Friday, May 1, 2015

2015 IIHF World Championship Preview - Group B

The top two teams from last year headline this group, as Russia looks to defend their gold while Finland wants to upgrade from their silver medal. The other two playoff spots look to be a battle between three teams: The United States (who are consistent in making the playoffs), Belarus (who somewhat surprisingly made it last year), and Slovakia (who missed out last year). Denmark, Norway, and the newly-promoted Slovenia all look to avoid relegation.

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

Teams

Belarus

Goalies:
Name
Team
Igor Brikun
HK Gomel
Vitali Koval
Salavat Yulayev Ufa
Kevin Lalande
CSKA Moscow

Defense:
Name
Team
Dmitri Korobov
Atlant Mytishi
Yevgeni Lisovets
Dynamo Minsk
Ilya Shinkevich
Dynamo Minsk
Nikolai Stasenko
Severstal Cherepovets
Ivan Usenko
Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Nikita Ustinenko
HK Gomel
Oleg Yevenko
Adirondack Flames

Forwards:
Name
Team
Sergei Demagin
Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Artyom Demkov
Dynamo Minsk
Sergei Drozd
Dynamo Minsk
Artur Gavrus
Dynamo Minsk
Alexander Kitarov
Dynamo Minsk
Andrei Kostitsyn
HK Sochi
Sergei Kostitsyn
Ak Bars Kazan
Yevgeni Kovyrshin
Severstal Cherepovets
Alexander Kulakov
Dynamo Minsk
Andrei Stas
CSKA Moscow
Andrei Stepanov
Dynamo Minsk
Artyom Volkov
Avangard Omsk

World Ranking: 11th
Last Years Result: 7th
Top Threat: Lalande is back to tend the net. Sergei Kostitsyn (who tied for the team lead in points last year) highlights the offense.
Weakness: Going younger on defense (it's good for the future, not so much in the present). Grabovski being injured hinders their attack.
Predicted Finish: Round Robin

Denmark

Goalies:
Name
Team
Sebastian Dahm
Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Patrick Galbraith
Karlskrona HK
Simon Nielsen
Lorenskog

Defense:
Name
Team
Mads Boedker
SonderjyskE Vojens
Jesper B. Jensen
Farjestad Karlstad
Nicholas Jensen
Aalborg Pirates
Emil Kristensen
IK Oskarshamn
Markus Lauridsen
Lake Erie Monsters
Oliver Lauridsen
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Daniel Nielsen
Herning Blue Fox
Bjorn Uldall
Herning Blue Fox

Forwards:
Name
Team
Mathias Bau Hansen
Frederikshavn
Patrick Bjorkstrand
KHL Medvescak Zagreb
Morten Green
Schwenninger Wild Wings
Nichlas Hardt
Linkopings HC
Julian Jakobsen
Hamburg Freezers
Jesper Jensen
Rogle Angelholm
Morten Madsen
Hamburg Freezers
Anders Poulsen
IK Oskarshamn
Morten Poulsen
IK Oskarshamn
Thomas Spelling
SonderjyskE Vojens
Kirill Starkov
Red Ice Martigny
Kim Staal
Tohoku Free Blades
Frederik Storm
Malmo Redhawks

World Ranking: 15th
Last Years Result: 13th
Top Threat: They are good at spreading out the scoring.
Weakness: No Mikkel Bodker, Lars Eller, Jannik Hansen, and Frederik Andersen hurts, as this team is closer to the bottom than a contender. Some of their younger players are unavailable as well (Nik Ehlers with fatigue, Oliver Bjorkstrand's in the WHL playoffs).
Predicted Finish: Relegation

Finland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Atte Engren
Atlant Mytishi
Pekka Rinne
Nashville Predators
Juuse Saros
HPK Hameenlinna

Defense:
Name
Team
Juuso Hietanen
Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Topi Jaakola
Jokerit Helsinki
Jyrki Jokipakka
Dallas Stars
Sami Lepisto
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Esa Lindell
Assat Pori
Tuukka Mantyla
Amur Khabarovsk
Atte Ohtamaa
Jokerit Helsinki
Anssi Salmela
Farjestad Karlstad

Forwards:
Name
Team
Juhamatti Aaltonen
Jokerit Helsinki
Aleksander Barkov
Florida Panthers
Joonas Donskoi
Karpat Oulu
Jarkko Immonen
Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Jussi Jokinen
Florida Panthers
Joonas Kemppainen
Karpat Oulu
Petri Kontiola
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Ossi Louhivaara
Lausanne HC
Janne Pesonen
Skelleftea AIK
Antti Pihlstrom
Salavat Yulayev Ufa
Tuomo Ruutu
New Jersey Devils

World Ranking: 2nd
Last Years Result: 2nd
Top Threat: Rinne in goal gives Finland an excellent chance at a medal.  
Weakness: Just like Sweden, lacking that top-end offensive punch (Barkov is still a year or two away).
Predicted Finish: Bronze Medal

Norway

Goalies:
Name
Team
Lars Haugen
Dinamo Minsk
Steffen Soberg
Valerenga Olso
Lars Volden
Rogle Angelholm

Defense:
Name
Team
Alexander Bonsaksen
Tappara Tampere
Stefan Espeland
Valerenga Olso
Jonas Holos
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Mattias Norstebo
Brynas Gavle
Henrik Odegaard
Lorenskog IK
Daniel Sorvik
Valerenga Olso
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Farjestad Karlstad
Mats Trygg
Lorenskog IK

Forwards:
Name
Team
Morten Ask
Valerenga Oslo
Andre Bastiansen
Graz 99ers
Robin Dahlstrom
Orebro HK
Kristian Forsberg
Stavanger Oilers
Jonas Djupvik Lovlie
Sodertalje SK
Andreas Martinsen
Dusseldorf EG
Ken Andre Olimb
Dusseldorf EG
Mathis Olimb
Frolunda Gothenburg
Niklas Roest
Sparta Sarpsborg
Mast Rosseli Olsen
Frolunda Gothenburg
Martin Roymark
Farjestad Karlstad
Andreas Stene
Valerenga Oslo
Patrik Thoresen
SKA St. Petersburg
Mathias Trettenes
Stavanger Oilers

World Ranking: 10th
Last Years Result: 12th
Top Threat: Thoresen leads the offense and Tollefsen anchors the defense.
Weakness: Familiar names have either retired internationally (Per-Age Skroder, Mads Hansen) or
injured (Mats Zuccarello [still in the NHL playoffs as well], Marius Holtet, and Sondre Olden).
Predicted Finish: Round Robin

Russia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Konstantin Barulin
Avangard Omsk
Sergei Bobrovski
Columbus Blue Jackets
Anton Khudobin
Carolina Hurricanes

Defense:
Name
Team
Viktor Antipin
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Anton Belov
SKA St. Petersburg
Yevgeni Biryukov
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Maxim Chudinov
SKA St. Petersburg
Dmitri Kulikov
Florida Panthers
Yevgeni Medvedev
Ak Bars Kazan
Yegor Yakovlev
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Forwards:
Name
Team
Artyom Anisimov
Columbus Blue Jackets
Yevgeni Dadonov
SKA St. Petersburg
Ilya Kovalchuk
SKA St. Petersburg
Sergei Mozyakin
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Artemi Panarin
SKA St. Petersburg
Sergei Plotnikov
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Vadim Shipachyov
SKA St. Petersburg
Sergei Shirokov
Avangard Omsk
Vladimir Tarasenko
St. Louis Blues
Viktor Tikhonov
SKA St. Petersburg
Danis Zaripov
Metallurg Magnitogorsk

World Ranking: 3rd
Last Years Result: 1st
Top Threat: As with all Russian teams, they have plenty of offensive talent. Bobrovski is back between the pipes, and should help lead Russia to another medal.
Weakness: Missing Ovechkin (NHL playoffs) and Malkin (unsure if he is playing) does hurt their offense.
Predicted Finish: Silver Medal

Slovakia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Jan Laco
Barys Astana
Julius Hudacek
Orebro HK

Defense:
Name
Team
Marek Daloga
Sparta Prague
Dominik Granak
HC Fribourg-Gotteron
Adam Janosik
HC Kosice
Milan Jurcina
Dinamo Riga
Andrej Meszaros
Buffalo Sabres
Juraj Mikus
Sparta Prague
Michal Sersen
Slovan Bratislava

Forwards:
Name
Team
Milan Bartovic
Slovan Bratislava
Mario Bliznak
HC Plzen
Marko Dano
Columbus Blue Jackets
Marian Gaborik
Los Angeles Kings
Libor Hudacek
Slovan Bratislava
Tomas Kopecky
Florida Panthers
Patrik Lusnak
Yunost Minsk
Michel Miklik
Amur Khabarovsk
Richard Panik
Toronto Maple Leafs
Martin Reway
Sparta Prague
Tomas Surovy
HC 05 Banska Bystrica
Milan Bartovic
Slovan Bratislava
Mario Bliznak
HC Plzen

World Ranking: 8th
Last Years Result: 9th
Top Threat: Marian Gaborik headlines the attack.
Weakness: Missing Halak is a blow, but Laco and Hudacek should play well enough to extend Slovakia's tournament. He's getting up their in age, but Chara could have helped shore up the defense.
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals

Slovenia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Luka Gracnar
Red Bull Salzberg
Robert Kristan
HC Pardubice
Gaspar Kroselj
IK Oskarshamn

Defense:
Name
Team
Blaz Gregorc
HC Pardubice
Sabahudin Kovacevic
Graz 99ers
Ales Kranjc
Sodertalje SK
Ziga Pavlin
AIK Stockholm
Klemen Pretnar
VSV Villach
Mitja Robar
BK Mlada Boleslav
Miha Stebih
Dukla Jihlava
Andrej Tavzelj
Toros Neftekamsk
Luka Vidmar
BK Mlada Boleslav

Forwards:
Name
Team
Bostjan Golicic
Gap Rapaces
Ziga Jeglic
Slovan Bratislava
Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles Kings
Jan Mursak
CSKA Moscow
Ales Music
Olimpija Ljubljana
Ken Ograjensek
Epinal Dauphins
Ziga Pance
Bolzano Foxes
Marcel Rodman
KAC Klagenfurt
Robert Sabolic
Sparta Prague
Rok Ticar
Slovan Bratislava
Jan Urbas
VIK Vasteras
Miha Verlic
Graz 99ers

World Ranking: 14th
Last Years Result: 1st (Division I Group A)
Top Threat: One of the best teams Slovenia has put together, and hey look, Kopitar.
Weakness: Still will be in tough to avoid relegation.
Predicted Finish: Round Robin

United States

Goalies:
Name
Team
Jack Campbell
Texas Stars
Connor Hellebuyck
St. Johns IceCaps
Alex Lyon
Yale University

Defense:
Name
Team
Justin Faulk
Carolina Hurricanes
Jake Gardiner
Toronto Maple Leafs
Seth Jones
Nashville Predators
Torey Krug
Boston Bruins
John Moore
Columbus Blue Jackets
Connor Murphy
Arizona Coyotes
Zach Redmond
Colorado Avalanche
Mike Reilly
University of Minnesota

Forwards:
Name
Team
Mark Arcobello
Arizona Coyotes
Nick Bonino
Vancouver Canucks
Jack Eichel
Boston University
Matt Hendrick
Edmonton Oilers
Dylan Larkin
University of Michigan
Andres Lee
New York Islanders
Trevor Lewis
Los Angeles Kings
Jeremy Morin
Columbus Blue Jackets
Steve Moses
Jokerit Helsinki
Brock Nelson
New York Islanders
Dan Sexton
Neftekhimik Niznekamsk
Ben Smith
San Jose Sharks
Jimmy Vesey
Harvard University

World Ranking: 6th
Last Years Result: 6th
Top Threat: Eichel headlines a bit of a youth movement by USA Hockey. Defense looks solid.
Weakness: Curious to know how their goaltending does.
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals

Schedule

May 1
United States - Finland
Russia - Norway

May 2
Slovakia - Denmark
Belarus - Slovenia
Norway - United States

May 3
Russia - Slovenia
Belarus - Slovakia
Denmark - Finland

May 4
Russia - United States
Norway - Finland

May 5
Denmark - Belarus
Slovakia - Slovenia

May 6
Russia - Denmark
Slovakia - Norway

May 7
United States - Belarus
Finland - Slovenia

May 8
Slovenia - Norway
United States - Denmark

May 9
Belarus - Russia
Finland - Slovakia
Denmark - Norway

May 10
Slovenia - United States
Slovakia - Russia

May 11
Finland - Belarus
Slovenia - Denmark

May 12
Norway - Belarus
United States - Slovakia
Finland - Russia

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