhaven Kemphanen), Erik Tummers (Geleen Smoke Eaters), Joy Turpijn (Amsterdam Gs), Dax van de Velden (Amsterdam Gs), Ivy van den Heuvel (Tillburg Trappers), Max van Lieshout (Tillburg Trappers), Jordy van Oorschot (HYS The Hague), Bjorn Willemse (Tillberg Trappers)
Forwards: Mickey Bastings (Tillburg Trappers), Kevin Bruijsten (Friesland Flyers), Mitch Bruijsten (Geleen Smoke Eaters), Tony Demelinne (HYS The Hague), Diederick Hagemeijer (Tillburg Trappers), Levi Houkes (HYS The Hague), Raphael Joly (HYS The Hague), Marcel Kars (Amsterdam Gs), Jan-Jaap Natte (HYS The Hague), Joey Oosterveld (Amsterdam Gs), Marco Postma (HYS The Hague), Akim Pamoul (Geleen Smoke Eaters), Jamie Schaafsma (Allen Americans), Peter van Biezen (Tillbrug Trappers), Ritchie van Hulten (Tillburg Trappers), Lars van Sloun (Geleen Smoke Eaters), Roland Wurm (HYS The Hague)

Lithuania

Goalies: Arunas Aleinikovas (Energija Elektrenai), Mantas Armalis (Mora IK), Nerijus Dauksevicius (Energija Elektrenai), Donatas Zukovas (Energija Elektrenai)
Defense: Nerijus Alisauskas (Liepajas Metalurgs), Rolandas Aliukonis (Energija Elektrenai), Andrej Burakov (Energija Elektrenai), Lukas Burneika (Kedainiai LRK), Sarunas Citavicius (Kedainiai LRK), Andrius Kaminskas (Romford Raiders), Arturas Katulis (Berkut Kyiv), Karolis Kubilius (Energija Elektrenai), Valdas Pikcius (Energija Elektrenai), Artur Rybakov (Baltica Vilnius), Benas Silinskas (Kedainiai LRK), Justinas Vezelis (Energija Elektrenai), Tomas Vysniauskas (Energija Elektrenai)
Forwards: Aivaras Bendzius (Ilves Tampere), Daniel Bogdziul (Ilves Tampere), Aimas Fiscevas (Baltica Vilnius), Remigijus Guoga (Kedainiai LRK), Vytautas Jagelavicius (Energija Elektrenai), Deividas Kazlauskas (Energija Elektrenai), Marius Krikstanaitis (Kedainiai LRK), Dovydas Kulevicius (Energija Elektrenai), Sarunas Kuliesius (Energija Elektrenai), Marius Lomakin (Energija Elektrenai), Mantas Marcinkevicius (Energija Elektrenai), Laisvydas Rimkus (Energija Elektrenai), Edgar Rybakov (Baltica Vilnius), Justas Steponaitis (Energija Elektrenai), Dovydas Streckis (Kedainiai LRK), Povilas Verenis (Liepajas Metalurgs), Jonas Viknius (Kedainiai LRK), Algimantas Visockas (Energija Elektrenai), Andrejus Zidkovas (Energija Elektrenai)

Croatia

Goalies: Tihomir Filipec (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Ivan Krpes (Mladost Zagreb), Mate Tomljenovic (HKm Zloven), Andrej Vasiljevic (HK 36 Skalica)
Defense: Marko Ljubic (Mladost Zagreb), Kenneth MacAulay (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Luka Markovic (Dukla Trenic), Nikola Senzel (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Mario Sertic (Francais Volent Paris), Andrew Sertich (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Ivan Sijan (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Borna Silovic (HKm Zloven), Fran Srketic (Mladost Zagreb), Marko Tadic (Mladost Zagreb), Niksa Trstenjak (Mladost Zagreb)
Forwards: Mislav Blagus (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Ivan Brencun (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Mario Cunko (Mladost Zagreb), Tomislav Cunko (Mladost Zagreb), Nikola Grahovar (Mladost Zagreb), John Hecimovic (EC Dornbirn), Dominik Kanaet (MHC Martin), Janko Kucera (Mladost Zagreb), Igor Lazic (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Marko Lovrencic (Croatia), Zvonimir Lovrencic (Mladost), Tadija Miric (Mladost Zagreb), Mario Novak (Mladost Zagreb), Filip Orescanin (KHL Medvescak Zagreb), Borna Rendulic (HPK Hameenliina), Miro Smerdelj (Mladost Zagreb), Petar Trstenjak (KHL Medvescak Zagreb)

Schedule

November 9
Netherlands - Croatia
Lithuania - Hungary

November 10
Netherlands - Lithuania
Hungary - Croatia

November 11
Croatia - Lithuania
Hungary - Netherlands

Last 5 International Matches

Hungary: Loss (Great Britain) - Loss (Austria) - Loss (Slovenia) - Win (Ukraine) - Win (Japan)
Netherlands: Win (Netherlands) - Loss (South Korea) - Loss (Poland) - Win (Australia) - Win (Romania)
Lithuania: Loss (Netherlands) - Loss (Romania) - Win (Australia) - Loss (South Korea) - Loss (Poland)
Croatia: Won (Serbia) - Won (Israel) - Won (Mexico) - Won (Iceland) - Won (Serbia)

Predictions

1 (Qualify) - Hungary
2 - Croatia
3 - Netherlands
4 - Lithuania

Hungary seems too good to not end up first. They have been slipping for a while, but will regain momentum during this tournament. Croatia streamrolled past teams in the previous round, but they were up against weaker opponents. Croatia ends up toppling a few better ranked teams, but Hungary wins that match-up and qualifies for the next round. I can't get over how the Netherlands are better than Lithuania. It just seems weird to me, but here we are. The Netherlands take third place and Lithuania finishes last.