Friday, May 1, 2015

2015 IIHF World Championship Preview - Group A

The host Czech are in this group, and will welcome favourites Canada and Sweden. Switzerland look to bounce back after missing the playoffs last year. France, on the other hand, look to make it back to the playoffs, and hopefully shock a top team as well. Austria (back up after a year in Division I), Germany, and Latvia are all hoping to avoid relegation.

Note: most information from the (fancy) IIHF website.

Teams

Austria

Goalies:
Name
Team
David Madlener
EC Dornbirn
Bernhard Starkbaum
Brynas Gavle
Rene Swette
KAC Klagenfurt

Defense:
Name
Team
Dominique Heinrich
Red Bull Salzburg
Florian Iberer
Vienna Capitals
Daniel Matterdorfer
Black Wings Linz
Florian Muhlstein
Red Bull Salzburg
Alexander Pallestrang
Red Bull Salzburg
Patrick Peter
Vienna Capitals

Forwards:
Name
Team
Alexander Cijan
Red Bull Salzburg
Mario Fischer
Vienna Capitals
Manuel Ganahl
Graz 99ers
Manuel Geier
KAC Klagenfurt
Raphael Herburger
EHC Biel
Thomas Hundertpfund
KAC Klagenfurt
Konstantin Komarek
Red Bull Salzburg
Manuel Latusa
Red Bull Salzburg
Nicolas Petrik
EC Dornbirn
Michael Raffl
Philadelphia Flyers
Thomas Raffl
Red Bull Salzburg
Rafael Rotter
Vienna Capitals
Daniel Woger
Graz 99ers

World Ranking: 16th
Last Years Result: 2nd (Division I Group A)
Top Threat: Starkbaum and Michael Raffl lead the newly-promoted squad in hopes of not being sent back down to Division I.
Weakness: Could still use Thomas Vanek to give them an offensive punch. Will still be in a fight to stay up and stop their yo-yo act between this tournament and Division I.
Predicted Finish: Relegation

Canada

Goalies:
Name
Team
Martin Jones
Los Angeles Kings
Mike Smith
Arizona Coyotes

Defense:
Name
Team
Tyson Barrie
Colorado Avalanche
Brent Burns
San Jose Sharks
Aaron Ekblad
Florida Panthers
Dan Hamhuis
Vancouver Canucks
Jake Muzzin
Los Angeles Kings
David Savard
Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrick Wiercioch
Ottawa Senators

Forwards:
Name
Team
Sean Couturier
Philadelphia Flyers
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
Matt Duchene
Colorado Avalanche
Cody Eakin
Dallas Stars
Jordan Eberle
Edmonton Oilers
Tyler Ennis
Buffalo Sabres
Claude Giroux
Philadelphia Flyers
Taylor Hall
Edmonton Oilers
Nathan MacKinnon
Colorado Avalanche
Ryan O'Rielly
Colorado Avalanche
Brayden Schenn
Philadelphia Flyers
Tyler Seguin
Dallas Stars
Jason Spezza
Dallas Stars
Tyler Toffoli
Los Angeles Kings

World Ranking: 4th
Last Years Result: 5th
Top Threat: This is a really strong team Canada is icing this year. Crosby making his first WC appearance since 2006 surely adds to their expectations, as Canada looks to get past the Quarter Finals.
Weakness: This roster could have been stronger if Peter Chiarelli just kept his mouth shut. Also not overly confident on goaltending, as Mike Smith had a pretty bad year.
Predicted Finish: Gold Medal

Czech Republic

Goalies:
Name
Team
Ondrej Pavelec
Winnipeg Jets
Alexander Salak
Sibir Novosibirsk

Defense:
Name
Team
Petr Caslava
HC Pardubice
Jan Hejda
Colorado Avalanche
Michal Jordan
Carolina Hurricanes
Jan Kolar
Admiral Vladivostok
Jakub Krejcik
Orebro HK
Jakub Nakladal
TPS Turku
Ondrej Nemec
CSKA Moscow

Forwards:
Name
Team
Roman Cervenka
SKA St. Petersburg
Martin Erat
Arizona Coyotes
Tomas Hertl
San Jose Sharks
Jaromir Jagr
Florida Panthers
Jakub Klepis
Ocelari Trinec
Petr Koukal
Jokerit Helsinki
Jan Kovar
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Jiri Novotny
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Dominik Simon
HC Plzen
Vladimir Sobotka
Avangard Omsk
Jakub Voracek
Philadelphia Flyers
Martin Zatovic
Lada Togliatti

World Ranking: 5th
Last Years Result: 4th
Top Threat: Hertl + Jagr = All the fun. They also have a pretty potent attack.
Weakness: Outside of home crowd pressure, not much. Pavelec (who would usually have question marks around him) had a good year and should continue it into this tournament.
Predicted Finish: 4th Place

France

Goalies:
Name
Team
Florian Hardy
EHC Red Bull Munich
Cristobal Huet
Lausanne HC

Defense:
Name
Team
Yohann Auvitu
IFK Helsinki
Nicolas Besch
GKS Tychy
Florian Chakiachvili
Briancon Diables Rouges
Benjamin Dieude Fauvel
Iowa Wild
Kevin Hecquefeuille
SCL Tigers Langnau
Jonathan Janil
Rouen Dragons
Antonin Manavian
Rouen Dragons

Forwards:
Name
Team
Charles Bertrand
Vasaan Sport
Valentin Claireaux
LeKi Lempaala
Stephane da Costa
CSKA Moscow
Teddy da Costa
Pelicans Lehti
Julien Desrosiers
Rouen Dragons
Damien Fleury
Djurgarden Stockholm
Anthony Guttig
Jukurit Mikkeli
Loic Lamperier
Rouen Dragons
Laurent Meunier
Staubing Tigers
Damien Raux
Briancon Diables Rouges
Antoine Roussel
Dallas Stars
Sacha Treille
Staubing Tigers
Yorick Treille
Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups

World Ranking: 12th
Last Years Result: 8th
Top Threat: Huet is back in net (anyone surprised?). Many familiar names throughout the roster.
Weakness: Highly unlikely to stunt anyone in this tournament. May be close, but should fall short of a playoff spot.
Predicted Finish: Round Robin

Germany

Goalies:
Name
Team
Danny Aus den Birken
Cologne Sharks
Dennis Endras
Adler Mannheim
Timo Pielmeier
ERC Ingolstadt

Defense:
Name
Team
Jens Baxmann
Eisbaren Berlin
Stephan Daschner
Dusseldorfer EG
Nikolai Goc
Adler Mannheim
Benedikt Kohl
ERC Ingolstadt
Justin Krueger
SC Bern
Bjorn Krupp
Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg
Oliver Mebus
Krefeld Pinguins
Moritz Muller
Kolner Haie

Forwards:
Name
Team
Yasin Ehliz
Nuremberg Ice Tigers
Patrick Hager
ERC Ingolstadt
Kai Hospelt
Adler Mannheim
Marcus Kink
Adler Mannheim
Nicolas Krammer
Hamburg Freezers
Thomas Oppenheimer
Hamburg Freezers
Daniel Pietta
Krefeld Pinguine
Matthias Plachta
Adler Mannheim
Brent Raedeke
Iserlohn Roosters
Patrick Reimer
Nuremberg Ice Tigers
Tobias Rieder
Arizona Coyotes
Yannic Seidenberg
EHC Red Bull Munich
Christoph Ullmann
Alder Mannheim
Michael Wolf
EHC Red Bull Munich

World Ranking: 13th
Last Years Result: 14th
Top Threat: Endras is going to be key to Germany's success. Their offense should do enough to give them a respectable finish.
Weakness: Missing Dennis Seidenberg hurts their defense.
Predicted Finish: Round Robin

Latvia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Edgars Masalskis
HC Ambri-Piotta
Ervins Mustukovs
Aalborg Pirates

Defense:
Name
Team
Oskars Cibulskis
Dinamo Riga
Lauris Darzins
Dinamo Riga
Guntis Galvins
HC Bolzano 2000
Maris Jass
HC Orli Znojmo
Aleksandrs Jerofejevs
Dinamo Riga
Krisjanis Redlihs
Dinamo Riga
Maksims Sirokovs
Red Ice Martigny
Kristaps Sotnieks
Dinamo Riga

Forwards:
Name
Team
Rodrigo Abols
HK Riga
Armands Berzins
Pustertal Bruneck
Robert Bukarts
Dinamo Riga
Martin Cipulis
Dinamo Riga
Kaspars Daugavins
Dynamo Moscow
Andris Dzerins
Dinamo Riga
Koba Jass
Bili Tygri Liberec
Mikelis Redlihs
Dinamo Riga
Kaspars Saulietis
Dinamo Riga
Gunars Skvorcovs
Dinamo Riga
Janis Spurkts
HC Fribourg-Gotteron

World Ranking: 9th
Last Years Result: 11th
Top Threat: Kaspar Daugavins leads the offense for this team. 
Weakness: Does not look good. Goaltending is aging, and the roster looks weaker than last year. Will be in a fight to avoid relegation.
Predicted Finish: Round Robin

Sweden

Goalies:
Name
Team
Jhonas Enroth
Dallas Stars
Anders Nilsson
Ak Bars Kazan

Defense:
Name
Team
Jonas Ahnelov
MODO Ornskoldsvik
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Arizona Coyotes
Oscar Klefbom
Edmonton Oilers
John Klingberg
Dallas Stars
Staffan Kronwall
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Daniel Rahimi
Linkopings HC

Forwards:
Name
Team
Jimmie Ericsson
SKA St. Petersburg
Loui Eriksson
Boston Bruins
Simon Hjalmarsson
CSKA Moscow
Jacob Josefson
New Jersey Devils
Anton Lander
Edmonton Oilers
Elias Lindholm
Carolina Hurricanes
Joakim Lindstrom
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joel Lundqvist
Frolunda Gothenburg
Oscar Moller
Ak Bars Kazan
Victor Rask
Carolina Hurricanes
Mattias Sjogren
Linkopings HC

World Ranking: 1st
Last Years Result: 3rd
Top Threat: Enroth has proven to be good for Sweden, a good blueline anchored by OEL, good offense. This team is poised to challenge for a medal.
Weakness: While the offense looks good, it's lacking top-end talent (Sedins, Zetterberg).
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals

Switzerland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Reto Berra
Colorado Avalanche
Leonardo Genoni
HC Davos
Daniel Manzato
HC Lugano

Defense:
Name
Team
Eric Blum
SC Bern
Felicien Du Bois
HC Davos
Patrick Geering
ZSC Lion
Robin Grossmann
EV Zug
Timo Helbling
HC Fribourg-Gotteron
Roman Josi
Nashville Predators
Dean Kukan
Lulea HF
Mark Streit
Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards:
Name
Team
Cody Almond
Geneve-Servette HC
Andres Ambuhl
HC Davos
Matthias Bieber
Kloten Flyers
Simon Bodenmann
Kloten Flyers
Damien Brunner
HC Lugano
Kevin Fiala
Nashville Predators
Denis Hollenstein
Kloten Flyers
Kevin Romy
Geneve-Servette HC
Reto Schappi
ZSC Lions
Tristan Scherwey
SC Bern
Reto Suri
EV Zug
Morris Trachsler
ZSC Lions
Julian Walker
HC Lugano
Dino Wieser
HC Davos

World Ranking: 7th
Last Years Result: 10th
Top Threat: Josi anchoring the blueline, familiar offense, overall it is a good roster on paper.
Weakness: They are missing a few notable pieces (mainly Nino Niederreiter and Jonas Hiller). This group is also a tough one. It's hard to see them making it too far.
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals

Schedule

May 1
Canada - Latvia
Czech Republic - Sweden

May 2
Switzerland - Austria
France - Germany
Latvia - Czech Republic

May 3
Austria - Sweden
Canada - Germany
France - Switzerland

May 4
Latvia - Sweden
Canada - Czech Republic

May 5
Switzerland - Germany
Austria - France

May 6
Switzerland - Latvia
Sweden - Canada

May 7
Czech Republic - France
Sweden - Germany

May 8
Czech Republic - Austria
Germany - Latvia

May 9
France - Canada
Austria - Latvia
Sweden - Switzerland

May 10
Germany - Czech Republic
Switzerland - Canada

May 11
Germany - Austria
Sweden - France

May 12
Canada - Austria
Latvia - France
Czech Republic - Switzerland

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