Friday, April 3, 2015

Showing Some International Love: 2015 IIHF World Championship Preview - Division III

Qualification be damned this year, as Division III sees seven teams battle it out for a chance to play in Division II next year. Turkey host this year's edition, and look to make their stay at this level a short one (they were relegated last year). North Korea is always a contender, and look to break their streak of losing out of a promotion on the last day. Luxembourg has managed a podium finish for the past three year, and are poised to do so once again. Hong Kong look to improve on their five points from last year. United Arab Emirates is becoming a mainstay, and hope to finish higher than fifth for the first time. Georgia look to earn their first points at this tournament. Bosnia and Herzegovina make their big international return, having been on hiatus since 2008 (they played in a qualification tournament that year).

Note: most information from the IIHF website.

Rosters

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Goalies:
Name
Team
Admir Pilav
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Hamza Selmanovic
Blue Bulls Sarajevo

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Nermin Alic
Stari Grad Sarajevo
Din Gasevic
Stari Grad Sarajevo
Amar Hadzihasanovic
National Team
Emir Hanic
Blue Bulls Sarajevo
Kenan Korjenic
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Admir Pilav
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Hamza Selmanovic
Blue Bulls Sarajevo

Forwards:

Name
Team
Tarik Catovic
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Dino Dzelkic
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Ermin Hasovic
National Team
Mirzit Hodzic
Stari Grad Sarajevo
Haris Mrkva
Blue Bulls Sarajevo
Benjamin Muhic
Blue Bulls Sarajevo
Damir Nikulin
Blue Bulls Sarajevo
Dubravko Posavec
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Dado Tokic
Stari Grad Sarajevo
Armen Velic
HK Sarajevo Medvjedi
Sven Zaimovic
Blue Bulls Sarajevo


Georgia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Kakha Ambrolava
Mimino Bakuriani
Andrei Ilienko
Firey Crusaders Tbilisi

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Jaba Chalatashvili
Ice Knights Tbilisi
Mikheil Davitashvili
Grey Wolves Tbilisi
Giorgi Gobejishvili
Mimino Bakuriani
Giorgi Jangobegishvili
Mimino Bakuriani
Giorgi Jeiranashvili
Mimino Bakuriani
Nika Lomidze
Ice Knights Tbilisi
Davit Minasiani
Mimino Bakuriani
Gia Oganeziani
Mimino Bakuriani
Andro Shengelia
Firey Crusaders Tbilisi
Revaz Tsomaia
Grey Wolves Tbilisi

Forwards:
Name
Team
Vitali Dumbadze
Firey Crusaders Tbilisi
Amiran Geperidze
Mimino Bakuriani
Zaza Gongadze
Mimino Bakuriani
Gocha Jeiranashvili
Mimino Bakuriani
Genadi Kositski
Firey Crusaders Tbilisi
Davit Oganeziani
Mimino Bakuriani
Dimitri Smetanin
Ice Knights Tbilisi
Alexander Tsukanov
Firey Crusaders Tbilisi


Hong Kong

Goalies:
Name
Team
King Chi King Ho
Mega Ice
Emerson Kwokway Keung
Mega Ice

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Chi Kin Lam
CIHL
Tony Leung
Mega Ice
Hon Chung Julian Ma
Mega Ice
Ka Ho Wong
Gold Club
Yin Hay Yannick Wong
CIHL
Chun Ying Yeung
Mega Ice

Forwards:
Name
Team
Hon To Otto Chan
Mega Ice
Chung Pan Justin Cheng
Gold Club
Terence Chim
Empire Skate
Ho Kwong Terry Choi
Gold Club
Bun Yu Bernard Fung
Gold Club
Jordan Sun Yin Ho
Gold Club
Siu Him Kan
Gold Club
Chi Lok Lau
Mega Ice
Linus Kim Lo
Gold Club
Alvin Cheuk Him Sham
Mega Ice
Hei Yu To
Mega Ice
Pak Lam Theophilus Wong
Mega Ice


Luxembourg

Goalies:
Name
Team
Gilles Mangen
Tornado Luxembourg
Michel Welter
IHC Beaufort

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Gilles Biver
Tornado Luxembourg
Kevin Gronlund
IHC Beaufort
Kai Linster
IHC Beaufort
Serge Milano
IHC Beaufort
Ronny Scheier
Tornado Luxembourg
Pit Sinner
Tornado Luxembourg

Forwards:
Name
Team
Sacha Backes
Tornado Luxembourg
Robert Beran
IHC Beaufort
Thierry Beran
IHC Beaufort
Olivier Biver
Hiversport Huskies
Colm Cannon
Tornado Luxembourg
Marcus Eriksson
Tornado Luxembourg
Ben Houdremont
IHC Beaufort
Miroslav Mosr
IHC Beaufort
Patrick Schon
Tornado Luxembourg
Eric Wambach
IHC Beaufort
Benny Welter
IHC Beaufort


North Korea

Goalies:
Name
Team
Il Pak
Pyongyang Choldo
Kuk Chol Pak
Taesongsan

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Chol Hyok An
Taesongsan
Song Chol Jon
Taesongsan
Chol Hyok Kim
Taesongsan
Nam Hyok Kim
Pyongyang Choldo
Song Gun Kim
Pyongyang Choldo
Pong Il Ri
Taesongsan

Forwards:
Name
Team
Chun Rim Hong
Taesongsan
Sung Hyok Ju
Pyongyang Choldo
In Hyok Kang
Pyongyang Choldo
Hyok Ju Kim
Pyongyang Choldo
Ju Hyok Kim
Taesongsan
Kwang Ho Kim
Pyongyang Choldo
Myong Chol Kim
Pyongyang Choldo
Kwang Ho Pak
Susan
Chol Min Ri
Taesongsan
Hyok Chol Ri
Taesongsan
Se Gwang Ri
Taesongsan


Turkey

Goalies:
Name
Team
Erol Kahraman
Zeytinburnu Istanbul
Levent Ozbaydugan
Izmir BB

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Savas Akturk
Izmir BB
Baris Coskun
Zeytinburnu Istanbul
Emre Faner
Izmir BB
Fatih Faner
Izmir BB
Kerem Islam
Koc University Istanbul
Gokhun Ozturk
Zeytinburnu Istanbul
Huseyin Secer
Erzurum GSK
Gokalp Solak
Koc University Istanbul

Forwards:
Name
Team
Baris Bagcilar
Zeytinburnu Istanbul
Erdogan Coskun
Izmir BB
Serkan Gumus
Izmir BB
Yusuf Halil
Izmir BB
Yavuz Karakoc
Zeytinburnu Istanbul
Alec Kocoglu
Izmir BB
Andy Kocoglu
Izmir BB
Emrah Ozmen
Zeytinburnu Istanbul
Serdar Semiz
IFK Tumba
Alper Solak
Buz Korsanlari


United Arab Emirates

Goalies:
Name
Team
Ahmed Al Dhaheri
Abu Dhabi ISC
Khaled Al Suwaidi
Abu Dhabi ISC

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Mohamad El Jachi
Abu Dhabi ISC

Forwards:
Name
Team
Faisal Al Blooshi
Abu Dhabi ISC
Mohammed J Al Dhaheri
Abu Dhabi ISC
Yahya Al Jneibi
Abu Dhabi ISC
Mubarak Al Mazrouei
Abu Dhabi ISC
Aeyez Al Muhairbe
Abu Dhabi ISC
Obaid Al Muharrami
Abu Dhabi ISC
Saeed Al Nuaimi
Abu Dhabi ISC
Hazza Al Saedi
Abu Dhabi ISC
Omar Al Shamisi
Abu Dhabi ISC
Sultan Al Sheryani
Abu Dhabi ISC
Theyab Al Subousi
Abu Dhabi ISC
Salem Al Yafeai
Abu Dhabi ISC


Schedule

April 3
North Korea - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Luxembourg - Georgia
Hong Kong - United Arab Emirates

April 4
Georgia - North Korea
United Arab Emirates - Luxembourg
Turkey - Bosnia and Herzegovina

April 6
Hong Kong - Bosnia and Herzegovina
North Korea - United Arab Emirates
Turkey - Georgia

April 7
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Luxembourg
Georgia - Hong Kong
United Arab Emirates - Turkey

April 9
Georgia - Bosnia and Herzegovina
North Korea - Luxembourg
Turkey - Hong Kong

April 10
Bosnia and Herzegovina - United Arab Emirates
Hong Kong - North Korea
Luxembourg - Turkey

April 12
United Arab Emirates - Georgia
Luxembourg - Hong Kong
Turkey - North Korea

Notes
  • It's nice to see that no teams dropped out at this level. Not only that, but a team was gained!
  • Did UAE not properly register players? They had 30 on the preliminary roster. Now it's down to 15 (bare minimum) and they have more goalies than defenseman. 
  • Cool little tidbit from IHF: For the first time ever, an Israeli will officiate an IIHF tournament.
  • One of the cool things doing previews at this level is looking at the personnel of teams and finding an NHL connection, and there is one in this tournament! Former NHL defenseman Barry Beck is the head coach of Hong Kong.
  • There is also an international connection. Georgia head coach Yevgeni Alipov appeared in a World Championship and an Olympic Qualifier for Ukraine
  • Keith McAdams (who was the Turkey U20 head coach when I did the U20 Division III preview) is now up with the main Turkish squad as an assistant coach.
  • I'm interested to know why Bosnia and Herzegovina has a 15 year old equipment manager.
  • Youngest team: Georgia (average age is 23)
  • Oldest teams: Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates (average age is 28)
  • Lightest team: United Arab Emirates (150lbs)
  • Heaviest team: Bosnia and Herzegovina (187lbs)
  • Shortest teams: Hong Kong, North Korea, United Arab Emirates  (5'8")
  • Tallest team: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Luxembourg (5'11") 
Prediction

1 (Promoted) - Turkey
2 - North Korea
3 - Luxembourg
4 - Hong Kong
5 - United Arab Emirates
6 - Bosnia and Herzegovina
7 - Georgia

It'll be a two-horse race to promotion. Turkey has the home ice advantage and I can see them benefiting from it. North Korea, while able to push over the competition, still doesn't win that last game. Luxembourg has an easy ride to third. Hong Kong will once again finish fourth. The fact that United Arab Emirates is taking the minimum amount of players is concerning. I want to say they finish lower, but they are seasoned enough to get by and probably will finish fifth. The battle for last will be between Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Given that they had a few exhibition games and had time to gel, I give the advantage to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Georgia is likely to once again finish last.

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