World Ranking
1. Sweden
4. Czech Republic
7. Switzerland
11. Latvia
Team Roster
Czech Republic
Goalies:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Jakub Kovar
|
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)
|
Ondrej Pavelec
|
Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
|
Alexander Salak
|
SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
|
Defensemen:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Michal Barinka
|
Vitkovice Ostrava (Tipsport Extraliga)
|
Radko Gudas
|
Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
|
Tomas Kaberle
|
Rytiri Kladno (Tipsport Extraliga)
|
Lukas Krajicek
|
Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
|
Zbynek Michalek
|
Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
|
Michal Rozsival
|
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
|
Ladislav Smid
|
Calgary Flames (NHL)
|
Marek Zidlicky
|
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
|
Forwards:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Roman Cervenka
|
SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
|
Patrik Elias
|
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
|
Martin Erat
|
Washington Capitals (NHL)
|
Michael Frolik
|
Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
|
Martin Hanzal
|
Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
|
Ales Hemsky
|
Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
|
Jaromir Jagr
|
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
|
David Krejci
|
Boston Bruins (NHL)
|
Milan Michalek
|
Ottawa Senators (NHL)
|
Petr Nedved
|
Bili Tygri Liberec (Tipsport Extraliga)
|
Jiri Novotny
|
Lev Prague (KHL)
|
Ondrej Palat
|
Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
|
Tomas Plekanec
|
Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
|
Jakub Voracek
|
Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
|
Latvia
Goalies:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Kristers Gudlevskis
|
Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
|
Edgars Masalskis
|
HK Poprad (Slovak Extraliga)
|
Ervins Mustukovs
|
Esbjerg IK (Hockeyligaen)
|
Defensemen:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Oskars Bartulis
|
Donbass Donets’k (KHL)
|
Ralfs Freibergs
|
Bowling Green State University (NCAA)
|
Arturs Kulda
|
Salavat Yulayev Ufa (KHL)
|
Sandis Ozolins
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Georgijs Pujacs
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Krisjanis Redlihs
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Arvids Rekis
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Kristaps Sotnieks
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Forwards:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Armands Berzins
|
Beibarys Atyrau (Kazakhstan
Vyschaya Liga)
|
Marins Cipulis
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Lauris Darzins
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Kaspars Daugavins
|
Geneve-Servette HC (NLA)
|
Zemgus Grigensons
|
Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
|
Miks Indrasis
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Koba Jass
|
Bili Tygri Liberec (Tipsport Extraliga)
|
Martins Karsums
|
Dynamo Moscow (KHL)
|
Ronalds Kenins
|
ZSC Lions (NLA)
|
Vitalijs Pavlovs
|
Dinamo Riga (KHL)
|
Mikelis Redlihs
|
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
|
Janis Sprukts
|
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
|
Juris Stals
|
HK Poprad (Slovak Extraliga)
|
Herberts Vasiljevs
|
Krefeld Pinguine (DEL)
|
Sweden
Goalies:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Jhonas Enroth
|
Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
|
Jonas Gustavsson
|
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
|
Henrik Lundqvist
|
New York Rangers (NHL)
|
Defensemen:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Alexander Edler
|
Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
|
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
|
Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
|
Jonathan Ericsson
|
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
|
Niklas Hjalmarsson
|
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
|
Erik Karlsson
|
Ottawa Senators (NHL)
|
Niklas Kronwall
|
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
|
Johnny Oduya
|
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
|
Henrik Tallinder
|
Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
|
Forwards:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Daniel Alfredsson
|
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
|
Nicklas Backstrom
|
Washington Capitals (NHL)
|
Patrik Berglund
|
St. Louis Blues (NHL)
|
Jimmie Ericsson
|
Skelleftea AIK (SHL)
|
Loui Eriksson
|
Boston Bruins (NHL)
|
Carl Hagelin
|
New York Rangers (NHL)
|
Marcus Johansson
|
Washington Capitals (NHL)
|
Marcus Kruger
|
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
|
Gabriel Landeskog
|
Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
|
Gustav Nyquist
|
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
|
Daniel Sedin
|
Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
|
Jakob Silfverberg
|
Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
|
Alexander Steen
|
St. Louis Blues (NHL)
|
Henrik Zetterberg
|
Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
|
Switzerland
Goalies:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Reto Berra
|
Calgary Flames (NHL)
|
Jonas Hiller
|
Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
|
Tobias Stephan
|
Geneve-Servette HC (NLA)
|
Defensemen:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Severin Blindenbacher
|
ZSC Lions (NLA)
|
Raphael Diaz
|
Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
|
Roman Josi
|
Nashville Predators (NHL)
|
Mathias Seger
|
ZSC Lions (NLA)
|
Mark Streit
|
Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
|
Julien Vauclair
|
HC Lugano (NLA)
|
Patrick von Gunten
|
Kloten Flyers (NLA)
|
Yannick Weber
|
Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
|
Forwards:
Name
|
Club (League)
|
Andres Ambuhl
|
HC Davos (NLA)
|
Matthias Bieber
|
Kloten Flyers (NLA)
|
Simon Bodenmann
|
Kloten Flyers (NLA)
|
Damien Brunner
|
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
|
Luca Cunti
|
ZSC Lions (NLA)
|
Ryan Gardner
|
SC Bern (NLA)
|
Denis Hollenstein
|
Gevene-Servette HC (NLA)
|
Simon Moser
|
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
|
Nino Niederreiter
|
Minnesota Wild (NHL)
|
Martin Pluss
|
SC Bern (NLA)
|
Kevin Romy
|
Geneve-Servette HC (NLA)
|
Reto Suri
|
EV Zug (NLA)
|
Morris Trachsler
|
ZSC Lions (NLA)
|
Roman Wick
|
ZSC Lions (NLA)
|
Team Breakdown
Czech Republic: This isn't the best squad the Czechs could name, as Hudler and Vrbata are two of the more notable absences. They definitely brought a veteran squad (over half the team is over 30), it's just surprising they didn't complete it by naming Hasek the starter. Anyway, their offense is solid and shouldn't have too much trouble getting points. The defense is a bit worrisome, as they on an older core of guys. Some interesting things are happening in the Czech net. Salak probably starts tomorrow and Pavelec gets the second game (Kovar might be the third stringer). I'd laugh at the fact that Pavelec is going to play, but he has proven to show up in international events (a real Jekyll and Hyde act when it comes to club and international games).
Latvia: This is probably the best Latvian team that could have been assembled. Grigersons, Sprukts and Darzins will be expected to lead the offense. No surprise on defense, as they take five guys from their KHL team. Gudlevskis and Masalskis will probably split time in goal while Mustukovs is the third stringer.
Sweden: One of the top medal contenders is showing that they won't fool around. Despite not being able to activate twin power (no Henrik), the Swedes bolster one of the best offenses in this tournament (although Backstrom's grandma may disagree). No Lidstrom? No problem. Ekman-Larson and Karlsson headline a talent-filled defense core. Lundqvist will start while Enroth and Gustavsson will be backups.
Switzerland: The Swiss has been on a remarkable run internationally of late, accumulating in a silver medal in the World Championship. Niederreiter and Brunner are two of the more notable names in a Swiss offense that is pretty spread out (keep on eye on Suri and Hollenstein). Their defense can chip in offensively while playing soundly in their own end. In goal, Hiller will start while Berra and Stephan will provide backup.
Schedule
February 12
Czech Republic vs. Sweden
Latvia vs. Switzerland
February 14
Czech Republic vs. Latvia
Sweden vs. Switzerland
February 15
Switzerland vs. Czech Republic
Sweden vs. Latvia
Predictions
Brad
1 - Sweden
2 - Switzerland
3 - Czech Republic
4 - Latvia
MDK
1 - Sweden
2 - Switzerland
3 - Czech Republic
4 - Latvia
Medal Predictions
Brad
Gold - Canada
Silver - Russia
Bronze - Sweden
MDK
Gold - Canada
Silver - Russia
Bronze - Sweden
