Here is the second preview of the World Championship, looking over the weaker of the two groups: Group Helsinki.
Note: Most information from the IIHF website.
Austria
Goalies: Bernhard Starkbaum (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Rene Swette (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL)
Defense: Mario Altmann (EC VSV, EBEL), Florian Iberer (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL), Sven Klimbacher (Vienna Capitals, EBEL), Andre Lakos (Vienna Capitals, EBEL), Robert Lukas (Black Wings Linz, EBEL), Thomas Pock (Lake Erie Monsters, AHL), Martin Schumnig (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL), Gerhard Unterluggauer (EC VSV, EBEL)
Forwards: Gregor Baumgartner (Black Wings Linz, EBEL), Raphael Herburger (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL), Thomas Hundertpfund (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL), Matthias Iberer (Graz 99ers, EBEL), Thomas Koch (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL), Manuel Latusa (EC Red Bulls Salzburg, EBEL), Daniel Oberkofler (Black Wings Linz, EBEL), Markus Peintner (EC VSV, EBEL), Michael Raffl (Leksands IF, HockeyAllsvenskan), David Schuller (Klagenfurter AC, EBEL), Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Daniel Welser (EC Red Bulls Salzburg, EBEL)
World Ranking: 15th
Last Years Result: 2nd (Division I, Group A)
Top Threat: Will be entering the tournament feeling good about getting a spot in the Olympics next year.
Weakness: There's a reason bouncing between the World Championship and Division I is called Austria syndrome.
Projected Finish: Relegation
Finland
Goalies: Joni Ortio (HIFK Helsinki, SM-liiga), Antti Raanta (Assat Pori, SM-liiga)
Defense: Juuso Hietanen (Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod, KHL), Janne Jalasvaara (Dynamo Moscow, KHL), Lasse Kukkonen (Rogle BK, SEL), Teemu Laakso (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL), Sami Lepisto (Lev Praha, KHL), Tuukka Mantyla (Tappara Tampere, SM-liiga), Ilari Melart (HIFK Helsinki), Ossi Vaananen (Jokerit Helsinki, SM-liiga)
Forwards: Juha-Matti Aaltonen (Rogle BK, SEL), Marko Anttila (TPS Turku, SM-liiga), Juha-Pekka Haataja (Karpat Oulu, SM-liiga), Niklas Hagman (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL), Juha-Pekka Hytonen (Amur Khabarovsk, KHL), Petri Kontiola (Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL), Jarno Koskiranta (Tappara Tampere, SM-liiga), Janne Pesonen (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Antti Pihlstrom (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), Sakari Salminen (KalPa Kuopio, SM-liiga), Veli-Matti Savinainen (Assat Pori, SM-liiga), Ville Viitaluoma (HPK Hameenlinna, SM-liiga)
World Ranking: 2nd
Last Years Result: 4th
Top Threat: Basically new team, fresh start.
Weakness: Roster looks weaker than last year.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
France
Goalies: Florian Hardy (Angers, France), Cristobal Huet (Lausanne HC, NLB), Fabrice Lhenry (Rouen, France)
Defense: Yohann Auvitu (JYP Jyvaskyla, SM-liiga), Vincent Bachet (Amiens Gothiques, France), Nicolas Besch (Cracovia Krakow, Poland), Kevin Hecquefeuille (Karlskrona HK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jonathan Janil (Rouen, France) Antonin Manavian (Innsbruck Haie, EBEL), Maxime Moisand (Odense Bulldogs, Denmark)
Forwards: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Skelleftea AIK, SEL), Charles Bertrand (Lukko Rauma, SM-liiga), Tim Bozon (Kamloops Blazers, WHL), Teddy Da Costa (GKS Tychy, Poland), Julien Desrosiers (Rouen, France), Damien Fleury (Sodertalje SK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Anthony Guttig (Tranas AIF, Sweden), Brian Henderson (Angers, France), Laurent Meunier (Straubing Tigers, DEL), Damien Raux (Mulhouse, France), Antoine Roussel (Dallas Stars, NHL), Sacha Treille (Sparta Praha, ELH), Yorick Treille (Red Bull Salzburg, EBEL)
World Ranking: 14th
Last Years Result: 9th
Top Threat: Improved offense, Huet back in net.
Weakness: Defense seems weaker, might cause a low finish for them.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Germany
Goalies: Dennis Endras (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Rob Zepp (Eisbaren Berlin, DEL)
Defense: Torsten Ankert (Kolner Haie, DEL), Jens Baxmann (Eisbaren Berlin, DEL), Christian Ehrhoff (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Nicolai Goc (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Frank Hordler (Eisbaren Berlin, DEL), Benedikt Kohl (Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg, DEL), Moritz Muller (Kolner Haie, DEL)
Forwards: Marcel Goc (Florida Panthers, NHL), Philip Gogulla (Kolner Haie, DEL), Thomas Greilinger (ERC Ingolstadt, DEL), Patrick Hager (ERC Ingolstadt, DEL), Marcus Kink (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Frank Mauer (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Marcel Noebels (Adirondack Phantoms, AHL), Andre Rankel (Eisbaren Berlin, DEL), Felix Schutz (Kolner Haie, DEL), Yannic Seidenberg (Alder Mannheim, DEL), John Tripp (Kolner Haie, DEL), Christoph Ullmann (Alder Mannheim, DEL), Michael Wolf (Iserholn Roosters, DEL)
World Ranking: 10th
Last Years Result: 12th
Top Threat: At face value, roster looks more improved. Darkhorse potential.
Weakness: Again, needs to break through the darkhorse status.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Latvia
Goalies: Kristers Gudlevskis (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Maris Jucer (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Edgars Masalskis (Yugra Khanty-Mansisk, KHL)
Defense: Janis Andersons (Kompanion Kyiv, Ukraine), Ralfs Freibergs (Bowling Green State University, NCAA), Arturs Kulda (Winnipeg Jets, NHL), Maris Jass (Hannover Scorpions, DEL), Georgijs Pujacs (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Krisjanis Redlihs (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Agris Saviels (Kompanion Kyiv, Ukraine), Kristaps Sotnieks (Dinamo Riga, KHL)
Forwards: Armands Berzins (Kompanion Kyiv, Ukraine), Martins Cipulis (Lev Praha, KHL), Lauris Darzins (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Andris Dzerins (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Miks Indrasis (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Koba Jass (Rytiri Kladno, ELH), Roberts Jekimovs (SaiPa Lappeenranta, SM-liiga), Rolands Kenins (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Gints Meija (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Vitalijs Pavlovs (Dinamo Riga, KHL), Aleksejs Sirokovs (Red Ice Martigny, NLB), Janis Sprukts (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Juris Stals (HK SKP Poprad, Slovakia)
World Ranking: 11th
Last Years Result: 10th
Top Threat: It's refreshing to see a Latvian roster that isn't dominated by Dinamo Riga players.
Weakness: Still Latvia, hard to see any upsets happening.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Russia
Goalies: Ilya Bryzgalov (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Vasili Koshechkin (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL), Semyon Varlamov (Colorado Avalanche, KHL)
Defense: Anton Belov (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Yevgeni Biryukov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Denis Denisov (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Yevgeni Medvedev (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL)
Forwards: Artem Anisimov (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Denis Kokarev (Dynamo Moscow, NHL), Ilya Kovalchuk (New Jersey Devils, NHL), Andrei Loktionov (New Jersey Devils, NHL), Sergei Mozyakin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL) Alexander Perezhogin (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Kirill Petrov (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL), Alexander Popov (Avangard Omsk, KHL), Alexander Radulov (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Alexander Svitov (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL), Alexei Tereshenko (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL)
World Ranking: 1st
Last Years Result: 1st
Top Threat: Defending champs, roster still looks strong enough to defend title.
Weakness: Goaltending is the only huMANGous big question I have about them.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
Slovakia
Goalies: Julius Hudacek (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Jaroslav Janus (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Rastislav Stana (CSKA Moscow, KHL)
Defense: Marek Daloga (HC Pardubice), Milan Jurcina (Lukko Rauma, SM-liiga), Branislav Mezei (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, KHL), Vladimir Mihalik (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Andrej Sekera (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Michal Sersen (Slovan Bratislava), Rene Vydareny (HC Ceske Budejovice, ELH)
Forwards: Martin Bartek (HC Pardubice, ELH), Mario Bliznak (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Libor Hudacek (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Tomas Kopecky (Florida Panthers, NHL), Roman Kukumberg (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Michel Miklik (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Peter Olvecky (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Branko Radivojevic (Spartak Moscow, KHL), Miroslav Satan (Slovan Bratislava, KHL), Jozef Stumpel (HK Nitra, Extraliga), Tomas Surovy (Lev Praha, KHL), Tomas Zaborsky (Avangard Omsk, KHL)
World Ranking: 6th
Last Years Result: 2nd
Top Threat: The goaltending does look better than last year.
Weakness: Satan? Stumpel? 2002 was a long time ago boys.
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
United States of America
Goalies: Ben Bishop (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), John Gibson (Norfolk Admirals), Cal Heeter (Adirondack Phantoms, AHL)
Defense: Chris Butler (Calgary Flames, NHL), Matt Carle (Tampa Bay Lightning), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Matt Hunwick (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Erik Johnson (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Jamie McBain (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg Jets, NHL)
Forwards: Nick Bjugstad (Florida Panthers, NHL), Bobby Butler (Nashville Predators, NHL), Ryan Carter (New Jersey Devils, NHL), Stephen Gionta (New Jersey Devils, NHL), Danny Kristo (Hamilton Bulldogs, AHL), Drew LeBlanc (Chicago Blackhawks), David Moss (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL), Aaron Palushaj (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Craig Smith (Nashville Predators, NHL), Tim Stapleton (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Nate Thompson (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL)
World Ranking: 7th
Last Years Result: 7th
Top Threat: Going younger, should bode well for the future of US Hockey.
Weakness: With all the Avs players on the roster, you hope they can keep their minds off Vegas (yes yes, recycled this joke).
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
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