Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Showing Some International Love: 2018 Olympic Qualification Round 1 - Group K Preview

Qualification for PyeongChang 2018 is underway, as Round 1 starts tomorrow. Estonia host Group K, and are the favourites to win and move on to Round 2. Mexico, Israel, and Bulgaria (who had to beat Georgia to earn a spot in this group) round out the competition.

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

World Rankings

29. Estonia
32. Mexico
33. Israel
39. Bulgaria

Rosters

Bulgaria

Goalies:
Name
Team
Dimitar Dimitrov
CSKA Sofia
Nikola Nikolov
CSKA Sofia

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Nikolay Bozhanov
CSKA Sofia
Ivaylo Georgiev
Slavia Sofia
Stanislav Kanchev
NSA Sofia
Reymand Mladenov
Slavia Sofia
Kristian Radovanov
Slavia Sofia
Kristian Semkov
CSKA Sofia
Yavor Slavchev
Slavia Sofia
Bogdan Stefanov
CSKA Sofia
Aleksandar Vasilev
Slavia Sofia

Forwards:
Name
Team
Georgi Blagoev
MSHK Mladez Prievidza
Martin Boyadjiev
CSKA Sofia
Yanaki Gatchev
CSKA Sofia
Atanas Genkov
Slavia Sofia
Petar Tchaliov
CSKA Sofia
Aleksandar Todorov
Slavia Sofia


Estonia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Villem-Henrik Koitmaa
No Team
Daniil Seppenen
Narva PSK
Roman Shumikhin
HC Panter Tallinn

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Michael Mahkwa Auksi
Brockton Generals
Silver Kerna
Jukurit Mikkeli
Lauri Lahesalu
Angers Ducs
Artjom Minin
Porvoo Hunters
Maksim Robushkin
Viru Sputnik Kohtla Jarve
Pelle Sildre
HC Panter Tallinn
Ilja Urushev
HC Panter Tallinn

Forwards:
Name
Team
Robert Arrak
Espoo Blues
Artur Fedoruk
HC Panter Tallinn
Artjom Gornostajev
Muik Nykarleby
Nikita Kozorev
Augsburger EV
Aleksandr Kuznetsov
Tallinn Viiking Sport
Jan Lukats
EHC Bad Aibling
Robert Rooba
Espoo Blues
Ragnar-Hindrek Russ
JHT Kalajoki
Mihkel Sinikas
Espoo Blues
Jaanus Sorokin
HC Panter Tallinn
Risto Teppan
Salo Kiekkohait
Vassili Titarenko
Viru Sputnik Kohtla Jarve
Mihkel Vorang
HC Panter Tallinn


Israel

Goalies:
Name
Team
Maxim Gokhberg
Bat Yam Icebergs
Alexander Loginov
Rishon Devils

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Dotan Gotshtein
Maalot
Ori Kafri
Bat Yam Icebergs
Denis Kozev
Haifa Hawks
Evgeni Margoulis
Rishon Devils
Vlad Nosankov
MAC Metulla
Denis Raiter
Maalot

Forwards:
Name
Team
Roey Aharonovich
Billings Bulls
Itay Ben Tov
Maalot
Maxim Buz
Rishon Devils
Joshua Greenberg
Bat Yam Icebergs
Evgueni Natalchenko
HC Metulla
Mark Revniaga
Maalot
Ron Sherf
Rishon Devils
Ilya Spektor
Kfar Saba
Ron Vainshtein
MAC Metulla


Mexico

Goalies:
Name
Team
Alfonso de Alba
Halcones Lomas Verdes
Andres de la Garma
Osos Mexico

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Jose Carlos Jimenez
Osos Mexico
Gustavo Martinez
Tigres Nuevo Leon
Francisco Padilla
Osos Mexico
Fernando Ugarte
Osos Mexico

Forwards:
Name
Team
Brian Arroyo
Sharks Lerma
Roberto Chabat
Osos Mexico
Guillermo Diaz
Osos Mexico
Carlos Gomez
Mapaches Queretaro
Luis David Gonzalez
Pumas Distrito Federal
Antonio Najera
Sharks Lerma
Sebastian Ortega
Osos Mexico
Jorge Perez
Osos Mexico
Andres Perez Galicia
Osos Mexico
Enrique Arturo Samperio
Sharks Lerma
Christian Smithers
Osos Mexico
Carlo Tommasi
Osos Mexico


Schedule

November 5
Mexico - Bulgaria
Israel - Estonia

November 7
Mexico - Israel
Estonia - Bulgaria

November 8
Bulgaria - Israel
Estonia - Mexico

Last 5 International Matches

Bulgaria: 2-1 Win (South Africa), 9-1 Loss (Mexico), 10-5 Win (Israel), 5-1 Loss (New Zealand), 9-1 Win (Georgia)

Estonia: 7-3 Loss (South Korea), 2-1 Loss (Great Britain), 6-1 Loss (Lithuania), 5-2 Loss (Croatia), 3-1 Win (Netherlands)

Israel: 6-3 Loss (New Zealand), 4-3 SO Loss (China), 6-3 Win (South Africa), 10-5 Loss (Bulgaria), 6-3 Loss (Mexico)

Mexico: 4-1 Win (South Africa), 5-3 Loss (New Zealand), 9-1 Win (Bulgaria), 5-2 Loss (China), 6-3 Win (Israel)

Predictions

1 (Qualify for Round 2) - Estonia
2 - Mexico
3 - Bulgaria
4 - Israel

This group isn't even fair, as Estonia plays a full division above the rest of the group. Even with bringing a weaker roster to this round, Estonia should have no problem advancing to the next round. Mexico might take second, even though they are also going with a weaker lineup. Bulgaria and Israel have opted for more youth, as they have rosters with the average age of 22 and 21 (respectively). Bulgaria has been on the upswing for a bit now, and should take third place. Israel settles into last in this group.

No comments:

Post a Comment