Showing Some International Love: World Junior Championship - Division I Group A

Well, the past few days were interesting huh? But I'm still maintaining my arm's length from the lockout (not to say I'm about to reach it though). So on to hockey that is getting played.

Just like the senior tournament, the World Junior Championship has split the Divisions into levels. Group A being the top and Group B being the bottom. Since the idea of one post taking up the whole site's main page doesn't sound appealing, I'll be breaking it up into the usual group-by-group previews. First up, Division I Group A, where host France will try to stay up after being promoted.

Note: Most data from the IIHF website.

Roster

Austria
Goalies: David Kickert (Vienna Capitals), Lukas Schluderbacher (VSV Villach), Phillipp Zopf (Red Bull Salzburg)
Defensemen: Christoph Duller (Red Bull Salzburg), Bernhard Fechtig (EHC Linz), Patrick Gaffal (EHC Linz), Philipp Lindner (Red Bull Salzburg), Lucas Loibnegger (Red Bull Salzburg), Niklas Mayrhauser (Fairbanks Ice Dogs), Christian Ofner (VSV Villach), Nicolas Paul (KAC Klagenfurt), Patrick Peter (Vienna Capitals), Landan Viveiros (Olds Grizzlys), Layne Viveiros (Portland Winterhawks)
Forwards: Daniel Ban (VSV Villach), Patrick Berr (KAC Klagenfurt), Johannes Bischofberger (Red Bull Salzburg), Alexander Cijan (Mora IK), Philipp Cirtek (Laconia Leafs), Stephan Fellinger (Red Bull Salzburg), Martin Gigler (Vienna Capitals), Philipp Koczera (KAC Klagenfurt), Philipp Kreuzer (Mora IK), Clemens Kuchinka (Innsbruck Haie), Valentin Leiler (VSV Villach), Thomas Mader (Graz 99ers), Patrick Obrist (Red Bull Salzburg), Alexander Rauchenwald (VSV Villach), Smail Samardzic (Red Bull Salzburg), Kevin Schettina (Red Bull Salzburg), Patrick Schonaklener (Vienna Capitals)

Belarus
Goalies: Roman Boboriko (HK Gomel), Mikhail Karnaukhov (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Yan Shelepnyov (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Sergei Stepanov (Yunost Minsk)
Defensemen: Roman Dostanko (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Pavel Kazakevich (Yunost Minsk), Anton Kirechko (Metallurg Zhlobin), Nikita Kozlov (Yunost Minsk), Andrei Kravchenko (Yunost Minsk), Yevgeni Lisovets (Neman Grodno), Oleg Misyul (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), Ilya Rak (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Ivan Rybchik (Shakhtyor Soligorsk), Nikita Voles (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Dmitri Zalamai (Yunost Minsk), Dmitri Znakharenko (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk)
Forwards: Dmitri Ambrozheichik (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Alexei Baturevich (Shakhtyor Soligorsk), Denis Dalidovich (Minot Minotauros), Denis Drankov (HK Mogilyov), Ivan Dunayev (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Artur Gavrus (Neman Grodno), Artyom Kalashnikov (Nipawin Hawks), Alexander Karakulko (Yunost Minsk), Kirill Khvesyuk (Metallurg Zholbin), Alexander Kogalev (Yunost Minsk), Roman Kolenchukov (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk), Valeri Kubrakov (Yunost Minsk), Yevgeni Kuntsevich (Shakhtyor Soligorsk), Pavel Pechur (Shakhtyor Soligorsk), Renat Safin (Neman Grodno), Yevgeni Samokhin (Shakhtyor Soligorsk), Denis Sharin (HK Mogilyov), Vitali Valkov (HK Mogilyov), Yegor Voronov (HK Mogilyov), Artyom Zemlyankin (Khimik-SKA Novopolotsk), Dmitri Zhelnerovski (RTSOP Raubichi), Bogdan Zozon (Dynamo-Shinnik Bobruisk)

Denmark
Goalies: Sebastian Feuk (Rungsted IK), Mathias Hansen (Frederikshavn White Hawks), George Sorensen (Herning Blue Fox)
Defensemen: Sebastian Bergholt (Rodovre Mighty Bulls), Marco Illemann (Copenhagen Hockey), Rasmus Knudsen (Herning Blue Fox), Christoffer Lindhoj (Copenhagen Hockey), Rasmus Lyo (Odense Bulldogs), Patrick Madsen (Herning Blue Fox), Anders Thode (Frederikshavn White Hawks), Bjorn Uldall (Herning Blue Fox)
Forwards: Matthias Asperup (Copenhagen Hockey), Mathias Bau (Rodovre Mighty Bulls), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Portland Winterhawks), Nikolja Ehlers (EHC Biel), Sebastian Ehlers (Aalborg Pirates), Mads Eller (Frolunda HC), Martin Hojbjerg (Djurgarden IF), Mikkel Hojbjerg (Djurgarden IF), Nicki Kisum (Copenhagen Hockey), Kristoffer Lauridsen (Malmo IF Redhawks), Nicolai Meyer (Frederikshavn White Hawks), Patrick Rasmussen (Rodovre Mighty Bulls), Patrick Russell (Linkopings HC), Jonas Sass (Herlev Eagles), Thomas Sondergaad (Frederikshavn White Hawks), Thomas Spelling (Rogle BK)

France
Goalies: Julian Barrier-Heyligen (Gap Rapaces), Antoine Bonvalot (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups), Jimmy Darier (Lausanne HC), Alexis Neau (Angers Ducs)
Defensemen: Simon Barbero (Geneve-Servette HC), Alexis Besson (Amiens Gothiques), Gaetan Cannizzo (Brest Albatros), Martin Charpentier (Gap Rapaces), Pierre Crinon (Briancon Diables Rouges), Aurelien Dorey (Rouen Dragons), Raphael Faure (Rouen Dragons), Theo Lanvers (Rouen Dragons), Nicolas Leclerc (Amiens Gothiques), Quentin Mahier (Dijon Ducs), Brice Mansouri (Gap Rapaces), Damien Sanchez (Angers Ducs), Quentin Scolari (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups)
Forwards: Norbert Abramov (Gap Rapaces), Joris Bedin (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups), Kevin Bernillon (St. Lawerence Lions), Lou Bogdanoff (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups), Maurin Bouvet (Amiens Gothiques), Kevin Bozon (HC Lugano), Mathieu Briand (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups), Romain Carpentier (Amiens Gothiques), Cedric de Dio Balsamo (Briancon Diables Rouges), Floran Douay (Geneve-Servette HC), Guillaume Leclerc (Amiens Gothiques), Fabien Metais (Amiens Gothiques), Yann Millet (Geneve-Servette HC), Loic Mora (Geneve-Servette HC), Jordann Perret (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups), Victor Pivron (HC Lugano), William Pras (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups), Axel Rioux (Quebec Remparts), Marius Serer (Amiens Gothiques), Dimitri Thillet (Rouen Dragons), Remi Thomas (Amiens Gothiques), Nicolas Thos (Viry-Chatillon Jets)

Norway
Goalies: Espen Johansen (IF Frisk Asker), Steffen Soberg (Valerenga Oslo), Joachim Svendsen (Manglerud Star Oslo)
Defensemen: Nicolay Andresen (IF Frisk Asker), Martin Bjornland (Stjernen Fredrikstad), Emil Froshaug (Manglerud Star Oslo), Dag Christian Froystad (IF Frisk Asker), Iver Haland (Stjernan Fredrikstad), Erlend Lesund (Timra IK), Tallak Lyngseth (Valerenga Oslo), John Nicolay Nasgard (Valerenga Oslo), Mattias Norstebo (Brynas IF)
Forwards:Magnus Fischer (Valerenga Oslo), Marius Gunther (IF Frisk Asker), Andreas Heier (Stjernen Fredrikstad), Magnus Hoff (Valerenga Oslo), Jorgen Karterud (Valerenga Oslo), Jonas Knutsen (Prince Albert Raiders), Anders Pedersen (Sparta Sarpsborg), Espen Salo (IF Frisk Asker), Eirik Salsten (Storhamar Dragons), Markus Soberg (Frolunda HC), Andre Sorvik (Manglerud Star Oslo), Mathias Trettenes (Stavanger Oilers), Thomas Valkve Olsen (IF Frisk Asker), Sebastian Weberg (Green Bay Gamblers)

Slovenia
Goalies: Luka Gracnar (Red Bull Salzberg), Mitja Koren (Olimpija Ljubljana), Tomaz Trelc (HC Ceske Budejovice), Zan Us (Triglav Kranj)
Defensemen: Matic Brgant (Olimpija Ljubljana), Ales Jeklic (Mladi Jesenice), Nejc Kozar (Mladi Jesenice), Luka Kraigher (Mladi Jesenice), Miha Logar (Red Bull Salzburg), Luka Oberstar (Olimpija Ljubljana), David Planko (HK Celje), Mihael Potocnik (Triglav Kranj), Jurij Repe (Saint John Sea Dogs), Blaz Skrjanec (Triglav Kranj), Jure Stan (HDD Bled), Gal Zidan (Olimpija Ljubljana)
Forwards: Anze Bernik (Olimpija Ljubljana), Peter Bizalj (Mladi Jesenice), Klemen Drozg (Olimpija Ljubljana), Vid Hribljan (Mladi Jesenice), Nik Humar (Olimpija Ljubljana), Vid Jazbec (Mladi Jesenice), Luka Kalan (Mora IK), Najc Kastelic (HK Celje), Tadej Kelc (HK Maribor), Gregor Koblar (Red Bull Salzburg), Anze Matelic (Olimpija Ljubljana), Matic Ovsenar (Ogden Mustangs), Nik Pem (Mora IK), Miha Pesjak (Olimpija Ljubljana), Luka Petelin (Mora IK), Jaka Podrekar (Mladi Jesenice), Tadej Snoj (Olimpija Ljubljana), Jure Sotlar (Olimpija Ljubljana), Anze Torok (Mladi Jesenice), Nik Truden (Olimpija Ljubljana), Aljaz Uduc (Olimpija Ljubljana), Gal Zidan (Olimpija Ljubljana), Zan Zupan (Triglav Kranj)

Schedule

December 9
Slovenia vs. Belarus
Austria vs. Norway
France vs. Denmark

December 10
Belarus vs. Austria
Denmark vs Slovenia
Norway vs. France

December 12
Denmark vs. Austria
Belarus vs. Norway
France vs. Slovenia

December 13
Norway vs. Denmark
Slovenia vs. Austria
Belarus vs. France

December 15
Norway vs. Slovenia
Denmark vs. Belarus
Austria vs. France

Notables

• Wait, there is a player from a team in Olds? Somebody I know will be chirped (by me) over this.
• Former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Alpo Suhonen is part of the Austrian staff.
• Looking up the stats for Denmark head coach Brad Gratton, he could be the literal definition of a journeyman.
• Not surprising: France having a player who plays for the Quebec Remparts
• Surprising: Said player's name is very similar to a lead singer of Guns'N'Roses

Prediction

1 (Promoted) - Norway
2 - Denmark
3 - Belarus
4 - Slovenia
5 - Austria
6 (Relegated) - France

I almost want to say everything will be status quo, but there will be a few teams contending for the top. Denmark was relegated from the Championship last year and will try to regain their spot, but will fall short. Norway will make a charge up the standings and surprise everyone by ending up first and getting promotion. Belarus is another team that has potential for promotion. Slovenia ends up fourth, plain and simple. The battle to  not get relegated will be between Austria and France. France just got promoted from Group B last year, but their roster does not look as strong as Austria's. In the end, Austria survives again while France will be fighting it out in Group B once again.