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

I would like to know how far in advance the IIHF picked the host country for this event. Romania was just promoted from Group B and is the host for this tournament. Will they give the home crowd something to cheer for? Let's see...

Note: Most data from the IIHF website.

Roster

Hungary
Goalies: Oliver Agoston (Espoo Blues), Jozsef Pleszkan (UTE Budapest)
Defensemen: Mate Arany (Sapa Fehervar), Balint Arkovics (Sapa Fehervar), Balint Bojko (MAC Budapest), Robert Domotor (UTE Budapest), Rene Lerant (Ferencvaros Budapest), Attila Reiter (Sapa Fehervar), Matyas Vojtko (HC Nove Zamky)
Forwards: Csanad Erdely (Sapa Fehervar), Zalan Fliszar (Vasas Budapest), Peter Gagyor (Vasas Budapest), Szilard Hamvai (Sapa Fehervar), Ferenc Kocsis (Sapa Fehervar), Aron Konczei (Debrecen HC), Mark Miskolczi (Miskolci JJSE), Krisztian Nagy (Miskolci JJSE), Laszlo Rito (Miskolic JJSE), Tamas Sarpatki (Sapa Fehervar), Daniel Szabo (Sapa Fehervar), Gergo Toth (Sapa Fehervar), Peter Vincze (Sapa Fehervar)

Japan
Goalies: Shun Hitomi (Kansai University), Yuya Wakimoto (Toyo University)
Defensemen: Jun Hashimoto (Hokkai HS), Takahiro Ishikawa (Waseda University), Kazunari Koizumi (Chuo University), Kakeru Osawa (Meiji University), Kazuki Sarashiya (Meiji University), Hiroto Sato (Toyo University), Yoshiya Yokoyama (Hosei University)
Forwards: Makuru Furuhashi (Chuo University), Yushiroh Hirano (Shirakaba Gakuen HS), Tomonori Kanemura (Keio University), Mikihisa Kitajima (Meiji University), Ryo Nagai (Meiji University), Shogo Nakajima (Chuo University), Maito Omuku (Meiji University), Yuto Osawa (Mora IK), Kosuke Otsu (Meiji University), Ryota Sarashiya (Kansai University), Kenta Takagi (Nippon Paper Cranes), Shun Tateda (Kansai University), Hiroyoshi Umeno (Toyo University)

Lithuania
Goalies: Simas Baltrunas (Liepajas Metalurgs), Donatas Zukovas (Energija Elektrenai)
Defensemen: Kasparas Falkas (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Paulius Gintautas (Kristall Elektrostal), Dalius Mikalauskas (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Egdar Protcenko (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Vaidotas Rastenis (Baltica Vilnius), Justas Steponaitis (Energija Elektrenai), Nikodemas Tuckus (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius)
Forwards: Ervinas Bazevicius (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Rokas Bazys (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Aivaras Bendzius (Ilves Tampere), Daniel Bogdziul (Ilves Tampere), Edvinas Boroska (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Ilja Cetvertak (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Ugnius Cizas (Sport Vaasa), Dominykas Deksnys (Vilniaus VNA), Aimas Fiscevas (Baltica Vilnius), Simonas Gorelis (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Mantas Marcinkevicius (Energija Elektrenai), Danielius Nomanovas (Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius), Lukas Vezelis (Energija Elektrenai)

Netherlands
Goalies: Mike Beeren (Eindhoven High Techs), Deniz Mollen (Eindhoven Kemphanen)
Defensemen: Berry Donders (Eindhoven Kemphanen),Willem Gloudemans (Eindhoven High Techs), Mark Hoekstra (Friesland Flyes), Kilian van Goep (Eindhoven High Techs), Rick van Haren (Dusseldorfer EG), Jordy Verkiel (Tilburg Trappers), Thijs Voorn (Eindhoven High Techs), Luke Zwartbol (Eindhoven High Techs)
Forwards: Koen Bakker (Dells Ducks), Willem Bless (Eindhoven High Techs), Reno de Hondt (Malmo IF), Bob De Pont (Ruijters Eaters Geleen), Danny Donders (Dordrecht Lions), Luka Heutmekers (Ruijters Eaters Geleen), Jordy Knoren (Eindhoven High Techs),Tom Marx (Eindhoven Kemphanen), Tony Ras (Friesland Flyers), Cas Staps (Malmo IF), Danny Stempher (Eindhoven High Techs), Floris van Lieshout (Tilburg Trappers)

Romania
Goalies: Otto Onodi (HSC Csikszereda), Zoltan Toke (Debrecin AHK)
Defensemen: Gergo Biro (HK Nitra), Matyas Biro (HK Nitra), Florian Bocu (Steaua Bucharest), Huba Bors (HSC Csikszereda), Dennis Dumitru (Steaua Bucharest), Szabolcs Hildebrand (HSC Csikszereda), Detre Hodos (Vasas Bucharest), Tihamer Gyorfy (Progym Gheorgheni), Zsolt Matyas (HSC Csikszereda), Zoltan Molnar (HSC Csikszereda), Csanad Okos (Debrecin AHK), Nandor Pataki (HSC Csikszereda), Alpar Sallo (HSC Csikszereda), Nandor Tamas (MAC Budapest)
Forwards: Hunor Csergo (Progym Gheorgheni), Hugo Gecse (HSC Csikszereda), Roberto Gliga (Tingsryds AIF), Hunor Marton (HK Trnava), Zsombor Molnar (HSC Csikszereda), Daniel Tranca (HSC Csikszereda)

Spain
Goalies: Bruno Gonzalez (CH Jaca), Guillermo Sol (FC Barcelona)
Defensemen: Hector Alastruey (FC Barcelona), Ruben Fuente (CH Jaca), Inigo Gainza (CHH Txuri-Urdin), Daniel Medrano (FC Barcelona), Adrian Ubieto (CH Jaca), Jorge Vea (CHH Txuri-Urdin)
Forwards: Daniel Alvarez (CH Jaca), Jorge Burgos (Anglet Hormadi), Alejandro Carbonell (CH Jaca), Angel Fernandez (SAD Majadahonda), Patricio Fuentes (CHH Txuri-Urdin), Gaston Gonzalez (CH Jaca), Albino Daniel Lacasa (CH Jaca), Aitor Meco (SAD Majadahonda), Pablo Puyuelo (CH Txuri-Urdin), Carlos Quevedo (Ilves Tampere), Carlos Rivero (Goderich Sailors), Ignacio Solorzano (CHH Txuri-Urdin)

Schedule

December 9
Lithuania vs. Netherlands
Hungary vs. Japan
Romania vs. Spain

December 10
Lithuania vs. Hungary
Japan vs. Spain
Netherlands vs. Romania

December 12
Hungary vs. Spain
Japan vs. Netherlands
Lithuania vs. Romania

December 13
Netherlands vs. Hungary
Spain vs. Lithuania
Romania vs. Japan

December 15
Japan vs. Lithuania
Spain vs. Netherlands
Hungary vs. Romania

Notables

• Japan head coach Mark Mahon played at Concordia University in the 1980's before continuing his career in Germany. Only played 48 games in the DEL.
• Netherlands has a decent coaching staff. Head coach Bohuslav Subr played in the OHL for Guelph for three years, another year in the ECHL, then played out his career in the Netherlands.
• Netherlands assistant coach Paul Vincent was drafted by the Leafs in 1993 (6 round) and really bounced around in the minors.
• Romania head coach Otto Keresztes played defense in Germany for over a decade. He only played 27 games in the DEL in the mid-1990's.
• Carrying 7 or 8 defensemen is common. Romanian carrying 14 is mind-numbing. "The Trap" anyone?
• The only country to have an all-native (as in native to that country) coaching staff is Spain.

Prediction

1 (Promoted) - Japan
2 - Lithuania
3 - Hungary
4 - Spain
5 - Netherlands
6 (Relegated) - Romania

This group really looks like it will stay the same. Japan will get promoted to Division I Group B after being relegated. Lithuania and Hungary may put up a fight, but not much will come out of it. Spain and Netherlands survive another year. Romania goes back down to Division II Group B.